A fascinating insight into political life after the collapse of communism and the fall of the Iron Curtain in the late 1980s.
For Communist parties and their successors (CSPs), the challenge was perhaps the greatest - to redefine themselves within new, 'westernized' political systems. As these parties sought to adapt their programmatic appeals to their new environments, they searched for policies from abroad that could fit these new political structures.
The political parties of Western Europe provided a rich range of programs from which policies could be drawn. This book analyzes how, to what extent and under what conditions external influences came to bear on the programmatic development of CSPs. It argues that while some parties remain neo-communist in orientation, growling about the evils of capitalism on the far-left of their respective political systems, others have developed into social democratic actors, embracing programmatic ideals that often bear a strong resemblance to those of center-left actors in Western Europe.
This book was previously published as a special issue of "The" "Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics."

More durable than any other contemporary democratic head of government and all previous German chancellors since Bismarck, Helmut Kohl has earned a place in history by helping to end his own nations's division and shape a new Europe. In this volume, his leadership and legacy are assessed, and the contributors analyze the chancellor's goals and governing style, including his part in promoting European integration, as well as Kohl's domestic political role - vis a vis his own party, its main opponents and the public - among fellow European leaders.

First published in 1993. This title is the product of a conference designed to throw light on some central questions about the phase of programmatic renewal from the 1950s to the then-present-day. The evidence presented in this volume pursues to demonstrate the existence of a European 'wave' of social democratic programmatic renewal effort during the 1980s, the sweep of which, the author argues, being broader than the previous renewal wave in the 1950s.

First published in 1993. This title is the product of a conference designed to throw light on some central questions about the phase of programmatic renewal from the 1950s to the then-present-day. The evidence presented in this volume pursues to demonstrate the existence of a European 'wave' of social democratic programmatic renewal effort during the 1980s, the sweep of which, the author argues, being broader than the previous renewal wave in the 1950s.

Examining such issues as the welfare state, the politics of unemployment and government-industry relations, this work looks at the developments in western European politics up to and during the 1980s.

First Published in 1981. The essential stability of the Federal German Republic was once more confirmed by the outcome of the 1980 election. In other respects too, there was little evidence that Western Germany would emulate the 'crisis situation' affecting other West European states. Yet 'stability' is not an immobile condition, and since it results from the interaction of a number of factors - political, social and economic - no single explanation of Germany's performance is likely to be convincing. Furthermore, West Germany has to face several unresolved problems which, although not pointing to a fundamental crisis, remind us that the concept of 'stability' has to be approached with care. The essays in this book reflect these ideas, and they explore a range of issues that are central to the understanding of contemporary German politics. The political focus is apparent in the analyses of the 1980 federal election and in the related contributions on political leadership and the questions surrounding German political culture. However, other themes also merit detailed attention: West German foreign policy and the Deutschlandpolitik as well as problems associated with university reform, the interpretation of German history, and the considerations affecting both the management and the performance of the West German economy. Finally, the discussion is concluded by examining the question of whether the German democracy does have 'secrets' that might explain the stability of the political system.

First Published in 1981. The essential stability of the Federal German Republic was once more confirmed by the outcome of the 1980 election. In other respects too, there was little evidence that Western Germany would emulate the 'crisis situation' affecting other West European states. Yet 'stability' is not an immobile condition, and since it results from the interaction of a number of factors - political, social and economic - no single explanation of Germany's performance is likely to be convincing. Furthermore, West Germany has to face several unresolved problems which, although not pointing to a fundamental crisis, remind us that the concept of 'stability' has to be approached with care. The essays in this book reflect these ideas, and they explore a range of issues that are central to the understanding of contemporary German politics. The political focus is apparent in the analyses of the 1980 federal election and in the related contributions on political leadership and the questions surrounding German political culture. However, other themes also merit detailed attention: West German foreign policy and the Deutschlandpolitik as well as problems associated with university reform, the interpretation of German history, and the considerations affecting both the management and the performance of the West German economy. Finally, the discussion is concluded by examining the question of whether the German democracy does have 'secrets' that might explain the stability of the political system.

This book analyzes German politics and economy. It analyzes the "gathering crisis" during the Red-Green government, the governments efforts to impose a reform agenda, the impact of the 2005 federal elections, and provides an evaluation of the success of the Grand Coalition in meeting these challenges in the run-up to the 2009 elections.

The crises of the European Union extend beyond the challenges of Covid-19, Brexit, the Eurozone, and mass migration, cutting to the core of the EU itself. Taking a structural rather than event-based approach, this text unpacks all aspects of the EU in crisis and analyses the implications of these crises for the EU and its member states. This edition argues that crises and challenges are no longer unique and discreet events facing the EU, but rather, they are better understood as sustained conditions that have changed the relationships between member states, the functioning of institutions, the nature of public engagement and the prospects for integration. Chapters broach institutional issues as well as specific policy challenges, covering questions of legitimacy and leadership and offering a full chapter on democracy and Euroscepticism. Working within both historical and theoretical frameworks, this is the perfect companion for those studying and researching contemporary challenges facing the EU, European integration, political crisis management and transboundary crises more broadly.

