Revitalizing the party system or Zeitgeist-on-line? Virtual party headquarters and virtual party branches in Germany

Democratization

Volumn 7, Issue 1, 2000, Pages 59-75

  Bieber, Christoph ^a  

^a JUSTUS LIEBIG UNIVERSITY   (Germany)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

PARTY POLITICS; POLITICAL CHANGE; TELECOMMUNICATIONS;

GERMANY;

EID: 0033949161     PISSN: 13510347     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13510340008403645     Document Type: Article

References (51)

1. This study concentrates on the web-sites of the parties elected to the German Bundestag. The Virtual Party Headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Green/Bündnis 90 and of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) each help to exemplify specific developments of the last four years. The web-site of the Christian Social Union is excluded because of its regional bias and the 'parliamentary merger' with the sister party of the CDU. Up to now, about 40 parties maintain on-line services, much of them resembling in shape and structure the web-sites of the 'big' parties. A regularly updated list of German political parties on-line is maintained by the on-line-magazine politik-digital (www.politik-digital/links/parteien).
2. For further details on the technical elements of German Virtual Party Headquarters see Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik. Parteien und Verbände im World Wide Web', in Klaus Kamps (ed.), Elektronische Demokratie. Perspektiven politischer Partizipation (Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, 1999), pp.175-90.
3. Two examples may show the importance of domain-names for Virtual Party Headquarters: The FDP first presented a 'liberal site' (www.liberale.de), providing on-line space for the national party branch, the members of the Bundestag, the Young Liberals and the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation. The domain www.fdp.de was concocted to fit into the general pattern of www. (party name).de In 1995 the PDS only maintained a service among private pages at compuserve.com. When trying to register its domain name the site www.pds.de was already registered by the IT-Company 'PDS - Program-and Data-Services'. Thus the PDS had to build its on-line headquarters at www.pds-online.de.
4. See, for example, Hans-Martin Tillack, 'Der Wahlkampf mit der Maus', in Konrad, No.1 (1998), pp.35-40; Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik'.
5. See, for example, Hans-Martin Tillack, 'Der Wahlkampf mit der Maus', in Konrad, No.1 (1998), pp.35-40; Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik'.
6. Numerous journalistic tests of political web-sites focus on the levels of 'layout' and 'content', but the integration into organizational structures is often ignored. Thus such tests should only be considered as the preliminaries for serious analysis (See Angelika Eckert, 'Schlammschacht im virtuellen Bonn', in Global-Online, Nos.4-5 (1998), pp.58-9; Philipp Stradtmann, 'Deutschland auf dem Weg in die elektronische Demokratie? Das Internet als Mittel der politischen Kommunikation und Partizipation', unpublished MA thesis, Hannover University, 1998; and Tillack, 'Der Wahlkampf mit der Maus').
7. Numerous journalistic tests of political web-sites focus on the levels of 'layout' and 'content', but the integration into organizational structures is often ignored. Thus such tests should only be considered as the preliminaries for serious analysis (See Angelika Eckert, 'Schlammschacht im virtuellen Bonn', in Global-Online, Nos.4-5 (1998), pp.58-9; Philipp Stradtmann, 'Deutschland auf dem Weg in die elektronische Demokratie? Das Internet als Mittel der politischen Kommunikation und Partizipation', unpublished MA thesis, Hannover University, 1998; and Tillack, 'Der Wahlkampf mit der Maus').
8. Numerous journalistic tests of political web-sites focus on the levels of 'layout' and 'content', but the integration into organizational structures is often ignored. Thus such tests should only be considered as the preliminaries for serious analysis (See Angelika Eckert, 'Schlammschacht im virtuellen Bonn', in Global-Online, Nos.4-5 (1998), pp.58-9; Philipp Stradtmann, 'Deutschland auf dem Weg in die elektronische Demokratie? Das Internet als Mittel der politischen Kommunikation und Partizipation', unpublished MA thesis, Hannover University, 1998; and Tillack, 'Der Wahlkampf mit der Maus').
