The chunk we were asked to read deals primarily with trends within both party programs and public policy between 1940 and 1950. K finds very similar trends across ten nations over this period. Party Program Trends Contra Downs, parties have tended to keep their ideological distance, at least the leading parties. The rule seems to be flexibility, but not at the expense of ideological identity. The fact that the Right's essential orientation is toward preserving that which is, as opposed to pursuing a utopian goal, gives it more room to maneuver.
Leftist parties tend to tilt a tad more rightward over time.
But Klingemann sees this not as an abandonment of principle but more a recognition of general success in building the welfare state. Policy Trends Nine out of 10 nations show a steady movement of policy leftward between 1950 and 1970. Defense spending in fact reached its apogee in the early 1950's, with defense's share declining thereafter in favor of domestic projects-first infrastructural modernization and then commitment to services and redistributive programs. But there is no evidence of a reversal or a reversion to the right. Policy is in somewhat of a holding pattern.