He is one of the founders of the Austrian Social Democratic Party: Who is Victor Adler?

(1852-1918) Austrian politician. He is one of the founders of the Austrian Social Democratic Party. He was born on June 24, 1852, in Prague, and died on November 11, 1918, in Vienna. He is the son of a wealthy Jewish merchant family who immigrated from Czechoslovakia to Austria. He studied medicine and psychiatry at the University of Vienna. He became friends with Freud while he was a college student. In 1871 he joined Georg Ritter von Schönerer's nationalist organization, which advocated a Pan-Germanist program. He married in 1878. In 1882, he participated in the work of the Linz Program prepared by German nationalists. In this program, it was advocated that close ties with Germany should be established and that Germany should dominate Austria's internal affairs. However, he left this organization after anti-Semitism started in the nationalist movement.

After graduating from university in 1881, he worked as a doctor in the working quarters of Vienna. Meanwhile, he tried to improve the working conditions in the factories. On a trip to London in 1883, he met and became friends with Engels, and later with Bebel and Kautsky. Under their influence, he adopted socialism.

Between 1886 and 1889 he published a weekly newspaper called Gleichheit (“Equality”). After this newspaper was closed, in 1889 he published a newspaper called Arbeiterzeitung ("Worker's Newspaper"), which was first published once a week and then daily. The Arbeiterzeitung soon became the organ of the socialists, and in the following years, it was for a long time one of the main organs of the Second International.

During this period, the Austrian socialist movement was divided into various groups that debated methods. There was disagreement between the moderates and those advocating extra-parliamentary methods. Also, the existence of different nations in the Austro-Hungarian Empire was also causing division. Victor Adler made an effort to resolve all these differences. At the Hainfeld Congress in 1889, he made an important contribution to the unification of all groups and the establishment of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Adler, who served in the management of this party until his death, was elected as a deputy from Reichenberg (Bohemia) in 1905.

Victor Adler was more of a man of action than a theorist. He thought that capitalism was going to collapse spontaneously and inevitably, and he believed that it was necessary to educate the working class for this moment of destruction. One of the main issues he defended and fought for was universal suffrage. While this issue was being discussed in the parliament, the SDP held some mass demonstrations. In 1907, all men aged 24 and over were granted the right to vote. This law strengthened the position of socialists in parliament. However, they did not have much influence within the government.

The Austro-Hungarian empire was defeated in World War I, and new, independent states were established in these lands. Adler took office in the new Austrian government in 1918. He advocated Austria's subordination to Germany. He died the day before the Republic of Austria was officially proclaimed.