scholarly journals European integration in the program documents of political parties of Federal Republic of Germany in elections to the Bundestag 2017

2019 ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
Hanna Kharlan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
Alternative For Germany ◽  
The Eu

The article covers the specific depiction of Eastern Europe in the programs of the main political forces in parliamentary elections in Germany 2017. Positions of political forces of the Federal Republic of Germany are characterized by the degree of impact to the course of political life. The election programs of the six parties (CDU / CSU, SPD, FDP, “Alliance 90 / The Greens”, “Left”, “Alternative for Germany”) that managed to overcome the barrier were analysed. Almost all political parties that succeeded in breaking the barrier in the parliamentary elections on September 24, 2017, presented their own vision of the European direction of FRG’s foreign policy in their election programs. All parties, except the right-wing populists, spoke in favor of Germany’s active participation in the processes of European integration. Such issues as a strategy for the further development of the EU, overcoming the negative effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and the prospects of community enlargement at the expense of Turkey and the Western Balkans were the focus of political forces. The Christian and Democratic Union / Christian and Social Union, led by Federal Chancellor A. Merkel, emphasized the need to strengthen the European Union as a subject of world politics against the background of geopolitical shifts after 2014 and the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. The Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Free Democratic Party and the “Alliance 90 / The Greens” spoke in favor of reforming the EU institutions. Instead, the far-right “Alternative for Germany” called for a radical revision of FRG’s foreign policy strategy. All political forces have noted the deterioration of the situation with democracy and human rights in Turkey, which makes it impossible for this country to enter the EU in the near future. As for membership prospects for the Western Balkans, the parties’ positions differ. The conclusions state that the formation of another “grand coalition” led by A. Merkel testified to the stability of the foreign policy and the desire to maintain the leading role of FRG in the processes of deepening and expanding European integration.

Participation of Bulgarian political parties in European integration processes

2017 ◽  
pp. 135-148
Author(s):  
Ivan Osadtsa
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
European Integration ◽  
European Community ◽  
Political Party ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
Political Consensus ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Political Decisions ◽  
The Eu ◽  
The Way

The article describes the process of making the necessary political decisions by the governments of the Republic of Bulgaria on the way to European integration of the country. The programs of the leading political forces of the country that actively participated in the processes connected with the country's accession to the EU were highlighted. The necessity of political consensus between all political forces for the purpose of achieving the main goal of the Bulgarian society of recent years, namely the accession of the country to the European Community. Keywords: Political party, European integration, political party program, government, Republic of Bulgaria, EU

scholarly journals Transformation of Positions of the Political Parties of the Federal Republic of Germany Towards Eastern European Policy (2005-2017)

2017 ◽  
pp. 307-324
Author(s):  
Hanna Kharlan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Federal Republic ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Policy ◽  
European Security ◽  
Association Agreement ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
Alternative For Germany

The article researches conceptual approaches of the German political parties regarding the prospects of interaction with the Eastern European states in 2005-2017. Positions of political forces of the Federal Republic of Germany are characterized by the degree of impact of one or another party to the course of political life. The priorities in the Eastern European policy of the six main parties (CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP, “Alliance 90/The Greens”, “Left”, “Alternative for Germany”) during the reign of the second “grand” Christian-liberal coalition, and the third “grand” coalition led by Federal Chancellor A. Merkel are analysed. Almost all political forces stood for Germany’s active participation in the process of European integration. Instead, there were significant differences in the issue of relations between Germany and the Eastern European states and prospects of their joining the European Union. The CDU/CSU position was based on solving traditional problems of maximum security in Europe. The SPD strategy was based on the fact that Russia, as well as during the confrontation between blocks in the Cold War, should be the nucleus of the East European policy of the FRG. The views of the FDP in general are in line with the positions of the CDU / CSU. The “Alliance 90/The Greens” stressed the need for a pan-European security system and the further implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The rhetoric of the “Left” and the representatives of the “Alternative for Germany” party was plainly pro-Russian. The author concludes that the Revolution of Dignity, the signing of the Association Agreement, the annexation of Crimea and the war in the East of Ukraine have shown the need for a revision of orientations in the Eastern European politics and the development of fundamentally new forms of interaction between Germany and the Eastern European states. To a certain extent, this trend has been reflected in the program documents and polemics on the eve of the Bundestag 2017 elections.