9. Analyses grounded on a solid background of political scientists covering all four levels still are hard to find. Clemens focuses on the internal organization of Virtual Party Headquarters. See Detlev Clemens, 'Wahlkampf im Internet', in W. Gellner and F. von Korff (eds.), Demokratie und Internet (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 1998), pp.143-56). Christian Müller concentrates on technical aspects, in 'Parteien im Internet', in Gellner and von Korff (eds.), op. cit., pp.157-70, as does Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik. Parteien und Verbände im World Wide Web', in Klaus Kamps (ed.), Elektronische Demokratie. Perspektiven politischer Partizipation. The most advanced methods are used by Rachel K. Gibson and Stephen J. Ward, 'UK Political Parties and the Internet: "Politics as Usual" in the New Media', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.3, No.3 (1998), pp.14-38.
10. Analyses grounded on a solid background of political scientists covering all four levels still are hard to find. Clemens focuses on the internal organization of Virtual Party Headquarters. See Detlev Clemens, 'Wahlkampf im Internet', in W. Gellner and F. von Korff (eds.), Demokratie und Internet (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 1998), pp.143-56). Christian Müller concentrates on technical aspects, in 'Parteien im Internet', in Gellner and von Korff (eds.), op. cit., pp.157-70, as does Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik. Parteien und Verbände im World Wide Web', in Klaus Kamps (ed.), Elektronische Demokratie. Perspektiven politischer Partizipation. The most advanced methods are used by Rachel K. Gibson and Stephen J. Ward, 'UK Political Parties and the Internet: "Politics as Usual" in the New Media', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.3, No.3 (1998), pp.14-38.
11. Analyses grounded on a solid background of political scientists covering all four levels still are hard to find. Clemens focuses on the internal organization of Virtual Party Headquarters. See Detlev Clemens, 'Wahlkampf im Internet', in W. Gellner and F. von Korff (eds.), Demokratie und Internet (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 1998), pp.143-56). Christian Müller concentrates on technical aspects, in 'Parteien im Internet', in Gellner and von Korff (eds.), op. cit., pp.157-70, as does Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik. Parteien und Verbände im World Wide Web', in Klaus Kamps (ed.), Elektronische Demokratie. Perspektiven politischer Partizipation. The most advanced methods are used by Rachel K. Gibson and Stephen J. Ward, 'UK Political Parties and the Internet: "Politics as Usual" in the New Media', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.3, No.3 (1998), pp.14-38.
12. Analyses grounded on a solid background of political scientists covering all four levels still are hard to find. Clemens focuses on the internal organization of Virtual Party Headquarters. See Detlev Clemens, 'Wahlkampf im Internet', in W. Gellner and F. von Korff (eds.), Demokratie und Internet (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 1998), pp.143-56). Christian Müller concentrates on technical aspects, in 'Parteien im Internet', in Gellner and von Korff (eds.), op. cit., pp.157-70, as does Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationsangebote der Politik. Parteien und Verbände im World Wide Web', in Klaus Kamps (ed.), Elektronische Demokratie. Perspektiven politischer Partizipation. The most advanced methods are used by Rachel K. Gibson and Stephen J. Ward, 'UK Political Parties and the Internet: "Politics as Usual" in the New Media', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.3, No.3 (1998), pp.14-38.
13. Genuine Virtual Party Headquarters require the registration of a domain name on the .delevel. See Christoph Bieber, 'Digitales Glanzpapier. Virtuelle Parteizentralen im Internet', Spiegel der Forschung. Wissenschaftsmagazin der Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, No.1 (April 1996), pp.8-11, and Richard Moeller, 'A Link to the Future: German Political Sources on the World Wide Web', German Politics, Vol.6, No.1 (1997), pp.140-50.
14. Genuine Virtual Party Headquarters require the registration of a domain name on the .delevel. See Christoph Bieber, 'Digitales Glanzpapier. Virtuelle Parteizentralen im Internet', Spiegel der Forschung. Wissenschaftsmagazin der Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, No.1 (April 1996), pp.8-11, and Richard Moeller, 'A Link to the Future: German Political Sources on the World Wide Web', German Politics, Vol.6, No.1 (1997), pp.140-50.
15. 'The address www.pds-online.de was since 1996 used only by members of the Bundestag. Following the national convention in April 1998 there is a central project, coordinating the on-line-presentation of national, regional and local party branches' (e-mail of Ronald Friedmann, on-line-editor PDS, 9 Dec. 1998).
