Germany: The SPD in Trouble

Less than five years after Willy Brandt’s triumphant reelection in 1972, the German Social Democratic party (SPD) finds itself in deep trouble. Under Brandt’s leadership, West Germany, the only major country on the continent without a significant Communist party, had achieved the “opening to the East.” This policy, at the price of de facto recognition of the East German DDR, had paved the way fora measure of economic, cultural, and personal exchange between the two Germanies—family visits and reunions, emigration to the West for older people, release of political prisoners purchased with economic concessions, etc. These things meant much to many people.

Brandt’s dynamic policy and open personality a...