Activity of modern right-wing radical parties in the Czech Republic

2019 ◽  
pp. 164-173
Author(s):  
Tetiana Fedorchak
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Party System ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Political Radicalism

The author investigates political radicalism in the Czech Republic, a rather heterogeneous current considering the structure of participants: from political parties to the extremist organizations. The peculiarity of the Czech party system is the existence, along with typical radical parties, of other non-radical parties whose representatives support xenophobic, nationalist and anti-Islamic statements. This is primarily the Civil Democratic Party, known for its critical attitude towards European integration, and the Communist party of the Czech Republic and Moravia, which opposes Czech membership in NATO and the EU. Among the Czech politicians, who are close to radical views, analysts include the well-known for its anti-Islamic position of the Czech President M. Zeman and the leader of the movement ANO, billionaire A. Babich. Voters vote for them not because their economic or social programs are particularly attractive to the electorate, but because of dissatisfaction with the economic situation in the state. Almost all right populist parties oppose European integration, interpreting it as an anti-national project run by an elite distorted by a deficit of democracy and corruption. Keywords: Czech Republic, right-wing radical political parties, European integration, nationalism.

Party Politics Triumph over Substantive Scrutiny and Principled Policy: Examining Czech MPs’ Voting Behaviour in Regard to EU Affairs

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-125
Author(s):  
Martin Kuta
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Party System ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Party Competition ◽  
Voting Behaviour ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Parliaments ◽  
European Dimension ◽  
The Eu

The paper deals with the European dimension of the competition and contention between Czech political parties and argues that domestic party interests undermine the formal oversight of EU politics by the Czech national parliament. Within the current institutional arrangements, national political parties assume stances – which are expressed through voting – towards the European Union (and European integration as such) as they act in the arena of national parliaments that are supposed to make the EU more accountable in its activities. Based on an analysis of roll-calls, the paper focuses on the ways the political parties assume their stances towards the EU and how the parties check this act by voting on EU affairs. The paper examines factors that should shape parties’ behaviour (programmes, positions in the party system, and public importance of EU/European integration issues). It also focuses on party expertise in EU/European issues and asserts that EU/European integration issues are of greater importance in extra-parliamentary party competition than inside the parliament, suggesting a democratic disconnect between voters and parliamentary behaviour. The study's empirical analysis of the voting behaviour of Czech MPs also shows that the parliamentary scrutiny introduced by the Lisbon Treaty is undermined by party interests within the system.

scholarly journals Challenges and prospects of German foreign policy

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-424
Author(s):  
Ognjen Pribicevic ◽  
Brano Miljus
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
German Foreign Policy ◽  
Economic Power ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
Long Time ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Economic Ties ◽  
The Eu

For the last few years, the German foreign policy has been under constant temptations and substantial reconsideration. The key role in resolving the difficult economic and financial crises in the EU, the development of close economic ties with the Russian and other rising world economic powers, the decision to sustain in the UN Security Council in deciding to authorise the use of force in Libya, as well as the dominant attitude towards the crises in Greece and Kosovo clearly shows the wish of Germany to pursue a more independent foreign policy. In spite of all these efforts and its huge economic power, Germany has failed to become a global political power. Moreover, in order to protect and develop its trade interests Germany must remain within the frameworks of the EU and the NATO. For a long time, Germany has been one of Serbia?s most important economic and political partners. Since it is realistic to expect that Germany will be more oriented towards developing its economic ties with the new world economic powers, the Western Balkans and Serbia will not be in the focus of its foreign and economic policies. Therefore, for Serbia, it will be useful to concentrate on the cooperation with the mighty German provinces that have their interests in developing this cooperation. In the future, the Kosovo issues will remain the main obstacle to it.

