Comparative Analysis of Ideological Platforms of Political Parties (on the Example of the West vs. East Germans in the Cold War)

Abstract

The paper considers the problem of the ideological platforms (ideologies) of political parties as a key factor in the political struggle in the confrontation’s example between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the cold war period. The author characterizes ideology in the most general form and political ideology as its variety, presents a classification of the latter depending on socio-political paradigms and methods for achieving political goals, and identifies the grounds for dividing political ideologies into right, left and centrist, and also refers to the functions and features political ideologies. Further, the paper shows a list of political parties of the FRG and the GDR that were active during the cold war. Also, the research reveals their ideological and theoretical foundations. In conclusion, the author concludes that the common ideological currents for both West and East Germans were Christian democracy and German nationalism, although de facto these views in the GDR were not implemented in the course of practical politics.