Ludwig Gumplowicz

Ludwig Gumplowicz (1838 to 1909) was a Polish sociologist, jurist, historian and political scientist who taught constitutional and administrative law at the University of Graz. He is considered one of the founding fathers of sociology across German-speaking countries. Living under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, he witnessed violent conflicts between ethnic groups, and the antisemitic conflicts among them influenced his sociological theories of social conflict. He was known for his skepticism about the permanence of social progress and for his belief that the state emerges from inevitable confrontation rather than from unity or divine inspiration. His work helped social science, political science and jurisprudence expand through his application of sociological generalizations, and he was a straightforward and vivacious writer who excelled in controversy.