The perennial success of the German Greens

The German Greens achieved a record result in the federal elections of 2009. The paper explores a range of factors that might explain the success of the party. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, it is argued that the excellent electoral result of 2009 was not an isolated phenomenon but is in line with a long-term growth of green electoral support which has a strong generational basis. A ‘feminization’ and ‘greying’ of green voters can be diagnosed. Despite the party’s effort to emphasize a range of economic and social issues in its campaigning, the chief factors explaining green voting remain environmental concern and opposition to nuclear energy.