The fall and rise of the PDS in Eastern Germany

This monograph is the first single authored book in the English language to analyse the development and stabilisation of Germany's Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). Stemming from the author's doctoral thesis, it explains the surprising success of the German post-communists in a new and unique way, comparing and contrasting the predominantly eastern German PDS with other regional parties. The book is therefore of interest not only to those who wish to know more about party politics in 1990s Germany, but also to those studying the renaissance of territory in European politics. The book employs a two-part typology to fulfil this aim, the first part broadly outlining the structural and causal factors inherent in political regionalism. The cultural and socio-economic variables selected form the cornerstones of the development of regional identities: without these, regional parties are not going to be able to succeed in the political arena. The second part of the typology then sets out three factors which are important in the mobilisation of regionalism by regional parties: leadership, political organisation and a coherent set of core policies. Both parts of the typology are then applied to the case of the PDS between the years of 1989-2000.