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The programmatic development of the Eastern German PDS: learning what from whom and under what conditions?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 09:29 authored by Dan HoughDan Hough
The unification of Germany in 1990 left the PDS in an ideological and programmatic vacuum. It found itself in a position where it had to develop programmes and policies from scratch, largely devoid of contact with other parties in other countries. In the immediate post-unification period the PDS therefore espoused programmatic positions with the single aim of self-preservation. None the less co-operation with like-minded parties and movements abroad has always been a facet of the PDS's rhetoric, with PDS leaders frequently stressing the party's internationalism. However, only really in the late 1990s – and particularly with the PDS's entry into the European parliament in 1999 – was the PDS's position stable enough for it to try and realize these aims. Even then, the ideological diversity of the far-left movement across Europe has not been conducive to the creation of detailed policy preferences, even if most parties have been able to agree on what they do not stand for. The creation of a European Party of the Left in May 2004 offers an opportunity to put this right, and it is in this arena that the PDS has the best opportunity to engage in policy networking and policy transfer.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics

ISSN

1352-3279

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

1

Volume

21

Page range

141-160

Pages

19.0

Department affiliated with

  • Politics Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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