Where Is the SPD Going? The German Social Democrats and the Way out of Crisis
Whether we think of France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria or Germany, the social democratic or socialist parties in Europe are losing ground or even facing dissolution. Ironically, the crisis of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) began with the resounding victory of Gerhard Schröder in 1998.
According to commentators, the SPD has gone from bad to worse ever since. The signals are indeed alarming: a 50 percent loss in party memberships, an important decrease in elected representatives, never-ending articles predicting the imminent death of the party, either delighted or regretful.
This text intends to review the Schröder era and the evolution of the SPD in the shadow of federal Chancellor Angela Merkel from the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). A third chapter will examine the means by which the party is trying to rebuild itself during the current election campaigns.
Etienne Dubslaff is a lecturer in the German Studies Department at the Paul-Valéry University Montpellier 3 and member of the Research and Studies Center on Germany CREG -EA4151.
>> This article is available only in French : Où va le SPD ? Les sociaux-démocrates et la sortie de crise(s).
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.
Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.
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