J. Sloam 
The European Policy of the German Social Democrats 
Interpreting a Changing World

This book examines the EU policy of the German Social Democrats (SPD) after German unification, following their rise to power in 1998 and their record in office under Chancellor Schröder. The study deals with policy formation in the SPD through an analysis of the opportunity structures for policy-making in the EU, Germany and the party itself. Across this time period, the SPD recalibrated its European policy to absorb the impact of German unification, deeper European integration and globalization, seeking to interpret a changing world.

Table of Content

Introduction The Origin of European Policy in Germany and the SPD – Policy Frameworks A New Policy Environment European Policy-Making in the SPD Policy-Making in a Wider Context The Next Generation Winning Elections and Strategic Change A Change of Heart EMU in Opposition – Consensus, Conflict and Conditionality Governing the Euro-Zone Eastern Enlargement of the EU Reforming for Accession – A New EU for a New Europe Conclusion Select Bibliography

About the author

JAMES SLOAM is a Research Fellow at the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham. He has recently completed a Leverhulme-funded project, focusing on European social democracy, having previously undertaken research for an Economic and Social Research Council funded study of German social democracy for which he received the Association for the Study of German Politics postgraduate prize. He has published articles and book chapters on German politics, political parties and Social Democracy.