From state party to party crisis: The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)
PS7-3
Presented by: Guenther Sandner
From state party to party crisis:The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)
The presentation deals with the development of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) in the context of the crisis of European social democracies. First of all, some historical lines of development and national peculiarities are elaborated, before focusing on the last 20 years, i.e. the period since the turn of the millennium. In particular, the development of the SPÖ's programme and organisation, its focus in terms of personnel and content in phases of government and opposition and thus also its position in the political system, the development in nationwide elections (National Council, European Parliament, Federal Presidency) and, in an exemplary fashion, in state parliamentary elections, the socio-structural composition of the electorate, and the influence that key political events had on the Social Democratic Party are examined. This refers to national as well as international events and developments such as the financial and economic crisis of 2008, the so-called refugee crisis of 2015, recent political scandals (keywords: "Ibiza” and “Kurz”) and, of course, the political disputes concerning the current pandemic. The aim is to name and discuss the reasons and causes for the SPÖ's not completely seamless but successive decline, both in elections and among members, and the associated loss of political significance.
The presentation deals with the development of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) in the context of the crisis of European social democracies. First of all, some historical lines of development and national peculiarities are elaborated, before focusing on the last 20 years, i.e. the period since the turn of the millennium. In particular, the development of the SPÖ's programme and organisation, its focus in terms of personnel and content in phases of government and opposition and thus also its position in the political system, the development in nationwide elections (National Council, European Parliament, Federal Presidency) and, in an exemplary fashion, in state parliamentary elections, the socio-structural composition of the electorate, and the influence that key political events had on the Social Democratic Party are examined. This refers to national as well as international events and developments such as the financial and economic crisis of 2008, the so-called refugee crisis of 2015, recent political scandals (keywords: "Ibiza” and “Kurz”) and, of course, the political disputes concerning the current pandemic. The aim is to name and discuss the reasons and causes for the SPÖ's not completely seamless but successive decline, both in elections and among members, and the associated loss of political significance.