Download full text
(944.6Kb)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-443525
Exports for your reference manager
Parteiensystem und Sozialstruktur in der Bundesrepublik [1973]
Party System and Social Structure in the Federal Republic of Germany
[journal article]
Abstract From 1953 to 1972, the SPD’s percentage of valid votes grew from federal election to federal election (“comrade trend”). This was explained by changes of class structure: an increase of white collar employees and civil servants, a slight decrease of manual workers, and big and a large decrease of se... view more
From 1953 to 1972, the SPD’s percentage of valid votes grew from federal election to federal election (“comrade trend”). This was explained by changes of class structure: an increase of white collar employees and civil servants, a slight decrease of manual workers, and big and a large decrease of self-employed. In comparison, the share of Catholics and Protestants, and the religious engagement of the German electorate remained quite stable. The voting behavior of these groups over time is documented, and the “comrade trend” is explained by a political re-orientation of the new middle class. Then, the party system is re-constructed independently from social structure based on scalometer ratings of parties and leading politicians. Finally, stability and change of positions of class and religious groups within the two-dimensional reconstructed party system is shown, supporting the results of the documented frequency tables.... view less
Keywords
voting behavior; middle class; social stratum; voter; election to the Bundestag; Federal Republic of Germany; social structure; religious affiliation; party system; social change
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
voting behavior in German federal elections from 1953 to 1972; rating scales of parties and politicians; party systems reconstructed from the voters' perspective
Document language
German
Publication Year
2015
Page/Pages
p. 54-80
Journal
Historical Social Research, Supplement (2015) 27
Issue topic
Politisierte Sozialstruktur und Wählerverhalten bei Bundestagswahlen
DOI
https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.suppl.27.2015.54-80
ISSN
0936-6784
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed