STUDY Ready for Change? The Party Reforms Planned by the Social Democratic Party of Germany DANIEL TOTZ December 2011 „ „ Over the past twenty years the Social Democratic Party(SPD) in Germany has lost half its members. Besides social changes, demographic development and errors of policymaking and getting the message across, decrepit party structures are another cause of dwindling membership. In order to adapt to changed circumstances and, at the same time, to come up with new incentives for people to get on board, party reform is indispensible. „ „ At the SPD Party Conference in December 2011 a lead motion on party reform will be voted on. This includes extending the participation options available to members, the gradual opening up of the party externally, improved membership recruitment and retention and reform and restructuring of local associations. The reform process itself is to include all levels of the party. „ „ Critics point to earlier party reforms that by and large had little effect on the party’s everyday functioning. This time, too, it remains to be seen what real changes can be achieved. However, the chances of successful party reform have never been greater than they are today: after the disastrous defeat in the Bundestag elections in 2009 there is broad agreement in the party that change is needed.