16. The German political landscape is usually coded as follows: red - the Social Democratic Party (SPD), black - the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), yellow - the Free Democratic Party (FDP), green - the Greens/Bündnis 90 (Die Grünen/Bündnis 90), dark red - the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS).
17. Christoph Bieber, 'Polit-Marketing mit Megabytes', in S. Bollmann and C. Haibach (eds.), Kursbuch Internet (Mannheim: Bollmann, 1996), pp.148-55.
18. Informationsgesellschaft. Chancen, Innovationen und Herausforderungen (Bonn: Rat für Forschung, Technologie und Innovation, 1995), p.45.
19. Other ancestors of political on-line activity were a student project called 'Abgeordnete im Internet' and the web-site of the German parliament. The Bundestag launched its service at www.bundestag.de on 15 January 1996. A much more important model was the rise of online campaigning during the presidential elections in the USA in the same year. In Germany, most of the Virtual Party Headquarters were redesigned for the first time under the influence of this first big on-line-event. See Edwin Diamond and Robert A. Silverman, White House to Your House: Media and Politics in Virtual America (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997); Michael Margolis et al., 'Campaigning on the Internet: Parties and Candidates on the World Wide Web in the 1996 Primary Season', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.2, No.1 (1997), pp.59-79; Pew Research Center for The People and The Press, 'One in Ten Voters On-Line for Campaign '96' (1996), at www.people-press.org/tec96sum.htm; Wayne Rash, Politics on the Nets (New York: Freeman, 1997).
20. Other ancestors of political on-line activity were a student project called 'Abgeordnete im Internet' and the web-site of the German parliament. The Bundestag launched its service at www.bundestag.de on 15 January 1996. A much more important model was the rise of online campaigning during the presidential elections in the USA in the same year. In Germany, most of the Virtual Party Headquarters were redesigned for the first time under the influence of this first big on-line-event. See Edwin Diamond and Robert A. Silverman, White House to Your House: Media and Politics in Virtual America (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997); Michael Margolis et al., 'Campaigning on the Internet: Parties and Candidates on the World Wide Web in the 1996 Primary Season', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.2, No.1 (1997), pp.59-79; Pew Research Center for The People and The Press, 'One in Ten Voters On-Line for Campaign '96' (1996), at www.people-press.org/tec96sum.htm; Wayne Rash, Politics on the Nets (New York: Freeman, 1997).
21. Other ancestors of political on-line activity were a student project called 'Abgeordnete im Internet' and the web-site of the German parliament. The Bundestag launched its service at www.bundestag.de on 15 January 1996. A much more important model was the rise of online campaigning during the presidential elections in the USA in the same year. In Germany, most of the Virtual Party Headquarters were redesigned for the first time under the influence of this first big on-line-event. See Edwin Diamond and Robert A. Silverman, White House to Your House: Media and Politics in Virtual America (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997); Michael Margolis et al., 'Campaigning on the Internet: Parties and Candidates on the World Wide Web in the 1996 Primary Season', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.2, No.1 (1997), pp.59-79; Pew Research Center for The People and The Press, 'One in Ten Voters On-Line for Campaign '96' (1996), at www.people-press.org/tec96sum.htm; Wayne Rash, Politics on the Nets (New York: Freeman, 1997).
22. Other ancestors of political on-line activity were a student project called 'Abgeordnete im Internet' and the web-site of the German parliament. The Bundestag launched its service at www.bundestag.de on 15 January 1996. A much more important model was the rise of online campaigning during the presidential elections in the USA in the same year. In Germany, most of the Virtual Party Headquarters were redesigned for the first time under the influence of this first big on-line-event. See Edwin Diamond and Robert A. Silverman, White House to Your House: Media and Politics in Virtual America (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997); Michael Margolis et al., 'Campaigning on the Internet: Parties and Candidates on the World Wide Web in the 1996 Primary Season', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.2, No.1 (1997), pp.59-79; Pew Research Center for The People and The Press, 'One in Ten Voters On-Line for Campaign '96' (1996), at www.people-press.org/tec96sum.htm; Wayne Rash, Politics on the Nets (New York: Freeman, 1997).
