Party Politics in Germany is the only English-language study of its kind and examines the phenomenon of party politics in the Federal Republic through comparison across time and space. It draws upon new data from the 2002 Federal elections and recent Land elections, as well as on a far more explicitly comparative literature than is generally found in single-country studies. The book not only sheds new light on political phenomena in Germany but also allows students of the comparative method to apply some of the key concepts, models and approaches with which they are familiar to the rich context of a single country study.

Germany in Comparative Context
The Development of Social and Political Cleavages in Germany before 1945
Social and Political Cleavages in the Second Reich and Weimar Republic
Social and Political Cleavages in the Federal Republic, 1945-2002
Partisan Identification, Value Orientation, and Economic Voting
State Structures, Electoral Systems and Party Systems
Political Parties
Competition and Co-operation
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix: Tables and Figures