History of Frankfurt School in Timeline

The Frankfurt School, originating from the Institute for Social Research in 1923, is a school of thought focused on critical theory. Composed of intellectuals disillusioned with prevailing socio-economic systems like capitalism, fascism, and communism during the interwar period, the school critically analyzed society and culture. Key figures include Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin, Wilhelm Reich, Herbert Marcuse and Jürgen Habermas. The School's work encompasses philosophy, social theory, and critique of culture and ideology. The Frankfurt School's theoretical approach is regarded as an attempt to synthesize Marxist analysis with Freudian psychoanalysis and sociological methods.

1918: Impact of the Weimar Republic

From 1918, the political turmoil of the Weimar Republic began to affect the development of the Frankfurt School's critical theory.

1922: First Marxist Workweek

In 1922, Felix Weil organized the First Marxist Workweek to synthesize different trends of Marxism. György Lukács, Karl Korsch, Karl August Wittfogel, and Friedrich Pollock attended.

1923: Formal Establishment of Institute for Social Research

Following the success of the First Marxist Workweek, a permanent institute for social research was formally established in 1923. Weil negotiated with the Ministry of Education to ensure the Frankfurt School would be a university institution.

1923: Founding of the Institute for Social Research

In 1923, the Institute for Social Research was founded at Goethe University Frankfurt by Carl Grünberg. It was the first Marxist research center at a German university and was funded by Felix Weil.

1923: Institute for Social Research Founded

In 1923, the Institute for Social Research, which is associated with the Frankfurt School, was founded at Goethe University Frankfurt. This occurred during the Weimar Republic, amidst the European interwar period.

1930: Horkheimer Becomes Director

In 1930, Max Horkheimer became the director of the Institute for Social Research. He recruited intellectuals such as Theodor W. Adorno, Erich Fromm, and Herbert Marcuse.

1932: Publication of Manuscripts

In 1932, the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 and The German Ideology were published, which showed a continuity between Hegelianism and Marxist philosophy.

1933: Rise of Nazism

From 1933 to 1945, the rise of Nazism, a German form of fascism, influenced the Frankfurt School scholars.

1933: Relocation from Nazi Germany

In 1933, soon after Adolf Hitler's rise to power, the Institute for Social Research decided to move out of Nazi Germany and relocated to Geneva.

1935: Move to New York City

In 1935, the Institute for Social Research moved from Geneva to New York City, where it joined Columbia University.

1937: Horkheimer on Critical vs. Traditional Theory

In 1937, Horkheimer contrasted critical theory with traditional theory, emphasizing the difference in observational modes and the impact of researcher bias in social sciences in "Traditional and Critical Theory".

1937: "Traditional and Critical Theory" Publication

In 1937, Max Horkheimer defined critical theory as social critique meant to effect sociologic change and realize intellectual emancipation in "Traditional and Critical Theory".

1944: Publication of Dialectic of Enlightenment

In 1944, Adorno and Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment, written during the Institute's exile in America, was published. It shifted emphasis to a critique of the social and ideological forces brought about by early capitalism.

1950: Publication of The Authoritarian Personality

In 1950, The Authoritarian Personality had a tremendous influence because it showed how to conduct political criticism in psychiatric categories.

1953: Re-establishment in Frankfurt

In 1953, the Institute for Social Research (Frankfurt School) was formally re-established in Frankfurt, West Germany.

1964: Publication of One-Dimensional Man

In 1964, Marcuse's One-Dimensional Man described the containment of the working class. Soon after the civil rights movement intensified and opposition to the Vietnam war began.

January 1969: Student Room Occupation and Police Intervention

In January 1969, Adorno called the police to remove students led by Hans-Jürgen Krahl who occupied a room, leading to criticism from Marcuse.

1971: Lukács Criticizes the Frankfurt School

In 1971, György Lukács criticized the "leading German intelligentsia", including some members of the Frankfurt School (Adorno is named explicitly), as inhabiting the Grand Hotel Abyss in The Theory of the Novel.