23. Claus Leggewie and Christoph Bieber, 'Demokratie auf der Datenautobahn', in Bürger und Staat in der Informationsgesellschaft (Bonn: Enquete-Kommission 'Zukunft der Medien', 1999), pp.131-48; Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationensangebote der Politik'; Christian Müller, Parteien im Internet'; Rainer Kuhlen, Die Mondlandung des Internet. Die Bundestagswahl 1998 in den elektronischen Kommunikationsforen (Konstanz: UVK, 1998).
24. Claus Leggewie and Christoph Bieber, 'Demokratie auf der Datenautobahn', in Bürger und Staat in der Informationsgesellschaft (Bonn: Enquete-Kommission 'Zukunft der Medien', 1999), pp.131-48; Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationensangebote der Politik'; Christian Müller, Parteien im Internet'; Rainer Kuhlen, Die Mondlandung des Internet. Die Bundestagswahl 1998 in den elektronischen Kommunikationsforen (Konstanz: UVK, 1998).
25. Claus Leggewie and Christoph Bieber, 'Demokratie auf der Datenautobahn', in Bürger und Staat in der Informationsgesellschaft (Bonn: Enquete-Kommission 'Zukunft der Medien', 1999), pp.131-48; Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationensangebote der Politik'; Christian Müller, Parteien im Internet'; Rainer Kuhlen, Die Mondlandung des Internet. Die Bundestagswahl 1998 in den elektronischen Kommunikationsforen (Konstanz: UVK, 1998).
26. Claus Leggewie and Christoph Bieber, 'Demokratie auf der Datenautobahn', in Bürger und Staat in der Informationsgesellschaft (Bonn: Enquete-Kommission 'Zukunft der Medien', 1999), pp.131-48; Robert Kaiser, 'Online-Informationensangebote der Politik'; Christian Müller, Parteien im Internet'; Rainer Kuhlen, Die Mondlandung des Internet. Die Bundestagswahl 1998 in den elektronischen Kommunikationsforen (Konstanz: UVK, 1998).
27. Petra Vaske, 'Die US-Kongresswahlen '98 im Internet - ein Fallstudie über den Einsatz neuer Kommunkationsmittel im Internet' (unpublished MA thesis, Hamburg, 1998), pp.51 ff; Thomas Zittel, 'Über die Demokratie in der vernetzten Gesellschaft. Das Internet als Medium politischer Kommunikation', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B42, 1997, pp.23-9 .
28. Petra Vaske, 'Die US-Kongresswahlen '98 im Internet - ein Fallstudie über den Einsatz neuer Kommunkationsmittel im Internet' (unpublished MA thesis, Hamburg, 1998), pp.51 ff; Thomas Zittel, 'Über die Demokratie in der vernetzten Gesellschaft. Das Internet als Medium politischer Kommunikation', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B42, 1997, pp.23-9 .
29. Quoted in Sabine Orner, 'Brücke zum Bürger. Interview mit Anna Siebenbohm', Insight, No.2 (1998), p.16.
30. As quoted in Frank Patalong, 'Die Chance auf mehr direkten Einfluss während des politischen Entscheidungsprozesses', in Das Parlament, No.36 (1998), p.15.
31. Eckert, 'Schlammschacht im virtuellen Bonn', p.59.
32. Detlev Clemens, 'Campaigning in Cyberspace. Internet-Einsatz in amerikanischen Bundeswahlkämpfen 1996 und 1998', in Zeitschrift für Politik, No.1 (1999), pp.50-67; Cordt Schnibben, 'Virtuos an der Luftgitarre', in Der Spiegel, No.32 (3 Aug. 1998), pp.22-7.
33. Detlev Clemens, 'Campaigning in Cyberspace. Internet-Einsatz in amerikanischen Bundeswahlkämpfen 1996 und 1998', in Zeitschrift für Politik, No.1 (1999), pp.50-67; Cordt Schnibben, 'Virtuos an der Luftgitarre', in Der Spiegel, No.32 (3 Aug. 1998), pp.22-7.
34. See Jennifer Sullivan, 'Pretty as a Portal?' Wired News, 23 July 1998, at www.wired.com/ news/culture/story/13679.html.
