German Social Union (East Germany)
Encyclopedia
The German Social Union is a small right-wing
conservative
political party
active in the eastern German states since 1990. It was started as a conservative opposition group during the "Wende
" in the German Democratic Republic
. It presently has 1,100 members.
.
The party can thus be seen as right-wing (anti-socialistic) national-conservative. It strongly differentiates itself from the National Democratic Party
(NPD) and German People's Union
(DVU), who tend more towards national-socialism. Its closest ideological ally among the right-wing parties is The Republicans
.
politics, several long-suppressed cultural and political movements (re)emerged, and numerous small parties sprang up. The German Social Union was one of these, and has continued to exist into the present.
The party was founded in Leipzig
on 20 January 1990 by the Leipzig pastor Hans-Wilhelm Ebeling, modeled loosely on the Christian Social Union
of Bavaria
(its ideology has drifted in a more nationalistic direction than the center-right CSU since that time). Its most prominent member was Peter Michael Diestel. On 5 February 1990, it joined the Alliance for Germany
, led by the center-right Christian Democratic Union
(CDU) and the now-defunct Democratic Departure (DA). The DSU polled a strong 6.3% of the vote in the elections of 1990. In subsequent elections its vote-share has remained under 1% of the vote in all eastern Landtag elections, but it has a loyal following of voters, especially in Saxony
. Its activities in the western states are limited.
The DSU had one member of the Landtag of Saxony
from 2006 to 2009. This came about after Klaus Baier defected from the NPD and joined the DSU in 2006. Baier had been elected as an NPD member in the 2004 state election in Saxony
, but a series of disputes led to his resignation from the party, after which he joined the DSU.
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
active in the eastern German states since 1990. It was started as a conservative opposition group during the "Wende
Die Wende
marks the complete process of the change from socialism and planned economy to market economy and capitalism in East Germany around the years 1989 and 1990. It encompasses several processes and events which later have become synonymous with the overall process...
" in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
. It presently has 1,100 members.
Ideology
Ideologically, the party's goals are to preserve and uphold Western-Christian civilization, and to dismantle the welfare stateWelfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
.
The party can thus be seen as right-wing (anti-socialistic) national-conservative. It strongly differentiates itself from the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
(NPD) and German People's Union
German People's Union
The German People's Union is a nationalist political party in Germany. It was founded by publisher Gerhard Frey as an informal association in 1971 and established as a party in 1987. Financially, it is largely dependent on Frey....
(DVU), who tend more towards national-socialism. Its closest ideological ally among the right-wing parties is The Republicans
Republicans (Germany)
The Republicans is a national conservative political party in Germany. The primary plank of the program is opposition to immigration. The party tends to attract protest voters who think that the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria are not sufficiently conservative...
.
History
In the chaotic world of 1989–1990 East GermanGerman Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
politics, several long-suppressed cultural and political movements (re)emerged, and numerous small parties sprang up. The German Social Union was one of these, and has continued to exist into the present.
The party was founded in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
on 20 January 1990 by the Leipzig pastor Hans-Wilhelm Ebeling, modeled loosely on the Christian Social Union
Christian Social Union
Christian Social Union may refer to:*Christian Social Union of Bavaria, a political party in Bavaria, Germany*Christian Social Union , a nineteenth and early twentieth-century organization within the Church of England...
of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
(its ideology has drifted in a more nationalistic direction than the center-right CSU since that time). Its most prominent member was Peter Michael Diestel. On 5 February 1990, it joined the Alliance for Germany
Alliance for Germany
The Alliance for Germany was an opposition coalition in East Germany. It was formed on 5 February 1990 in Berlin to stand in the East-German Volkskammer elections. It consisted of the Christian Democratic Union, Democratic Awakening and the German Social Union...
, led by the center-right Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
(CDU) and the now-defunct Democratic Departure (DA). The DSU polled a strong 6.3% of the vote in the elections of 1990. In subsequent elections its vote-share has remained under 1% of the vote in all eastern Landtag elections, but it has a loyal following of voters, especially in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. Its activities in the western states are limited.
The DSU had one member of the Landtag of Saxony
Landtag of Saxony
The Landtag of Saxony, also referred to as the Parliament of Saxony or the Saxon Parliament, is the German state of Saxony's legislature...
from 2006 to 2009. This came about after Klaus Baier defected from the NPD and joined the DSU in 2006. Baier had been elected as an NPD member in the 2004 state election in Saxony
Saxony state election, 2004
The Saxony state election of 2004, was conducted on September 19, 2004, to elect members to the Landtag of Saxony.-Outcome:* The most striking result of the election, gaining international attention, was the entrance into the Landtag of the nationalist NPD, which won 12 seats. Its strength was...
, but a series of disputes led to his resignation from the party, after which he joined the DSU.