Party identification in West Germany: Tracing an elusive concept.” Comparative Political Studies 11(1):36–61

o pursue a concept abroad whose value is questioned at home T must look like a n odd venture. In the land of its creation, i.e., the United States, the notion of “party identification ” is increasingly challenged as a guide to electoral behavior. The “end of party politics” has been proclaimed (Burnham, 1969, 1970), with popular attachments to the parties said to be eroding. voting defections from party loyalty to be massive, and young voters t o be refusing the party label (Miller et al., 1976). A focus on issues is seen replacing the partisan focus in electoral decision-making (Nie et al., 1976). Germany. at the same time, would seem ill-prepared for the wide-spread adoption of party identification. The collapse of the Weirnar Republic in the late 1920s and early 1930s and the subsequent Nazi regime severely disrupted both democratic and partisan continuity in Germany. The opportunities for parties and voters to form lasting ties with each other were minimal during these years. A strong undercurren