Westdeutscher Protestantismus und politische Parteien

Michael Klein examines the relationship between Protestantism and the political parties in West Germany from the immediate post-war period to up to the end of Konrad Adenauer's chancellorship. In doing so, he also takes a look at the previous history, starting in the middle of the 19th century, and draws a critical profile of the way Protestantism came to terms with the parliamentary democracy after 1945. The contribution made by Protestants to party politics can be seen against the backdrop of the developments in various political parties in Germany. The author takes a critical look at the controversy surrounding an interdenominational party in the Christian Democratic Union and the slow and arduous rapprochement of social democracy and the churches.