This book gives up-to-date assessments of key trends and issues in the Federal Republic with sufficient background analysis to make the treatment of the various topics accessible to those without detailed prior knowledge of German politics.

Learning from the West? brings insight into political life after the collapse of communism and the fall of the Iron Curtain in the late 1980s. For Communist parties and their successors (CSPs), the challenge was perhaps the greatest - to redefine themselves within new, 'westernised' political systems. As these parties sought to adapt their programmatic appeals to their new environments, they searched for policies from abroad that could fit these new political structures. The political parties of Western Europe provided a rich range of programmes from which policies could be drawn. This book analyses how, to what extent and under what conditions external influences came to bear on the programmatic development of CSPs. It argues that while some parties remain neo-communist in orientation, growling about the evils of capitalism on the far-left of their respective political systems, others have developed into social democratic actors, embracing programmatic ideals that often bear a strong resemblance to those of centre-left actors in Western Europe. This book was previously published as a special issue of The Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics.

The crises of the European Union extend beyond the challenges of Covid-19, Brexit, the Eurozone, and mass migration, cutting to the core of the EU itself. Taking a structural rather than event-based approach, this text unpacks all aspects of the EU in crisis and analyses the implications of these crises for the EU and its member states. This edition argues that crises and challenges are no longer unique and discreet events facing the EU, but rather, they are better understood as sustained conditions that have changed the relationships between member states, the functioning of institutions, the nature of public engagement and the prospects for integration. Chapters broach institutional issues as well as specific policy challenges, covering questions of legitimacy and leadership and offering a full chapter on democracy and Euroscepticism. Working within both historical and theoretical frameworks, this is the perfect companion for those studying and researching contemporary challenges facing the EU, European integration, political crisis management and transboundary crises more broadly.

The European Union (EU) is in crisis. The crisis extends beyond Brexit, the fluctuating fortunes of the eurozone and the challenge of mass migration. It cuts to the core of the EU itself. Trust is eroding; power is shifting; politics are toxic; disillusionment is widespread; and solidarity has frayed. In this major new text leading academics come together to unpack all dimensions of the EU in crisis, and to analyse its implications for the EU, its member states and the ongoing study of European integration.

Winner of the UACES Best Book Prize 2020 The jury commented 'It is impossible to study or understand European integration without understanding Germany's role and place in this. This book is therefore a must-read'. This new textbook offers a path-breaking interpretation of the role of the European Union's most important member state: Germany. Analyzing Germany's domestic politics, European policy, relations with partners, and the resultant expressions of power within the EU, the text addresses such key questions as whether Germany is becoming Europe's hegemon, and if Berlin's European policy is being constrained by its internal politics. The authors - both leading scholars in the field - situate these questions in their historical context and bring the subject up to date by considering the centrality of Germany to the liberal order of the EU over the last turbulent decade in relation to events including the Eurozone crisis and the 2017 German federal election. This is the first comprehensive and accessible guide to a fascinating relationship that considers both the German impact on the EU and the EU's impact on Germany. This book is the ideal companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying the European Union or German Politics from the perspectives of disciplines as wide ranging as Politics, European Union Studies, Area Studies, Economics, Business and History. It is also an essential resource for all those studying or practicing EU policy-making and communication.

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.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, West Germany was considered to be one of the world's most successful economic and political systems. In his seminal 1987 analysis of West Germany's 'semisovereign' system of governance, Peter Katzenstein attributed this success to a combination of a fragmented polity, consensus politics and incremental policy changes. However, unification in 1990 has both changed Germany's institutional configuration and created economic and social challenges on a huge scale. This volume therefore asks whether semisovereignty still exists in contemporary Germany and, crucially, whether it remains an asset in terms of addressing these challenges. By shadowing and building on the original study, an eminent team of British, German and American scholars analyses institutional changes and the resulting policy developments in key sectors, with Peter Katzenstein himself providing the conclusion. Together, the chapters provide a landmark assessment of the outcomes produced by one of the world's most important countries.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, West Germany was considered to be one of the world's most successful economic and political systems. In his seminal 1987 analysis of West Germany's 'semisovereign' system of governance, Peter Katzenstein attributed this success to a combination of a fragmented polity, consensus politics and incremental policy changes. However, unification in 1990 has both changed Germany's institutional configuration and created economic and social challenges on a huge scale. This volume therefore asks whether semisovereignty still exists in contemporary Germany and, crucially, whether it remains an asset in terms of addressing these challenges. By shadowing and building on the original study, an eminent team of British, German and American scholars analyses institutional changes and the resulting policy developments in key sectors, with Peter Katzenstein himself providing the conclusion. Together, the chapters provide a landmark assessment of the outcomes produced by one of the world's most important countries.

This book provides a broad-ranging assessment of the Court's contribution to the integration process. It shows how the Court has taken advantage of opportunities when they have arisen in the European political process to "constitutionalize" the founding treaties and to exert a strong influence on policy decisions. It also examines challenges confronting the European Union and examines why the Court's active role has not encountered greater opposition and analyzes the implications for the Court of current issues.