Social
Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
·
Overview
o
One of the 2 major political parties
§ Christian Democratic
Union/Christian Social Union (conservative)
o
Currently governs at federal level with CDU/CSU
(2013)
o
Part of 13 state governments; 9 are governed by SPD
Minister-Presidents
o
Member party of Party of European Socialists and
Socialist International
o
Oldest extant political party (1863) in German
Parliament
o
One of 1st Marxist-influenced parties in the world
o
Centre-Left
o
Chair person/Vice Chancellor: Sigmar Gabriel
o Headquarters is in Willy-Brandt-Haus in Berlin
o Student Wing: Socialist German Student Union
(1946-1961)
§ Juso-Hochschulgruppen (Since 1973)
o Women’s Wing: Association of Social Democratic
Women
·
History
o
Drew their initial support from
blue-collar trade union workers
§ Few
white-collar workers and intellectuals
o
From 1919 to 1932 the Social Democratic
Party received the most votes nationally
o
The SPD was committed to the reform of
Weimar society
o The
SPD was one of the most active opponents during the anti-Semitism that was
happening during the Weimar years
·
Political Platform
o
History
§ Established
in 1875 as a Marxist party
§ Major
shift showed differences between
·
Heidelberg Program of 1925
·
and Godesberg Program of 1959
o
Socialist working-class party to modern
social-democratic with capitalism
§ After
WWII re-establish as socialist (Kurt Schumacher)
·
Represent working class and trade unions
o
Current Platform
§ Seeks
social democracy
·
Freedom, justice, and social solidarity
are the basis
§ Social
market economy needs to be strengthened and output distributed fairly
·
Will ensure affluence of all
§ Works
to protect poor with welfare state
§ Fiscal
policy without burden on future generations while erasing budget deficits
§ Aims
to ensure global peace
·
Balance global interests with democratic
means
·
European integration is priority
§ Advocates
economic regulation to limit potential losses for banks and people
·
Common European economic and financial
policy
§ Environmentally
sustainable growth
·
Influential
and Current Leaders
o
August Bebel
§ Most
well known as one of the co-founders of the Social Democratic Party.
§ He
was born on February 22nd 1940 and died on August 13th, 1913.
§ He
is famous for writing a book called “Women and Socialism” in 1879, which helped
gain Marxist ideas in Germany.
§ It
also talked about the social emancipation of women.
§ In
office from 1892-1911.
o
Eduard Bernstein
§ SDP
theorist and politician and founder of evolutionary socialism and revisionism.
§ First socialist to genuinely deal
with the whole situation of homosexuality.
o
Sigmar Gabriel
§ Current
leader of the overall SDP
§ In
office since the 13th of November, 2013
§ He
was chaired the SDP since 2009.
§ He
has bestowed the nickname Siggi Pop.
§ From
2005 to 2009 he was the Federal Minister for the Environment, and Nuclear
Safety, and Nature Conservation.
§ In
2011 he was elected party chairman of the SDP, in receiving 91.6 percent of the
votes.
·
Base
of Support
o
Social Distribution:
§ Non-Catholic workers,
social progressive causes, and increased economic equality
§ Initially
against Social Market Economy and Western integration, but later accepted them
to appeal wide range voters after death of its post-WWII leader Kurt
Schumacher.
§ Still
for economic causes of unionized employees and working class voters.
o
Geographic Distribution:
§ Cities
of Northern and Western Germany along with Berlin.
§ During
20th century: metro area of Ruhr area
·
coal mining and steel production were
the biggest source of revenue.
§ Governed
Free Hanseatic City of Bremen since 1949
§ Less
support from the Southern Germany
·
States
led by the SDP
o
Berlin
o
Brandenburg
o
Bremen
o
Hamburg
o
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
o
North Rhine-Westphalia
o
Rhineland-Palatinate
Bikash B.
Ella B.
Anne M.
Derek R.
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