Political parties in Germany
CDU SPD
➢ The center-right Christian Democratic Union ➢ was the only major Weimar political party to reemerge
(CDU)& its Bavarian affiliate, the Christian Social almost entirely intact in the Federal Republic having
Union (CSU), represented the efforts of widely
maintained an executive committee in exile throughout the
divergent groups & interests to seek a new
beginning following postwar occupation.
Nazi period.
➢ It have a regionalist identity, the CSU operates only ➢ the main center-left catchall party in Germany, traditionally
in Bavaria while its larger counterpart, the (CDU), advocating a stronger state role in the economy and a robust,
operates in the other states of Germany. redistributive welfare state. More recently, it has come to
advocate social and gender rights.
➢ CDU have led the federal government (1949-1969). ➢ was the only party to vote against Hitler’s Enabling Act in
March 1933.
➢ In its early years, the CDU was programmatically
committed to wide-ranging socioeconomic reform,
particularly in the British zone. the party called for FPD
the nationalization of large industries and rejected
the restoration of many pre-war capitalistic ➢ The FDP is a classically liberal party that has always emphasized free
structures in the Federal Republic. markets, civil liberties, and democratic rights.
➢ What happened between 1947 and 1949? ➢ It was the only small party to survive the steady reduction in the
Essentially the success currency reform, which number of serious contenders for parliamentary representation
ended postwar inflation and the black market; the between 1949 & the 1980s.
end of Allied dismantling of German industry; ➢ The Free Democrats have never received more than 15% of the vote
American opposition to socialist policies; all these in any national election. Yet the FDP has played a role in the German
factors together shifted the CDU toward a more political system far out of proportion to the size of its electorate. It has
center-right than center-left position. participated in sixteen of the twenty-two cabinets formed at the
national level since 1949.
The Greens The left party
➢ represents a merger of the former Communist Party of East
➢ In 1983 for the first time since the 1950s a
Germany, the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS).
new political party—the Greens—secured
representation in the parliament. ➢ has been the most ideological left-wing party standing for
As a “new Left group”, the Greens have democratic socialism.
stood for environmental policies and ➢ It advocates a heavy state hand in the economy, social justice
pacifism in foreign policy, as well as through much higher taxes and welfare redistribution.
opposition to nuclear weapons and power.
➢ The party began as the political arm of the The alternative for Germany
citizen initiative group movement. ➢ It is a populist right party; it receives the most support from less
educated, blue-collar workers specially in the east where it polls
➢ In the late 1970s, those groups concerned
twice as high as the west.
with the environment and especially with the
➢ It wants many of the powers given to the European Union to be
danger of nuclear power established a
returned to the nation state & calls for the orderly dissolution of
national political party.
the euro.
The Radical Right ➢ It calls for “modest immigration” & federal police to guard the
borders.
There are also a variety of radical right parties such
➢ They support traditional families & more children instead of
as the Republicans, and the National Democrats
(NPD) that have competed in elections since the mass immigration.
foundation of the Federal Republic.
• They consider themselves to be patriotic,
nationalist parties that are racist, anti-immigrant.
• Nationally, they have never made it over the 5%
threshold, which was largely designed to prevent
exactly these parties from gaining representation.
Political parties in Russia
Communist Party of Yabloko Liberal Democratic United Russia
the Russian Federation (democratic) party of Russia ( Parties of power)
(leftist) (democratic)
➢ the major successor party ➢ defended democratic ➢ claimed to offer an ➢ It is the dominant party in
to the old CPSU. principles and opposed alternative to both the both national and most
some of the policies democrats and the regional parliaments.
➢ Claims to be committed pursued by Yeltsin and Communists,
to democratic Putin that have sought appealing to ➢ It has held onto its majority
constitutional means to to dismantle most of the xenophobia, in the lower house of the
achieve its policy goals. old state supports and authoritarianism, & national parliament (State
controls in the economy. the nostalgia for Duma) ever since 2003.
empire.
➢ It is no longer
➢ The party opposes radical ➢ Ideology: in its manifestos,
market reform and represented in the UR advocates centrist policies
demands immediate Duma because it has which will appeal to the largest
restoration of state failed to attract enough possible number of voters while
votes to clear the 7 % remaining consistent with the
ownership and planning government's general approach
in industry. threshold.
which is economic liberalism
but with state regulation and
social protection, alongside an
emphasis on conservative
values and patriotism.
Political parties in South Africa
ANC (DA) (EFF) (IFP)
The African Democratic The Economic The Inkatha
national congress Alliance Freedom Fighters Freedom Party
➢ THE DOMINANT PARTY. ➢ The main ➢ The third-largest party ➢ the fourth-largest party
OPPOSSITION. in Parliament. in Parliament.
➢ has been in power since
Nelson Mandela won the ➢ won 20% of the ➢ won just over 10% of the ➢ It won just over 3% of
first free and fair elections in vote, giving the vote in 2019 and has 44 the vote and 14 seats in
1994. It has however party 84 seats in the seats in Parliament. the last election.
garnered a noticeably National Assembly.
reduced majority each time ➢ It is largely a regional
since 2004. ➢ originated from the ➢ established in 2016. party, with a core of
Progressive Party Zulu-speaking
➢ At the last national election that formed in supporters.
in 2019, the ANC won 57% of 1959.
the vote, giving the party
230 seats in the National ➢ it adopted free market ➢ The party describes itself
Assembly; a decline from and liberal democratic as:
249 seats in 2014. principles. a radical and economic
➢ Its sister party in the emancipation movement
UK is the Liberal pursuing the struggle of
Democrats. economic emancipation.