35. Studies on the on-line services of parties within other political systems draw similar conclusions. Regarding British political parties Gibson and Ward found that: 'The parties are clearly aware of the Internet's potential to transform their modus operandi'. Rachel Gibson and Stephen J. Ward, 'UK Political Parties and the Internet."Politics as Usual" in the New Media', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.3, No.3 (1998), p.33. For party organization in the US, Margolis et al. (op. cit., p. 73) expect 'that party and candidate web-sites will continue to grow in number and sophistication'. For the situation in New Zealand, see Juliet Roper, 'New Zealand Political Parties On-Line: the World-Wide Web as a Tool for Democratization or for Political Marketing?', in Christopher Toulouse and Timothy Luke (eds.), The Politics of Cyberspace (New York and London: Routledge, 1998), pp.69-83.
36. Studies on the on-line services of parties within other political systems draw similar conclusions. Regarding British political parties Gibson and Ward found that: 'The parties are clearly aware of the Internet's potential to transform their modus operandi'. Rachel Gibson and Stephen J. Ward, 'UK Political Parties and the Internet."Politics as Usual" in the New Media', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics, Vol.3, No.3 (1998), p.33. For party organization in the US, Margolis et al. (op. cit., p. 73) expect 'that party and candidate web-sites will continue to grow in number and sophistication'. For the situation in New Zealand, see Juliet Roper, 'New Zealand Political Parties On-Line: the World-Wide Web as a Tool for Democratization or for Political Marketing?', in Christopher Toulouse and Timothy Luke (eds.), The Politics of Cyberspace (New York and London: Routledge, 1998), pp.69-83.
37. Thomas Leif, 'Hoffnung auf Reformen? Reformstau und Partizipationsblockaden in den Parteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B43, 1993, pp.24-33; Oscar Gabriel and W. Niedermayer, 'Entwicklung und Sozialstruktur der Parteimitgliederschaften', in Oscar Gabriel, Oskar W. Niedermayer and R. Stöss (eds.), Parteiendemokratie in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.277-300; Elmar Wiesendahl, 'Noch Zukunft für die Mitgliederparteien? Erstarrung und Revitalisierung innerparteilicher Partizipation', in A. Klein and R. Schmalz-Bruhns (eds.), Politische Beteiligung und Bürgerengagement in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.349-81; Stefan Immerfall, 'Strukturwandel und Strukturschwächen der deutschen Mitgliederparteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.3-12; Ulrich von Alemann, R.G. Heinze and J. Schmidt, 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess. Zur politischen Logik der Unbeweglichkeit', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.29-36.
38. Thomas Leif, 'Hoffnung auf Reformen? Reformstau und Partizipationsblockaden in den Parteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B43, 1993, pp.24-33; Oscar Gabriel and W. Niedermayer, 'Entwicklung und Sozialstruktur der Parteimitgliederschaften', in Oscar Gabriel, Oskar W. Niedermayer and R. Stöss (eds.), Parteiendemokratie in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.277-300; Elmar Wiesendahl, 'Noch Zukunft für die Mitgliederparteien? Erstarrung und Revitalisierung innerparteilicher Partizipation', in A. Klein and R. Schmalz-Bruhns (eds.), Politische Beteiligung und Bürgerengagement in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.349-81; Stefan Immerfall, 'Strukturwandel und Strukturschwächen der deutschen Mitgliederparteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.3-12; Ulrich von Alemann, R.G. Heinze and J. Schmidt, 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess. Zur politischen Logik der Unbeweglichkeit', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.29-36.
39. Thomas Leif, 'Hoffnung auf Reformen? Reformstau und Partizipationsblockaden in den Parteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B43, 1993, pp.24-33; Oscar Gabriel and W. Niedermayer, 'Entwicklung und Sozialstruktur der Parteimitgliederschaften', in Oscar Gabriel, Oskar W. Niedermayer and R. Stöss (eds.), Parteiendemokratie in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.277-300; Elmar Wiesendahl, 'Noch Zukunft für die Mitgliederparteien? Erstarrung und Revitalisierung innerparteilicher Partizipation', in A. Klein and R. Schmalz-Bruhns (eds.), Politische Beteiligung und Bürgerengagement in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.349-81; Stefan Immerfall, 'Strukturwandel und Strukturschwächen der deutschen Mitgliederparteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.3-12; Ulrich von Alemann, R.G. Heinze and J. Schmidt, 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess. Zur politischen Logik der Unbeweglichkeit', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.29-36.
