ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the transition processes in the two main parties like Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Christian democrats (CDU) / Social Democrats (CSU), concentrating on the issue of modernization versus preservation of traditional identities. It focuses on a quantitative analysis of the SPD and CDU/CSU party manifestos, aiming to measure the policy positions of the parties and rating the party manifestos as an essential data basis to extract those positions. Both strategies of adaption were visible in the SPD when it was presided over by former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and in the current CDU, led by present chancellor, Angela Merkel. The SPD highlights its traditional core policies, labour market policy and welfare policy, whereas the CDU/CSU primarily focuses on domestic policy. Observing European policy, the SPD focuses on the intensification of the European Union (EU) and the set-up of a European debt repayment fund which 'ensures the ability to act of all members of the monetary union'.
