This thesis investigates the effect of the Euro crisis on the positions of the German mainstream parties SPD and CDU/CSU. Even though national parties are crucial political actors, their responses...Show moreThis thesis investigates the effect of the Euro crisis on the positions of the German mainstream parties SPD and CDU/CSU. Even though national parties are crucial political actors, their responses to the crisis have been researched insufficiently. To fill this gap, this thesis employs deductive, qualitative research. It combines data of party manifestos, televised debates and seven interviews with parliamentarians and parliamentarian assistants. In contrast to other studies on party position changes that are mostly quantitative, this thesis employs a qualitative design. The results entail that there was a small change in the positions of the two parties. The reactions of the parties were mostly similar. They did not change their stance towards the EU fundamentally; however, the EU gained salience. Through the crisis, the par-ties felt urged to give more explanations about the EU and their position towards it to citi-zens. This need arose from the increasing public Euroscepticism as well as the party-bound Euroscepticism embodied by the novel party AfD. CDU/CSU and SPD aimed at responding to these developments and at defending their traditionally pro-European stance. The results are relevant to researchers of European integration and party positions. They also generate advice for practitioners. Party politicians are recommended to make a distinct choice in case a novel (challenger) party emerges; to move closer to the party, or to stick to their own posi-tion. There can be valid reasons for both options but failure to make a clear enough decision can lead to regrets.Show less
In February 1992, the twelve member states of the European Union ratified the Treaty of Maastricht, and thereby decided to introduce a common European currency by 2002, the euro. Whereas this was...Show moreIn February 1992, the twelve member states of the European Union ratified the Treaty of Maastricht, and thereby decided to introduce a common European currency by 2002, the euro. Whereas this was mainly a monetary act of union, previous literature has often assumed that the euro also has implications for European identity within the participating countries. Evidence from opinion polling data seems to point in the same direction: when Eurozone citizens are asked what symbolises the EU for them personally, a large majority states that this is the euro. However, this thesis argues that the impact of the euro has in fact been marginal – at least initially. The thesis uses three in-depth case studies to formulate a hypothesis about the influence of the euro on European identity in all EU countries. The case studies are France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for the period 1992-2013, examined through data from opinion polls and newspaper articles. A second section of the thesis tests the hypothesis through comparative analysis of data from three Eurobarometer questions. The results suggest that Eurozone citizens did feel more European at first, but that this sentiment of Europeanness has declined quickly with the advent of the euro crisis since 2009. From then onwards, the opposite of what was expected seems to be the case: non-Eurozone citizens have more positive feelings connected to the European Union.Show less
