Benjamin von dem Berge

The influence of Europarties on Central and Eastern European partner parties: a theoretical and analytical model

This article provides a comprehensive theoretical model for analysing the influence of European party federations (Europarties) on their Central and Eastern European (CEE) partner parties. It draws on the concepts of Europeanization and party change and is, in principle, applicable to similar processes of party enlargement elsewhere. In the process of their Eastern enlargement, Europarties have searched for suitable CEE partner parties on which they have tried to exert influence. Thus far, little is known about the precise mechanisms involved and the actual impact of these processes. We argue that Europarty influence leads to party change on the side of the CEE partners, which brings about ‘West-Europeanization’. Europarties are expected to apply a double strategy that consists of a process of political exchange based on a largely asymmetric power relationship in favour of Europarties and a socialization strategy in which Europarties try to socialize their partners and convince them of the appropriateness of change. We present the theoretical and analytical tools for the analysis of the arguably largest extension of transnational party organizations, which provides ample testing ground for more general theories on party change. Furthermore, we present preliminary empirical evidence on the two most important cases, namely the European People’s Party and the Party of European Socialists, which indicates that Europarties played an important role in the development of CEE parties and party systems in general.

Die Europäisierung nationaler Parteien und europäische Parteien

Die Europaisierung politischer Parteien hat sich erst nach dem Jahrtausendwechsel zu einem wirklich eigenstandigen Forschungszweig entwickelt. Bis dahin konzentrierte sich die Parteienforschung praktisch ausschlieslich auf das nationale Umfeld politischer Parteien (Ladrech 2009: 4). Bevor wir uns der Europaisierung auf Parteienebene zuwenden, ist zunachst der Europaisierungsbegriff klar zu defi nieren, da dieser in der Forschung nicht immer einheitlich verwendet wird.

The Proof of the Pudding: Arriving at Numbers

The main goal of our coding scheme is to present a comprehensive instrument for content analysis which can be applied to the study of party statutes. The overall intent is to measure the level of IPD for each of the coded statutes and to express this in numerical terms. In this chapter we explain how we arrive at the numbers. First, in Sect. 5.1 the method for quantification of the raw data, the “robustness” and weighting options as well as the results of reliability tests are presented. Secondly, in Sect. 5.2 we share some first descriptive findings of the development of IPD within the Hungarian, Slovakian and Romanian parties under study in our research project (see preface).The main goal of our coding scheme is to present a comprehensive instrument for content analysis which can be applied to the study of party statutes. The overall intent is to measure the level of IPD for each of the coded statutes and to express it in numerical terms. In this chapter we explain how we arrive at the numbers. First, in Sect. 5.1 the method for quantification of the raw data, the “robustness” and weighting options as well as the results of reliability tests are presented. Secondly, in Sect. 5.2 we share some first descriptive findings of the development of IPD within the Hungarian, Slovakian and Romanian parties under study in our research project (see preface).

The Coding Scheme

The coding scheme presented in this chapter is developed on the basis of the theoretical considerations sketched out in the previous chapter. In other words, the coding scheme is the result of the operationalization of the theoretical considerations. In our case, it is created in such a way that it follows from general concepts to specific questions. The coders apply the coding scheme directly on the text (the party statutes).

Deduction of the Coding Scheme

Obviously, any deductive content analysis needs to begin with the theoretical deduction of the coding scheme. In this chapter we describe the theoretical considerations which lead us to the different main categories and sub-categories in the scheme. Based on this theoretical reasoning we specify the actual coding scheme in a second step (see Chapter 3).

The Coding Procedure

After making explicit the underlying theoretical considerations related to the study of IPD and presenting the coding scheme, special attention is now given to the coding procedure itself. Here we provide general coding instructions and rules as well as some coding examples. The specific coding instructions for each question are listed in Appendix A.