SEIPEL, IGNAZ°

SEIPEL, IGNAZ ° (1876–1932), Austrian statesman, Catholic prelate, and university professor; leader of the *Christian Social Party and five times chancellor of Austria (1922–24; 1926–29). Although his party's program demanded the restraining of Jewish influence, he personally was of the opinion that "antisemitism was for the gutter," but he tolerated it in his party, particularly among student groups. While in office his attitude toward Jews was always unprejudiced and even benevolent in matters of religion and conscience. In his bitter struggle against the Social Democratic Party he was confronted by many leaders of Jewish origin, in particular their leader Otto *Bauer. Among his principal advisers were also persons of Jewish descent. His financial adviser was Gottfried Kunwald, his legal counsel Wilhelm Rosenberg, while in foreign affairs he was assisted by Dr. Gruenberger. Seipel came to reject parliamentary democracy and supported a constitution based on occupational estates in the sense of the papal encyclical "Quadragesimo Anno." Although not favoring Fascism and dictatorship, he furthered the Fascist *Heimwehr as a temporary counterweight to the Socialists.

bibliography:

B. Birk, Dr. Ignaz Seipel (Ger., 1932); W. Thormann, Ignaz Seipel. Der europaeische Staatsmann (1932); Festschrift… Union oesterreichischer Juden (1937); J. Tsoebl, in: H. Hantsch, Gestalter der Geschichte Oesterreichs (1962), 589–609; V. Reimann, Zu gross fuer Oesterreich (1968). add. bibliography: K.V. Klemperer, Ignaz Seipel: Christian Statesman in a Time of Crisis (1972); F. Rennhofer, Ignaz Seipel: Mensch und Staatsmann (1978).

[Hugo Knoepfmacher]