National Party Politics in an integrating Europe? The Europeanization of Social Democrats in France and Germany between 1997 and 2001

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2010 , 19 Pages , Grade: 1.3

Politics - Region: Western Europe

The aim of this paper is to analyze the change and adaptation that occurred in the French “Parti Socialiste” (PS) and the German “Social Democratic Party” (SPD) during their common time of representation in government. The research question – “Does the Europeanization of national political parties in government do inevitably lead to similar adaptation processes?” – is thus targeted on the internal party processes caused by the external effects of European integration. The variables that explain these modifying processes are further elaborated under point 4 of this paper.

By the end of the 20th century thirteen out of fifteen European governments were led by Social Democrats or coalitions with social democratic participation. These parties do not longer operate only in their familiar domestic environment – they are affected by European Union politics and thus growing adaptational pressures and shifting opportunity structures. The impact might be the same, but the outcome of respective modifications varies as this comparative study of the Europeanization of the German SPD and the French Parti Socialiste in the period of their participation in government between 1997 and 2001 shows.

1. Introduction

2. The Europeanization of political parties
2.1 The concept of a European impact
2.2 Dimensions of Europeanization of political parties
2.3 The Comparative Method: What (not) to compare?

3. When home hits Europe
3.1 Adaptational pressures & opportunity structures 3.2 Europe and political parties: no benefit at all?

4. Analytical framework
4.1 Programmatic change
4.2 Organizational change
4.3 Patterns of party competition
4.4 Party-government relations
4.5 Relations beyond the national party system

5. SPD and Parti Socialiste compared: Two opposed developments
5.1 The Europeanization of the SPD
5.1.1 Hamburg vs. Berlin
5.1.2 The desire for EU expertise
5.1.3 Party competition in an uncompetitive environment?
5.1.4 The debacle of the Blair-Schröder manifesto
5.2 The Europeanization of the French Parti Socialiste
5.2.1 La gauche plurielle and no program for Europe
5.2.2 Managing Europe without manager
5.2.3 A pragmatic consortium
5.2.4 The PS in Europe: Against all odds?

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography

• College: Free University of Berlin
• Grade: 1.3
• Author: Ron Böhler (Author)
• Publication Year: 2010
• Pages: 19
• Catalog Number: V376508
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668538504
• ISBN (Book): 9783668538511
• Language: German
• Tags: National Politics, Europe, EU, Europeanization, Social Democrats, France, Germany, Parti Socialiste, Social Democratic Party