As part of the Leo Baeck Institute’s 70th anniversary celebrations, we spotlight the life and thought of Hermann Heller (1891–1933), a leading German constitutional scholar and social philosopher, celebrated for his defence of democracy and opposition to National Socialism. Heller’s idea of ‘democratic socialism’ combined social justice with a rejection of authoritarianism, and he argued that democracy must ensure social equality to remain legitimate.
Born into a Jewish family in Teschen, Heller became a key figure in political education after the First World War, inspiring young people and workers to engage with democracy. He saw the state as a framework for balancing social interests and believed that no area of power, including the economy, should be beyond democratic control.
Heller’s work set him apart from mainstream legal thinkers of his time, and he was a vocal critic of fascism, clashing famously with Carl Schmitt. Though his life was cut short in exile, his warnings about social inequality and his vision for a truly social democracy remain strikingly relevant today.
We encourage readers to explore the original German feature for a deeper understanding of Heller’s life and ideas: https://fuf-leobaeck.de/2025/04/hermann-heller-vordenker-der-sozialen-demokratie/. The article is part of the series ‘Engagement & Democracy in German-Jewish History’.
For more on the Leo Baeck Institute’s anniversary events and new archival collections, visit the LBI’s 70th anniversary website: https://lbi-70.org
Photo: Wikipedia
