ABSTRACT
The electoral successes of the West German Greens (Die Grünen) during the early 1980s made them the paradigmatic case of Green politics. In contrast to other Green parties, Die Grünen soon became a power in national party politics. Their unexpected defeat in the all-German elections on 2 December 1990 shook the party from top to bottom and sent a chill through the European family of Green parties. However, media reports of the Greens’ demise turned out to be greatly exaggerated; 1991-1993 has seen their successes in a series of Land (state) elections, in reforming party structures, and in merging with the East German Bündnis 90 (Alliance 90).2
