Zwischen Individuum und Typus: Die deutschen sozialdemokratischen Abgeordneten des europäischen Parlaments (1952 - 2011) in kollektivbiografischer Perspektive

Engaging with the research method of collective biography the contribution focusses on the German Social Democratic Parliamentarians in the European Parliament. Against the backdrop of social structural variables of the biographies of all 170 parliamentarians in the time period between 1952 and 2011 both collective and individual characteristics of the cohort are empirically regenerated and analysed. Particular attention is given to the question to what extent similarities and differences in the life cycles of the politicians can be identified. Considering research on European integration the article also addresses the question in how far the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979 can be considered as a watershed in its composition and in the representation of the people alike.