The historical case study of German associations during World War I highlights the limits of sociability in times of political polarization. At the war’s beginning, German elites supported political associations that welcomed the entire political spectrum, thus radically breaking with associations that had developed along political, social, and religious dividing lines. The article shows how the inclusive sociability that the common cause of the war initially spurred failed to withstand the pressures of mass politics, extreme sociopolitical fragmentation, and the new republican institutions. The discrediting of associations as sources of inclusive sociability paved the path to conscious efforts to educate German citizens and political professionals to the working of democratic systems. The analysis suggests a conceptualization of civil society that relies on explicit strategies, such as political education, to cultivate the political conduct that modern democracies require, replacing the faith in associations as indirect sources of democratic governance.

第一次世界大战期间德国协会的历史案例研究突显了政治分化时期社交能力的局限性。战争开始时，德国精英分子支持欢迎整个政治范围的政治协会，从而从根本上打破了沿着政治，社会和宗教界限发展的协会。这篇文章显示了战争的共同起因最初激发的包容性社会性如何无法承受大众政治，极端的社会政治分裂和新的共和体制的压力。协会作为包容性社会根源的声望铺平了道路，为有意识地努力教育德国公民和政治专业人士提供民主制度的工作。