Focusing on the emergence of interest groups in post-communist societies, the book explores their pivotal role in the process of democratic transformation. It delves into how these groups influence political dynamics and contribute to the shaping of civil society in a shifting political landscape. Through a detailed analysis, it highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by these organizations as they navigate the complexities of a new democratic framework.
The German general election of 1998 brought to an end 16 years of Christian-Liberal government under Helmut Kohl, ushering in the first red-green coalition in a major west European country. Reflecting far-reaching changes in economic and social life, this
This book examines the party landscape in the new Federal Republic, suggesting that, despite continuity in the composition of the party system, the potential for change and instability has increased significantly since unification. Party system change is addressed at both federal and state levels and each of the parties is examined against the background of the unification process. There is an analysis of voting behaviour in the all-German election of 1990 and in the longer term, showing a tendency towards electoral volatility. The book examines the formation of the party system in the eastern part of Germany out of the opposition of the old regime and assesses the potential for the consolidation of party democracy in the east.
This provides authoritative coverage as well as wide-ranging and integrated analysis of politics and policy in Germany today and of its role in Europe and the wider world. Bringing together extensively revised and updated chapters by leading authorities, it will be essential for students and anyone interested in European politics.
Once the miracle economy of the continent, Germany now staggers under the massive cost burden of unification while it struggles to come to terms with global economic change. Failure to confront the underlying economic weakness has discredited political institutions and patterns of political behavior that were once regarded as the 'efficient secret' of economic success. The country stands at the crossroads between economic reform and a spiral of economic decline with unpredictable fallout. Bringing together entirely new chapters by leading authorities in the field, Developments in German Politics 3 examines the unfolding crisis of German political economy; its repercussions for polity, politics, and policy; and the consequences for Germany's role in Europe and the wider world. Like its predecessors, this book will be of interest to all concerned with European politics and will be necessary reading for students of German politics and society. Contributors. David P. Conradt, Russell J. Dalton, Kenneth Dyson, Klaus H. Goetz, Simon Green, Adrian Hyde-Price, Charlie Jeffery, Stephen Padgett, William E. Paterson, Wolfgang Rüdig, Martin Seeleib-Kaiser, Gordon Smith, Roland Sturm
In the unification year of 1990, Helmut Kohl's stature appeared to invite comparison with Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic. This book examines the evolution of the modern German chancellorship against the background of social and political change.
