The Institute’s directors feared a conspiracy of financially disappointed associates.

Evidence

Three days later, he congratulated Neumann on completing Behemothin words which, apart from showing that he was able to bestow praise and transmit a sense of mission, were also evidence of his efforts to maintain the goodwill of those whose financial claims the Institute’s directors wanted to free themselves from. Again and again, the inner Horkheimer circle believed it saw a conspiracy forming between Fromm, Wittfogel, Grossmann and others who had been disappointed by the Institutea conspiracy which Neumann, Kirchheimer and Gurland would join if it was not possible for the Institute to break free from their financial claims without disputes arising. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1217

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to broader Frankfurt School scholarship on internal Institute politics and the split with Fromm.