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Heft 3, 2001 |
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Party
Modernization - Struggling to Reform Thomas Olk, The Challenge of Supporting Volunteering, FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 9-22 In half a year the parliamentary commission on the future of volunteering has to present its final report. Social scientist Thomas Olk outlines some basics which should be found in the report. To support volunteering is a task involving different areas of responsibility. The different character of employment and volunteering must not be ignored. The main tasks are first an improved link between volunteers and administration and second training of democratic competences. Thomas Leif, Enliven Democracy by Critical Journalism, FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 23-29 Journalism is marked by decreasing quality, concentrating on visual effects, short stories and poor investigation. This reflects the development of society towards a "fun society". Only a concentration on former ideals, especially well founded investigation, will improve the quality of reporting. By refocusing on investigation journalism could regain former quality. To be successful parties need to fulfill certain requirements according to the federal manager of the social democratic party (SPD): The party has to be open for societal groups, it needs to train its membership and staff, it needs to improve its internal and external means of communication ("online party"), and the party has to provide services. At the same time a party needs to identify and adress the major questions of future concern. Modern party organisation therefore means a close network into society. Modern and professional organisation is a prerequisite for electoral success. The political scientist Achim Hurrelmann finds the green party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen in a problematic situation concerning its party structure and its program. The party needs to adapt to the new situation as a part of government. This includes fundamental changes, as the party still reflects its history coming from a movement. Discussions concerning restructuring the party organisation however lead not only to deep cleavages in the party itself but also hindered a debate on the program. Furthermore the greens need to improve their links to civil society and educate their members. Only by coordinating these tasks the greens will be able to become a permanent actor in the German party system. The party representatives Rudi Hoogvliet and Michael Wedell see the major task of the greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) as twofold: first, it needs to maintain its link to the social movements where the party comes from, and second it needs to attract new members and voters. On the local level the greens need to offer opportunities for active political participation. Training for party activists and modern communcation structures are prerequisites. Dieter Rulff, Farewell to Founding Myths - ‚New Green', FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 59-63 According to journalist Dieter Rulff the greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) need to enlarge their profile from ecological issues to questions of social equality. Socially sustainable modernisation and a fair distribution of societal profits call for a program of social equality which accepts individualisation. Establishing such kind of program would result in a modern and attractive party - even while in government. Karl-Rudolf Korte, Opposition as a Chance for Reform, FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 63-69 Participation in government usually results in a decline of parliamentary work of the governing parties. This is, according to political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte the chance for the christian democratic party (CDU) to overcome its deep crisis. Picking up the compassionate converatism of George W. Bush the CDU might be able to modernise itself. Background is a new discussion on social cleavages as it was used by the conservatives in the 1970s. However, to gain from this situation the party needs to associate its position with leading heads. Jürgen Rüttgers, Retreat is Progress - Overcoming the Party's Crisis, FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 70-74 The Party's crisis is, according top Jürgen Rüttgers, Deputy Leader of the Federal CDU, an opportunity for renewal. The aim of the CDU is to turn itself into the "most modern people's party". According to Rüttgers, the CDU, throughout its long years in power, remained stagnant in its policies - now the Party is searching for alternatives: In its process of renewal the CDU should not, however, adopt the role as a conservative party, but it should strive to win back the center. Rüttgers calls for a strong civil society. Tobias Dürr, Reform as Ritual - CDU as an Example, FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 75-81 When the christian democratic party (CDU) lost power in the 1970s it was able to renew its party structure and personnel. This ability seems to be lost. The journalist Tobias Dürr is sceptical that christian democratic parties in Europe will be able to find common grounds as they did in earlier times with the slogan "freedom or socialism". Organisational restructuring will not cure this shortcoming. Immerfall comes to the conclusion that the need for reform for the christian social democrats (CSU) is less virulent than for other parties. There is no major cleavage between party and its membership. This finding is based on an analysis of the CSU's historical development as the single voice for bavaria and subsequent structural advantages. Still the author finds moderate processes of modernisation: increased membership fees, integration of young (especially female) politicians, a "trial-membership" and a program of involving citizens. It remains open whether these developments document fundamental changes or rather minor improvements on the surface. At least a culture of discussion has emerged as the strong force for coherent public presentation diminished. The lack of citizen participation is a result of insufficient party structures, says the national manager of the liberal democratic party (FDP). Parties modernised their political programs and their public presentation but the party structures remained the same. How parties work needs to be radically changed. The life-long party membership is not compatible with the expectation of loose connections in society. The information age demands different structures: decentrality instead of centrality, small units instead of mass organisations, participation instead of hierarchy. The FDP changed its party structure to meet these demands by abolishing the federal main council as central decision unit, focusing its head office on its campaigning funcion, establishing short campaign membership, using the internet for internal and external communication and establishing a "web unit" for specially flexible members. Last but not least a member referendum was established in the party constitution to give the members a say in decisions. Gero Neugebauer, The PDS in a Reform Swing? FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 96-98 The Socialist Democratic Party (PDS) is in a fragile position. On the one hand the PDS has its roots in east Germany and was able to consolidate its membership base. On the other hand the party is neither able to act nor was it able to gain support in the western part of Germany. The party hopes to win votes by filling the gap left by the social democratic party (SPD) with its move to the "new center". This includes picking up former claims of the SPD. The PDS is on its way to a function party as its only realistic coalition partner will be the SPD. Dietmar Bartsch: Keep the Momentum - Reforming the Socialist Party, FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 99-104 The national manager of the socialist party (PDS) analyses shortcomings and reform options based on a member survey. Bartsch identifies three major problems: the members and voters in west and east Germany differ considerably, the membership is overaged (50 % are older than 66), and the double character of being a fundamentally critical opposition party and responsible government party at the same time. For a reform there are five starting points: 1. modernisation of the organisational structure to make it more attractive for young people; 2. improving the communication between subdivisions in east and west; 3. offering political training; 4. improving the profile of the party by public activities of the members; and 5. seeking intensively to attract new members. Brigitte Fehrle, Governing to Survive: The PDS. FJ NSB 3/2001, pp. 105-109 Brigitte Fehrle, journalist, finds the socialist party (PDS) in a situation where it is dependent on the SPD. The party agenda reflects the orientation towards the SPD. During the elections in Berlin the PDS will try to proove its ability to govern and collaborate in coalitions. However, supporting the cultural uniting of Germany is not one of the PDS' achievements. It refrained from discussing its own history as single government party in the GDR for the sake of power. |