Why did political reform remain difficult in Prussia before World War I?

In the years leading up to World War I, political reform in Prussia remained difficult primarily due to the staunch opposition of the state's entrenched elites. The Junker landowning class, along with military and bureaucratic leaders and much of the professoriat, firmly resisted any substantial democratization of the Prussian [electoral system].12

This resistance was critical because the Prussian electoral structure served as a foundation for the broader political framework of the German Empire. These conservative elites viewed democratic reforms as a threat to their established power and social standing. While some parts of the empire, such as Württemberg, showed signs of evolving toward full parliamentary government, Prussia—along with states like Saxony and Hamburg—maintained or even adopted more restrictive franchises.12

Ultimately, these recalcitrant elites prioritized maintaining their influence over the political emancipation desired by a growing segment of the German population, leading to a state of political paralysis that persisted until the outbreak of war in 1914.12