The Left Party in Contemporary German Politics (New Perspectives in German Political Studies)

This is the first book in either English or German to analyse the development of Germany's newest political party, the Left Party. It compares and contrasts the party's development with that of Germany's most well-known outsider party - the Greens. It also analyses the party's performance in office in two eastern German L?¤nder. Finally, the book also puts the merger between the PDS and the WASG under the microscope before speculating on the party's future prospects. This is the first book in either English or German to analyse the development of Germany's newest political party, the Left Party. It compares and contrasts the party's development with that of Germany's most well-known outsider party - the Greens. It also analyses the party's performance in office in two eastern German Lander. The Linkspartei is Germany's newest political party. It grew out of the predominantly eastern German PDS and the largely western German WASG. It is the first party in Germany's history to stabilize itself as a serious competitor to the left of Germany's Social Democrats. Its organizational resilience and its strong electoral performances would therefore indicate that it will be here to stay for a while to come. This book analyses how the Left Party came into existence, why it has been successful and where it is likely to go - in programmatic, strategic and electoral terms - from here. It compares the Left Party's political development with that of post-war Germany's other most famous outsider-turned-insider party, the Greens, and it also analyses the Left Party's performances in sub-national governments. It therefore contributes to wider debates on how, when and why parties 'de-radicalize' as they become more embedded in a political system This Book Analyses How The Left Party Came Into Existence, Why It Has Been Successful And Where It Is Likely To Go - In Programmatic, Strategic And Electoral Terms - From Here. It Compares The Left Party's Political Development With That Of Post-war Germany's Other Most Famous Outsider-turned-insider Party, The Greens, And It Also Analyses The Left Party's Performances In Sub-national Governments. It Therefore Contributes To Wider Debates On How, When And Why Parties 'de-radicalise' As They Become More Embedded In A Political System.--book Jacket. Unification And The Fight For Survival -- Policies, Programmes And Personalities : The Post-1998 Pds -- Aims And Ambitions : Policy, Office, Votes And The Left Party -- Haven't We Been Here Before? : Comparing The Left Party And The Greens -- The Left Party In Mecklenburg-western Pomerania -- The Left Party In Berlin -- The Left Party In Opposition -- From The Pds To The Left Party. Dan Hough, Michael Koß And Jonathan Olsen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 195-210) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 7 Abbreviations......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 1 Unification and the Fight for Survival......Page 23 2 Policies, Programmes and Personalities: The Post-1998 PDS......Page 42 3 Aims and Ambitions: Policy, Office, Votes and the Left Party......Page 58 4 Haven’t We Been Here Before? Comparing the Left Party and the Greens......Page 77 5 The Left Party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania......Page 95 6 The Left Party in Berlin......Page 110 7 The Left Party in Opposition......Page 126 8 From the PDS to the Left Party......Page 145 9 Conclusion......Page 164 Notes......Page 177 Bibliography......Page 206 E......Page 222 K......Page 223 S......Page 224 Z......Page 225 Unification and the fight for survival Policies, programmes and personalities : the post-1998 Left Party Aims and ambitions : policy, office, votes and the Left Party Haven't we been here before? : comparing the Left Party and the Greens The Left Party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania The Left Party in Berlin The Left Party in opposition From the PDS to the Left Party This is the first book in either English or German to analyse the development of Germany's newest political party, the Left Party. It compares and contrasts the party's development with that of Germany's most well-known outsider party - the Greens. It also analyses the party's performance in office in two eastern German Länder.