Political parties in France
The right the centre The left
Republicans National Front Renaissance Socialist Party French
Communist
Party
➢ Was formed on ➢ Was founded in 1972 by Jean ➢ founded on ➢ the old party dissolved, & new PS ➢ Until late 1970s
30 May 2015 Marie Le Pen and currently led 6th April 2016 emerged in 1969 under the it was a major
as the by his daughter Mariella pen. by Emmanuel leadership of Francois Mitterrand. force in the
reincorporation macron. ➢ The new party successfully French politics.
of the union of ➢ in the parliamentary elections ➢ The party was attracted new members and
the popular of 1986, it won almost 10% of originally reversed its electoral decline. was the largest
movement the vote & 35 FN deputies known as left party & had
which has been entered the parliament which En Marche (in In 1981 Mitterrand became president more members
established in established it as a substantial movement) & of the Republic & the majority of than any other
2002 under the political force. later Republic parliament what socialist (but also political party in
leadership of ➢ In 1993 elections FN forward supported by the Communists). France except
the president candidates attracted almost before its The following years of undivided for a short
of France 13% of the vote in the 1st current name power affected the party’s image and period After
Jacques Chirac. round, but because the in Sep.2022. outlook. The years in office between World War II.
electoral system reverted to 1981 and 1986 were an intense, and (1944-1947)
➢ They are the single member districts the ➢ Macron painful, learning experience for the PS
direct lineal party elected no deputies. described it as at all levels. It was rejected
descendant being a • Under pressure from Mitterrand & as a coalition
➢ It is a classical extreme right- Progressive a succession of Socialist governments, partner in the
of the wing party campaigning on a the classical socialist ideology of national
Gaullist Party of
ticket of national preference,
party. both the left nationalization was partially government
law, order & anti-immigration. dismantled, but the orientation of the until 1981.
➢ Marine le pen made it through and the party was a continuing subject of
the 2nd round of the right. conflict and debate.
presidential election in
2017,2022.
Political parties in Britain (the two dominant parties)
Conservative Party Labour Party
(right-wing creed)
➢ British Conservatism has a long history. ➢ By its 1918 constitution, Labour committed itself
➢ It embraces a broad spectrum of ideas about the nature of to socialism. Socialism is not a precise term and
humankind, society, and political change. different party thinkers and leaders have given it
their own slant.
➢ emphasizes preserving the best of the past (including the ➢ Following a series of electoral defeats in 1979 &
traditions & institutions of the country) and allowing society after, Tony Blair set out to reinvent the party as
to develop gradually, adapting only where change is proved New Labour. He boldly tackled the party’s
to be necessary. constitution, rewriting Clause Four so that it now
stresses community values such as equality of
power, tolerance and respect, rights and duties,
➢ In the post-war era, the Conservatives generally stuck to one the emphasis being on society. He modernized
nation policies that were seen as pragmatic (practical, the party.
realistic). Most came to accept the welfare state and the Old Labour new Labour
need for more governmental intervention and regulation. 1. Close to trade unions. 1. More detached
from unions.
2. Willingness to raise taxes
➢ the 1980s, under Margaret Thatcher, the emphasis was
to finance high levels of 2. Keen to keep direct
rather different. She was committed to traditional party public expenditure. taxation down, or
policies such as a firm stand on law and order, was strongly anyway not
in favor of free enterprise, market forces, lower taxes, and 3. Lukewarm support for increase it.
more consumer choice, and hostile to trade-union power. European Community.
3. Pro-Europeanism.
➢
Marginal Political parties in Britain
The Liberal Democrats UK Independence the Socialist Labour The Scottish Nationalist Party
Party Party
➢ where formed as a result of Committed to On the left, ➢ a separatist party, wanting
merger between the old outright independence from Great
comprises mainly
British Liberal Party and the withdrawals from Britain.
ex-Labour who find
Social Democrats.
the European ➢It is now the second largest
Blairism (tony Blair party in Scotland, after
➢ The new party soon Union.
ideology) Labour.
stablished its own identity
unpalatable.
what the past commitment
to pro-Europeanism, racial, ➢ It does not emphasize the
justice and tolerance was usual cultural nationalism of
preserved. parties of the nationalist
type.
➢ By contrast, Plaid Cymru has
always been a more
traditional nationalist party,
speaking up for the culture
and language of Wales.
Political parties in USA (the two main ruling parties)
Democrats Party Republican Party
• Democrats have moved further and further to the left • Republicans have become increasingly conservative.
since 1970.
• have greater support among women than men, among • Republican presidential candidates do better among
blacks than whites, and among people with lower regular churchgoers than Democrats.
incomes and educations than upper-status people.
There is a vast gap between the views of Democratic and Republican voters on issues like health care
reform, abortion rights, and foreign policy.
Minor parties in USA
Ideological parties One-issue parties Fractional parties
Parties professing a comprehensive Parties seeking a single policy, usually Parties that are created by a split in
view of American society & revealed by their names, and avoiding a major party, usually over the
government radically different from other issues. identity and philosophy of the major
that of the established parties. Most party’s presidential candidate.
Examples:
have been Marxist in outlook, but ➢ Free Soil party—to prevent spread of slavery Examples:
some are quite the opposite. (1848 -1852). ➢ Progressive party.
➢ American and Prohibition party—to ban ➢ Reform party.
Examples: Communist party (1920s to the sale of liquor (1869 to present)
present), Libertarian party (1972 to ➢ Women’s party—to obtain the right to vote
present), Green party (1984 to present). for women (1913–1920).
