EN
The Study explores the role of the Austrian Social Democracy in the modernization of the electoral system prior to the World War I. It states that Social Democracy represented a major political force in the struggle for universal suffrage. While strongly advocating a democratic electoral reform, the Social Democrats, however, refused any kind of cooperation with the conservative political forces. After the Badeni electoral reform of 1896 and the following 1897 elections, Social Democracy gained the first minor success, however, this was still too far from their claims and ideals. It was only the Beck electoral reform of 1906 and the following elections, which meant a major political success for the Austrian Social Democracy. Despite the higher representation of Social Democrats in the newly elected popular parliament, this new parliament proved to be unable to implement a more radical reform. Nevertheless, it can be resumed, that the Social Democracy was the only force defending classical liberal ideals of parliamentary work.