DieArbeitslosenvonMarienthal

Summary

In November 1931, amidst the global economic crisis, social researcher Lotte arrives in Mariental, Austria, to study the effects of long-term unemployment. The once thriving village has been devastated by the collapse of the textile industry, leaving three-quarters of families jobless. A research team, led by Marie Jahoda and Paul Lazarsfeld, uncovers that prolonged unemployment leads to social and political apathy, rather than radical movements or revolution. The study reveals how individuals become isolated, unable to envision a hopeful future, with even children losing their aspirations, illustrating the profound psychological impact of mass unemployment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The global economic crisis of 1931 severely impacted Austria, with unemployment reaching 26%.
• 😀 Lotte, a young social researcher, arrived in Mariental in November 1931 to begin a groundbreaking study on the unemployed.
• 😀 Mariental, a town built around a factory, was devastated by the collapse of the textile market and the closing of a major factory in 1930.
• 😀 By 1930, the majority of Mariental's population became unemployed, with 70-80% of families affected.
• 😀 Mariental became a social laboratory to study the effects of long-term unemployment on communities.
• 😀 The main finding of the Mariental study was that long-term unemployment led to social and political inactivity rather than radical political movements or revolutions.
• 😀 This inactivity, termed as 'tired community,' was a key discovery in social research, showing that unemployment did not drive people towards political change but rather to apathy and resignation.
• 😀 Public life in Mariental largely ceased as a result of widespread unemployment, with community activities like the worker's library and theater group coming to an end.
• 😀 The lack of structure and the endless free time created emotional distress, leaving people feeling unnecessary and isolated from society.
• 😀 Many people in Mariental lost hope for a better future, and even children no longer had the same wishes or aspirations, feeling that their dreams were unattainable due to the economic situation.

Q & A

What was the context of the economic situation in Austria in November 1931?

In November 1931, Austria was deeply affected by the global economic crisis, with unemployment soaring to 26%. This was a time of great social and economic hardship.

Who was Lotte, and what was her role in the study of Mariental?

Lotte was a young social researcher who left Vienna in November 1931 to begin fieldwork for a groundbreaking study on the unemployed in Mariental, an area severely impacted by the economic crisis.

What was the main industry in Mariental before the economic crisis, and how did it change?

Mariental was centered around a textile factory, and its economy collapsed after the global financial crisis. In February 1930, one of the largest textile mills in the Austro-Hungarian Empire closed, leaving nearly the entire town unemployed.

What was the unemployment rate in Mariental after the closure of the textile mill?

After the closure of the textile mill, three-quarters of the 478 families in Mariental were left without work, leading to an unemployment rate of 70-80% in the town.

Why was Mariental considered an important social laboratory during the Great Depression?

Mariental became a unique social laboratory because it provided researchers with the opportunity to study the social and political effects of prolonged unemployment on a community.

What was the primary finding of the Mariental study?

The study found that prolonged unemployment did not lead to increased political activism or revolution, as expected, but instead led to resignation and apathy among the unemployed.

What does the term 'tired community' mean in the context of the Mariental study?

'Tired community' refers to the observation that long-term unemployment leads to social and political disengagement, with people becoming indifferent to societal issues and losing the desire for radical change.

How did prolonged unemployment affect the public life in Mariental?

Public life in Mariental largely came to a halt due to unemployment. The library's attendance dropped, the local theater group ceased activities, and even the town's park, once a source of pride, fell into neglect.

What was the psychological impact of unemployment on the people of Mariental?

Unemployment caused a significant psychological strain on the people of Mariental, leading to a sense of worthlessness, isolation, and a lack of structure in their daily lives, which further contributed to their feelings of being unwanted and unimportant.

How did children in Mariental express their unmet desires due to unemployment?

Children in Mariental expressed their unmet desires through simple wishes, such as wanting a book, a violin, or toys like an atlas or compass, reflecting their hopes for a better future that seemed out of reach due to their parents' unemployment.