Political parties and diversity at the local level: a comparison between Berlin and Paris (completed)

Daniel Volkert

Due to the increasing diversity of Western states, social actors and institutions are being confronted with new challenges. Political parties are especially affected for two reasons. First, one of their central functions is the representation of citizens in legislative bodies. Secondly, political parties play a critical role in the political incorporation of individuals, as they are central to decision-making processes regarding social, political and economic issues.

Consequently, I ask how political parties cope with this diversity on the local level. With the help of a comparative study of Berlin and Paris, the project will investigate if and how the challenges of diversity are being addressed by the main German and French popular parties in areas with a diverse population.