The German Social Democratic Party Between Idealistic Pro-Europeanism And Domestic Ideological Priorities In The Post-Reunification Germany

Uğur Tekiner

Article Details

The German Social Democratic Party Between Idealistic Pro-Europeanism And Domestic Ideological Priorities In The Post-Reunification Germany

Authors:

Uğur Tekiner

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Avrupa Birliği

Journal:

Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.163-195

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001311786

pISSN:

1303-2518

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The main thrust of this article is to examine the evolution of the Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands  SPDs Europhile position since German reunification from a broader ideological perspective. To this end, this study rests on the field research that entails 16 semi-structured interviews with high-profile SPD political elites and archival research on key official party documents. Based on this analysis, the main argument of this study is that the SPD encountered a growing tension between idealistic and domestic views of European integration since 1990. Under the impact of the post-reunification domestic problems and Chancellor Schröders assertive European policy line, the German Social Democrats ideology-driven doubts about European integration increased at the expense of their idealistic pro-Europeanism. Over time, this tension led to the greater prominence of ideological pragmatism in the SPDs official European Union EU narrative, rendering Europe a politically and ideologically salient issue for the party.

 The main thrust of this article is to examine the evolution of the Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands  SPDs Europhile position since German reunification from a broader ideological perspective. To this end, this study rests on the field research that entails 16 semi-structured interviews with high-profile SPD political elites and archival research on key official party documents. Based on this analysis, the main argument of this study is that the SPD encountered a growing tension between idealistic and domestic views of European integration since 1990. Under the impact of the post-reunification domestic problems and Chancellor Schröders assertive European policy line, the German Social Democrats ideology-driven doubts about European integration increased at the expense of their idealistic pro-Europeanism. Over time, this tension led to the greater prominence of ideological pragmatism in the SPDs official European Union EU narrative, rendering Europe a politically and ideologically salient issue for the party.

 The main thrust of this article is to examine the evolution of the Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands  SPDs Europhile position since German reunification from a broader ideological perspective. To this end, this study rests on the field research that entails 16 semi-structured interviews with high-profile SPD political elites and archival research on key official party documents. Based on this analysis, the main argument of this study is that the SPD encountered a growing tension between idealistic and domestic views of European integration since 1990. Under the impact of the post-reunification domestic problems and Chancellor Schröders assertive European policy line, the German Social Democrats ideology-driven doubts about European integration increased at the expense of their idealistic pro-Europeanism. Over time, this tension led to the greater prominence of ideological pragmatism in the SPDs official European Union EU narrative, rendering Europe a politically and ideologically salient issue for the party.

 Bu makalenin temel amacı, Alman Sosyal Demokrat Partisinin Avrupa bütünleşmesi yanlısı tutumunun Alman birleşmesinden bu yana gelişimini geniş bir ideolojik perspektiften incelemektir. Dolayısıyla bu çalışma, yüksek profilli SPD siyasi elitleriyle yapılmış 16 yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme ve önemli resmi parti belgeleri üzerine arşiv araştırmasını içeren bir saha araştırmasına dayanmaktadır. Bu analize dayanarak, bu çalışmanın temel savı, SPDnin 1990dan bu yana Avrupa bütünleşmesine ilişkin idealist ve iç kaynaklı görüşler arasında giderek artan bir gerilimle karşılaştığıdır. Ulusal birleşme sonrası iç meselelerin ve Şansölye Schröderin iddialı Avrupa politikasının etkisi altında, Alman Sosyal Demokratlarının Avrupa bütünleşmesine ilişkin ideoloji kaynaklı şüpheleri, idealist Avrupa yanlılığı pahasına artmıştır. Zamanla bu gerilim, SPDnin resmi AB söyleminde ideolojik pragmatizmin daha fazla öne çıkmasına yol açarak Avrupayı parti için siyasi ve ideolojik açıdan önemli bir konu haline getirmiştir.

Article Details

The German Social Democratic Party Between Idealistic Pro-Europeanism And Domestic Ideological Priorities In The Post-Reunification Germany

Authors:

Uğur Tekiner

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Avrupa Birliği

Journal:

Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.163-195

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001311786

pISSN:

1303-2518

European integration

Gerhard Schröder

German reunification

idealistic pro-Europeanism

Sozialdemokratische Partei DeutschlandsAvrupa bütünleşmesi

Gerhard Schröder

Alman birleşmesi

idealist Avrupa yanlılığı

Alman Sosyal Demokrat Partisi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Uğur Tekiner

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Avrupa Birliği

Journal: Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.163-195

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001311786

pISSN: 1303-2518

Issues

Authors:

Uğur Tekiner

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Avrupa Birliği

Journal:

Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.163-195

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001311786

pISSN:

1303-2518