Germany and the European Union

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Bulmer
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Integration ◽  
West Germany ◽  
The Political ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Policy ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
The Eu

The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was a founder member of the European integration process, namely the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) created in 1952. However, the circumstances were very different from the 2010s. Germany was a divided and defeated state until 1990. Integration provided important political and economic support to West Germany. From the 1970s, it strengthened the FRG’s foreign policy reach, for the new state was constrained by Cold War politics as well as other legacies, notably the Holocaust. European integration provided a framework for building trust with western neighbors, particularly France. The collapse of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1989 and its absorption into the FRG through unification in 1990 brought about significant change to Germany’s relationship to European integration. The unified Germany became the largest member state. Initial concerns about German power in Europe were allayed by Chancellor Helmut Kohl pursuing deeper integration to bind the unified Germany further to integration: through creating the European Union (EU) itself and setting a course toward monetary union. Specific concerns about German power only really emerged in the 2010s, as the EU was bedeviled by several crises. In seeking to offer a comprehensive understanding of Germany’s relationship with the EU, coverage is organized around four broad themes: the historical dimension of the relationship; the substance of Germany’s European policy; the sources of Germany’s European policy; and Germany’s role and power in the EU. The historical dimension of Germany’s relationship with European integration is important as a first theme. It is no exaggeration to suggest that European integration helped emancipate the FRG from the historical legacy of turbulent relations with France, Nazi tyranny, and the opprobrium of the Holocaust. European integration afforded a complementary framework for Germany’s political and economic order. The importance of embedding German unification in a context of European integration should not be underestimated. Germany’s European policy has displayed considerable consistency up to the contemporary era. Support for further integration, for enlargement, the market order, and the development of an EU “civilian power” have been key components. These policies are important contributors to understanding Germany’s role in the EU: the second theme. The political and economic system of the FRG forms an important backdrop to understanding Germany’s policy and role in the EU: the third theme. From the 1960s until the 2010s, EU membership was subject to cross-party consensus and permissive public support. These circumstances allowed the federal government autonomy in pursuing its European policy. However, the political climate of European policy has become much more contested in the 2010s. Germany’s role was placed in the spotlight by the succession of crises that have emerged within the EU and in its neighborhood in the 2010s, particularly the eurozone and migration crises. The fourth theme explores how the question of German power re-emerged. These four themes are important to understanding Germany’s role in the EU, especially given Berlin’s centrality to its development.

Rational Islamophobia in Europe

2010 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Laitin
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Muslim World ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Front National ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
The Eu

Social and political relations between Europe and the Muslim world are politically fractious. Attacks in Madrid (March 2004) and London (July 2005), and the riots in suburban Paris in November 2005 and November 2007, have all been attributed to “Muslims”. Political parties in Europe (for example the Front National in France, which placed second in the presidential elections of 2002), have mobilized opinion against a Muslim threat to Europe. Relations between the countries and societies of the European Union and the Muslim World have therefore become politically consequential on a number of dimensions – foreign policy in regard to the Middle East; new membership into the EU; and the vast migration of Muslim populations into EU states.

scholarly journals Representation through the eyes of the voter: a cost-benefit analysis of European integration

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-197
Author(s):  
Gabriela Borz
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Perfect Match ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
High Drive ◽  
European Parliament Elections ◽  
The Eu

This article explains variation in the quality of representation in the context of European Parliament elections. Specifically, it clarifies how voters relate to political parties on the issue of European integration and whether they are represented, misrepresented, or indifferent to this issue. The analysis shows that perceived benefits of European integration do drive a perfect voter-party match while perceived costs, when high, drive a perfect match between Eurosceptic voters and likeminded parties and make voters less indifferent. The analysis draws attention to the high number ofstatus quovoters who, in the absence of a party with similar views, could channel their vote towards a party promoting integration, but only if their knowledge about the EU and its benefits increases.

Raising its Balkan profile will cost Russia little

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Security Architecture ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
The Eu

Subject Russia's contacts with Balkans political parties. Significance For Moscow, connections with Balkan parties are an instrument to exert influence in a region falling within the West's sphere. The declaration the ruling United Russia party signed with parties from Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH), Macedonia and Bulgaria on June 27 called for military neutrality in a Balkan zone of neutral sovereign states within a new pan-European continental security architecture that would exclude NATO membership and hark back to the Yugoslav policy of non-alignment. Impacts Russia will balance NATO expansion into the Western Balkans with initiatives to increase its influence in the region's domestic politics. Moscow will tacitly accept the Balkans' integration into the EU. Russia will seek to diversify alliances, cooperating with both mainstream pragmatists and radicals calling for a turn away from the West.

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