40. Thomas Leif, 'Hoffnung auf Reformen? Reformstau und Partizipationsblockaden in den Parteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B43, 1993, pp.24-33; Oscar Gabriel and W. Niedermayer, 'Entwicklung und Sozialstruktur der Parteimitgliederschaften', in Oscar Gabriel, Oskar W. Niedermayer and R. Stöss (eds.), Parteiendemokratie in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.277-300; Elmar Wiesendahl, 'Noch Zukunft für die Mitgliederparteien? Erstarrung und Revitalisierung innerparteilicher Partizipation', in A. Klein and R. Schmalz-Bruhns (eds.), Politische Beteiligung und Bürgerengagement in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.349-81; Stefan Immerfall, 'Strukturwandel und Strukturschwächen der deutschen Mitgliederparteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.3-12; Ulrich von Alemann, R.G. Heinze and J. Schmidt, 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess. Zur politischen Logik der Unbeweglichkeit', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.29-36.
41. Thomas Leif, 'Hoffnung auf Reformen? Reformstau und Partizipationsblockaden in den Parteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B43, 1993, pp.24-33; Oscar Gabriel and W. Niedermayer, 'Entwicklung und Sozialstruktur der Parteimitgliederschaften', in Oscar Gabriel, Oskar W. Niedermayer and R. Stöss (eds.), Parteiendemokratie in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.277-300; Elmar Wiesendahl, 'Noch Zukunft für die Mitgliederparteien? Erstarrung und Revitalisierung innerparteilicher Partizipation', in A. Klein and R. Schmalz-Bruhns (eds.), Politische Beteiligung und Bürgerengagement in Deutschland (Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 1997), pp.349-81; Stefan Immerfall, 'Strukturwandel und Strukturschwächen der deutschen Mitgliederparteien', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.3-12; Ulrich von Alemann, R.G. Heinze and J. Schmidt, 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess. Zur politischen Logik der Unbeweglichkeit', in Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, B1-2, 1998, pp.29-36.
42. An intensive analysis of Virtual Party Headquarters should be designed as a long-term study and analyse the changes in site content and site acceptance. It should observe discussion areas and on-line party chat rooms, as well as monitoring the off-line effects of on-line communication on various levels of party organizations.
43. Wiesendahl, 'Noch Zukunft für die Mitgliederparteien?', pp.356-60.
44. Ibid., p.366; Ingrid Reichert-Dreyer, 'Parteireform', in Gabriel and Niedermayer, Parteidemokratie in Deutschland, pp.338-56; von Alemann et al., 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess', pp.29-36.
45. Ibid., p.366; Ingrid Reichert-Dreyer, 'Parteireform', in Gabriel and Niedermayer, Parteidemokratie in Deutschland, pp.338-56; von Alemann et al., 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess', pp.29-36.
46. Ibid., p.366; Ingrid Reichert-Dreyer, 'Parteireform', in Gabriel and Niedermayer, Parteidemokratie in Deutschland, pp.338-56; von Alemann et al., 'Parteien im Modernisierungsprozess', pp.29-36.
47. Stefan Immerfall, 'Strukturwandel und Strukturschwächen', p.7.
48. This concept was developed mainly within the FDP, but other parties also discuss similar ideas of 'associated clubs' or loosely connected 'working groups'.
49. Die Liberale, quoted in Leif, 'Hoffnung auf Reformen?', p.31.
50. Similar developments can also be found in other political contexts. The FDP has just launched a competition for the title of the 'most wired regional party branch' (www.fdp.de/fdpbv/). Almost totally copying structure and organization of the Virtual Party Branch, an all new party was founded in July 1999. Of course, this still small group of people named 'Die Digitalen' ('the digitals') maintains a web-site at www.digitalen.de. Currently they are trying to collect 2000 signatures, the minimum necessary for official recognition as a political party.
51. Leggewie, 'Demokratie auf der Datenautobahn', p.31.