This essay examines how centre-right parties in Central and Eastern Europe change in their ambitions to become a member of the European Union. The study will briefly categorize centre-right parties in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in order to identify relevant case studies. It is then assumed that ongoing European integration processes have an apparent impact on the domestic level, and in particular on parties´ opportunity structures within the national political arena. In the end, they inevitably adapt to these external pressures by either reacting receptive or by criticizing or rejecting the European project. Based on this assumption, the second part addresses the programmatic development and stance on Europe of major centre-right parties in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic between 1990 and 2006.
In the same way that the European Union (EU) generally has deepened its policies and widened its geographic silhouette for decades, centre-right parties would be expected to become more ‘pro-European’. In contrast, the aim of this essay is too prove this assumption wrong.
While some comprehensive studies indicate such an interrelation for Western European centre-right parties, this does not bear in cases of centre-right parties in Central Eastern European (CEE) countries. These parties were all too enthusiastic about the break-down of the communist Soviet Union and the incipient era of democratic and economic transition and proclaimed accession to the European Union as an immediate necessity in their foreign policy agendas.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Post-Communist CEE Countries between Nation and Europe
2.1 Categorization of Centre-Right Parties in Eastern Europe
2.2 History & Euroscepticism
3 One size fits all? Empirical evidence
3.1 Case Study I: The Czech Civic Democratic Party
3.2 Case Study II: The Slovak Christian Democratic Movement
3.3 Case Study III: Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
4 Conclusion
Objectives & Core Themes
This essay examines the ideological evolution of centre-right political parties in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, specifically challenging the assumption that European integration automatically fosters a more 'pro-European' stance among these formations. By analyzing the trajectories of major parties in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, the study investigates how these parties navigated national interests and European aspirations between 1990 and 2006.
- The development of Eurosceptic tendencies in post-communist centre-right parties.
- The application of historical path dependence to explain divergent party political outcomes.
- Comparative analysis of political party stances on European integration prior to and following EU accession.
- The distinction between 'soft' and 'hard' Euroscepticism within the context of national election campaigns.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Case Study I: The Czech Civic Democratic Party
Immediately after the breakdown of the communist regimes in CEE in the course of the year 1989, economic and democratic transition processes began to evolve in each of these countries to a more or less progressive extent. Associated with this, and in particular in the case of the Czech Republic, ‘Europe’ became a main focus in political debates and public arenas (Hanley 2002: 1). It all began with the ‘Velvet Revolution’ of 1989, when the communist authoritarian regime was overcome in a non-violent revolution (Bradley 1992: 66-105). This case study will focus on the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS), which was founded in 1991 by Václav Klaus. He was chairman of the party until 2002. Klaus, who led Czechoslovakia as finance minister (1990-1992) and later as Czech prime minister (1992-1997), formed a liberal-market oriented centre-right party that sought to refrain from communism as far as possible and favoured a Western-like conservatism (Hanley 2004: 29). In the parliamentary election of 1992, the ODS gained 29.73% of the votes and became the strongest party in the Czech parliament and in government. Four years later, in 1996, the party repeated its success with 29.62% of the electorate supporting the ODS.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter establishes the theoretical premise that mainstream European parties are typically 'pro-European' and introduces the central research question regarding whether CEE centre-right parties follow this expected trajectory.
2 Post-Communist CEE Countries between Nation and Europe: This section provides the definitions and historical context for categorizing centre-right parties in the region and introduces the concept of historical path dependence.
3 One size fits all? Empirical evidence: This main body chapter conducts in-depth analyses of the Czech Civic Democratic Party, the Slovak Christian Democratic Movement, and Fidesz in Hungary to track their programmatic stances on European integration.
4 Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that while these parties consistently trended toward 'soft' Euroscepticism, they never fully opposed EU accession.
Keywords
Centre-right parties, European integration, Euroscepticism, post-communist transition, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, ODS, KDH, Fidesz, path dependence, national interest, parliamentary elections, political ideology, EU accession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the political development of centre-right parties in Central and Eastern Europe and their changing attitudes toward the European Union from 1990 to 2006.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The study focuses on party politics, ideological shifts, the impact of democratic transition on foreign policy, and the growth of Eurosceptic rhetoric within post-communist nations.
What is the primary research question?
The research investigates whether centre-right parties in Europe are becoming increasingly 'pro-European' as integration deepens, or if their actual behavior suggests a contrary trend.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative approach based on historical path dependence, examining election programs, manifestos, and historical political context to assess party positioning.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body provides three detailed case studies—the Czech ODS, the Slovak KDH, and the Hungarian Fidesz—tracing their specific programmatic developments over time.
Which keywords characterize the analysis?
Key terms include Euroscepticism, European integration, centre-right, post-communist transition, and national identity.
How did the ODS change its position on the EU over time?
Initially very enthusiastic about European integration, the ODS shifted toward a more 'Eurorealist' and skeptical position, prioritizing national interests over supranational structures by the late 1990s.
What role did the 1998 party split play in the KDH's approach to Europe?
The split contributed to a conservative turn within the party, leading them to emphasize national sovereignty and traditional values in their stance toward the EU.
Why did Fidesz shift from a pro-European to a more nationalist rhetoric?
Fidesz's shift was influenced by electoral defeats and the pursuit of populism, which prioritized national identity and sovereignty concerns in order to differentiate the party and win electoral support.
- Citation du texte
- Ron Böhler (Auteur), 2010, Are centre-right parties in Europe becoming more Pro-European?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/376555
