Ox tour
Ochsentour is a term with negative connotations from German political science and party research , which is used for the course of career paths in politicians' biographies and describes a longstanding organizational commitment. An alternative model describes the rather atypical way of the lateral entrants .
About the terminology
The term ox tour describes the often arduous course of a political career, especially his party career - the run "through local and district associations, community and city councils." This begins at the local level with the assumption of smaller party offices - mostly in the youth organizations of the parties . These are followed by communal areas of responsibility and posts. Later, with success and perseverance, more important positions in public administration are awarded. From this expanded starting position, there is the possibility of assuming prestigious functions at the state or federal level. At the same time, there is a greater chance of being allowed to run for seats in the Landtag or Bundestag. From here, the path of the political speakers, who can make a name for themselves publicly in their subject areas, leads disproportionately often in government positions. However, this only describes the statistically significant most frequently occurring course.
Thus, the ox tour is a way of qualifying politicians who learn their craft from the lower municipal administrative positions . In addition, they learn above all how to merge majorities and to renounce private vanities and rivalries. In addition, it describes a kind of mood meter: How does the politician come across in public opinion? The yardstick here is played by the party base, which elects them to new offices and then confirms them if necessary. In this form of the mood barometer , the value of the public attribution of charisma can be estimated, which the politician ultimately needs in the more important elections. Intra-party careers are therefore linked to public electoral offices.
Repeal strategies
The ox tour is becoming a path for fewer and fewer young people in terms of political participation and career planning - or personnel recruitment for the parties themselves. The causes here are disenchantment with politics and a lack of trust in the parties.
Protection and relationships
For lateral entrants, mentors take on the important function of saving them the long journey through the party hierarchy. First of all, externals cannot simply demand high offices; This requires a personality from the elite level who is accepted in the party and who opens the door by virtue of the authority assigned to him. Second, the mentor acts as a role model and teacher for thinking and acting that lead to success. Thirdly, this person takes on the protection, since the lateral entrants do not yet have a political power base within the party. The patron shares his access to power and support for this. In the early days, this led to a high level of political dependence on the part of the newcomers.
Notoriety outside the party
Numerous authenticated cases show that people through high-profile activities outside of parties become interesting candidates for them or bring themselves into conversation and are thus set up for higher offices via the party's internal election process.
Example: social democracy
In the German social democracy in particular, taking the ox tour is a common route to political advancement. Even the historic SPD , which in its rise to a legal parliamentary mass party always weighed its “revolutionary socialist” claim, had a tight party hierarchy. This was passed down from the party apparatus. The leadership was held by the functionaries who rose with the party. Robert Michels already described the disciplining effect of the Ochsentour, "which over the years turns a young radical into a docile party soldier who can no longer pose a threat to the old elite." Significant here are processes of civilization within the social democratic elites and, not least, the incorporation desired - positively sanctioned behavior. This would make it possible to integrate the party margins.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Robert Lorenz / Matthias Micus: Die volatile Macht gifted Individualisten, pp. 487-503, in: Robert Lorenz and Matthias Micus (eds.): Seiteneinsteiger - Unconventional Politician Careers in Party Democracy, Wiesbaden 2009, p. 503
- ↑ Robert Lorenz / Matthias Micus: Die volatile Macht gifted Individualisten, pp. 487-503, in: Robert Lorenz and Matthias Micus (eds.): Seiteneinsteiger - Unconventional Politician Careers in Party Democracy, Wiesbaden 2009, p. 487
- ↑ Quoted from: Ulrich Sarcinelli, Jürgen W. Falter, Gerd Mielke and Bodo Benzner (eds.): Politics in Rhineland-Palatinate: Society, State and Democracy, Wiesbaden 2010, p. 278
- ^ Andreas K. Gruber: The way to the top - career paths of top German politicians, Wiesbaden 2009, pp. 246-252
- ↑ Martin Morlok: Political Equal Opportunities through Isolation? The filtering effect of political parties against positions of social power, pp. 19–36, in: David Gehne and Tim Spier (Eds.): Crisis or Change of Party Democracy ?, Wiesbaden 2010, pp. 30f
- ↑ Jasmin Siri: Parties - On the sociology of a political form, Wiesbaden 2012, p. 163
- ^ Andreas K. Gruber: The way to the top - career paths of top German politicians, Wiesbaden 2009, p. 123
- ^ Ulrich Sarcinelli: Political Communication in Germany. Media and political communication in the democratic system , Wiesbaden 2011 (2005), p. 236.
- ↑ Robert Lorenz, Matthias Micus: The volatile power of talented individualists , pp. 487-503, in: Robert Lorenz and Matthias Micus (eds.): Seiteneinsteiger. Unconventional Politician Careers in Party Democracy, Wiesbaden 2009, p. 487f.
- ↑ See e.g. B. Peter Grupp: Harry Graf Kessler as Diplomat , pp. 61–78, in: Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte , 40th year, 1st half year (Jan. 1992), here p. 70 ( PDF ).
- ↑ Erich Matthias : Der Untergang der alten Sozialdemokratie 1933, pp. 250–286, in: Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte, 4th year, 3rd volume (July, 1956), p. 282
- ↑ Dirk Jörke: A Phenomenology of Power - on the topicality of Michels 'micropolitical observations, pp. 229-240, in: Harald Bluhm and Skadi Krause (eds.): Robert Michels' Sociology of the party system Oligarchies and Elites - the downside of modern democracy, Wiesbaden 2012, p. 233f