Protokolle des Ministerrates der Regierung Ramek, Band 4

Rudolf Ramek is one of those politicians of the First Republic whose definite assessment is still missing. The edition of the Proceedings of the Cabinet Council provides the basic research that allows to rate the historical importance of his administration. Following key words are significant for the government of Rudolf Ramek: reform of administration and constitution; separation of competences and finances between Federal Government and states; end of control by the League of Nations; extension of trade relations; the civil servant question that finally led to the end of the government. The Minutes of the Council of Ministers provide a deep insight into the political climate of the Twenties. Especially the relationship between the political parties has to be reassessed. The discussions in the Council of Ministers, which are only available in shorthand and have been transcribed, show a close relationship between the governing parties and the opposition, namely the Social Democratic Party. Just by that we are able to gather essential information on politics concerning the field of conflict between the government, the parliament and the opposition. It turns out that all important decisions regarding home and foreign politics were made after consultation with the opposition. Due to the edition of this volume it is obvious that the relationship between the governing parties and the opposition was still constructive and intact at that time. It will be one task of the complete edition of the Proceedings of the Cabinet Council of the First Republic to show at what point this cooperation has changed and finally ended in civil war and authoritarian corporate state. The content of the Minutes of the Cabinet Meetings shows a broad spectrum of problems regarding foreign, home and economic politics which were frequently and openly discussed among the members of the government. Therefore clashes of interest or agreement as well as the state of discussion on individual problems can be pursued in the Minutes. They explain attitudes, approaches and aims of the members of the Federal Government in the process of political decision making which on other levels can only be reconstructed with considerable difficulty or not at all. It is further the aim of this edition to comment on the Minutes of the Council of Ministers by including documentary material. Therefore the edition provides information about the basic source material and makes access to the original documents easier. This will enable future users to save research time and will offer suggestions for further possibilities of research.