the nature of support for democracy 1945-89 Flashcards
LO: support for the democratic system, the dominance of the CDU/CSU, reasons for support for the FRG
what was the voter turnout in federal elections from 1949 to 1972?
voter turnout ranged from 78.5% in 1949 to 91.11% in 1972
what does the high voter turnout suggest about voter apathy or disillusionment?
it suggests that issues like voter apathy or disillusionment were not significant factors during this period
how did far-right parties perform in federal elections?
far right parties failed to attract significant numbers of voters
what happened to the Communist Party of Germany (KDP)?
it was banned in 1956, but resurfaced as the DKP in 1968, supported financially by the GDR
did the DKP gain significant support?
no, the DKP did not gain significant support and performed poorly in elections. It never had more than 50,000 members and had no representatives in the Bundestag
how did the political system in the FRG accommodate new political developments?
the system was robust enough to include new political developments, such as the Green Party entering the Bundestag in 1983
how successful were the Greens in politics?
the Greens governed a state of Hesse in 1985, in a coalition with the SPD, demonstrating their success in becoming a mainstream political party
how long did the CDU/CSU govern in the FRG?
27 of the FRG’s 40 years
what role did Adenauer play in the success of the CDU/CSU?
he played a significant role in the success of the CDU/CSU, being a key figure in the party’s rise
who did the CDU/CSU appeal to?
it appealed to conservative Roman Catholics, particularly in small and rural communities, as well as a broader constituency with its emphasis on conservatism and strong moral values
what was the party’s stance on govt intervention in the economy?
the CDU/CSU was committed to social welfare and govt intervention in the economy to prevent abuses caused by lack of regulation
how did the CDU/CSU control the political middle ground? (give examples - economy and social welfare)
in 1947 they supported the introduction of the Ahlen programme, which promoted radical social policies and the public ownership of key industries
with its support of the social market economy, the party controlld the political middle ground
how did the CDU/CSU’s policies on the western alliance, EEC membership, and improved living standards affect its support?
most Germans supported its policies on those issues, leading to growing popular support for the party, which increased from 31% of the vote in 1949 to 50.2% in 1957
what were some reasons most West Germans supported democracy in the FRG?
the majority of the population enjoyed individual freedoms and rising standards, which helped embed support for democracy even during threats from extremist groups like the RAF
how did Adenauer contribute to support for democracy?
many West Germans saw Adenauer as a trusted father figure, which contributed to their support for democracy in the 1950s
what social welfare measures helped gain support for the FRG?
measures like family welfare (child benefits in 1954), unemployed benefits, accident and sickness insurance, pensions, and subsidies of house building helped gain support
what was the state’s system of industrial relations like?
the FRG had a model system of industrial relations that included trade union participation in decision-making, good working conditions, and a collaborative environment between workers and employers
how did the ‘co-determination’ Law (1951) affect workers?
it allowed workers to have representatives on managerial boards in key industries, helping improve working conditions and reducing industrial disputes
why did most West Germans appear to support the democratic political system?
due to its stability, welfare provision, good working conditions, and a sense of security.
radical alternatives attracted little support
how did economoic security affect support for the democratic system?
economic security, with sustained rises in living standards and successful responses to economic downturns, helped fuel support for the democratic regime
what consensus emerged in the 1960s regarding political views?
by the 1960s, there was a broader consensus among major parties in support of the western alliances and the social market economy
