Federal Republic of Federal Republic of GermanyGermany

Germany Population: 82.4 million Growth -.044% Extremely homogenous

ethnically Turkish- 2.4% Other- 6.1% Life exp: 76 men/ 82 women 34% Roman Catholic 34%

Protestant 28% Other Literacy: 99% Federal Republic with 16 Lander

(states)

Germany: History Holy Roman Empire gives way to

Prussia 1648: Treaty of Westphalia(360+

entities) 1740-1763: Silesian Wars (Austria’s

Succession) 1804-1815: Napoleonic Wars 1848: Frankfurt Paliment is formed 1871: Germany unified by Prussia,

Bismarck 1905: Schlieffen Plan 1919-33: Weimar Republic (Democracy

fails due to depression, proportional rep. In Reichstag)

German History (cont.)German History (cont.) 1923: Reichsmark devalued 1933: Chancellor Hitler comes to power 1939: Hitler invades Poland 1945: Germany surrenders 1949: West Germany formed 1955: NATO member 1961: Berlin Wall erected 1989: Berlin wall falls 1990: Germany Unified 1998: Chancellor Helmut Kohl defeated

Weimar Republic (1919-Weimar Republic (1919-1933)1933)

Formally known as the Formally known as the Deutsches Deutsches ReichReich

Democatic and republican periodDemocatic and republican period New consitution written under the New consitution written under the

German ReichGerman Reich Two goals were:Two goals were:

– Social protection of working classSocial protection of working class– DemocratizationDemocratization

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)

Elected Chancellor in 1933Elected Chancellor in 1933 Nazi’s eliminated any oppositionNazi’s eliminated any opposition Developed the axis in 1936Developed the axis in 1936 "we shall regain our health only by "we shall regain our health only by

eliminating the Jews"eliminating the Jews" Surrenders and commits suicide in Surrenders and commits suicide in

19451945

German Unification

Was thought impossible; political and social concerns

October 1989--Berlin Wall falls “Two plus four” Treaty: 1990 October 3, 1990= Unification 5 East German lander added to West

Germany, West German Basic Law applied nationwide

Colonial “Wessis” vs. “Ossis” ignorant

Two Plus Four TreatyTwo Plus Four Treaty

Between Germany, and the 4 major Between Germany, and the 4 major powers in Germanypowers in Germany

East and West Germany wanted to form a East and West Germany wanted to form a united democratic stateunited democratic state

Germany must:Germany must:– Keep no more than 370,000 in the armyKeep no more than 370,000 in the army– East Germany is a Nuclear Weapon Free zoneEast Germany is a Nuclear Weapon Free zone– All of the Allied powers must loose all power in All of the Allied powers must loose all power in

country.country. Confirmed national border with PolandConfirmed national border with Poland

The Executive Branch Chief of State: Horst Koehler (July

2004) 5 yr. Term, elected by federal

convention composed of party reps from national and state Parliaments

Federal Chancellor: Angela Merkel (November 2005)

Cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor

The German Federal President

Elected by Federal Convention, consisting of members from Bundestag and equal numbers of people from state governments

5 yr term, Re-electable only once Previously seen as “retirement office” or

token reward for service; usually a moderate

Dispute whether President can reject a statute on substantive constitutional grounds; does sign all legislation

Ceremonial job, but concludes agreements, receives ambassadors

Federal President’s DutiesFederal President’s Duties

May appoint/dismiss federal judges, military officers, and federal civil servants

May dissolve Bundestag either after “Constructive Vote of No Confidence” or Chancellor’s request

Purposes an individual of chancellor Purposes an individual of chancellor which is elected by the Bundestag which is elected by the Bundestag

Mediator of national emergenciesMediator of national emergencies

The German Federal Chancellor

Elected by Bundesrat Head of Government, like a PM May be subjected to Constructive

Vote of No Confidence EX: 1982: Helmut Schmidt

replaced by Helmut Kohl Currently Angela Merkel (2005)

German CabinetGerman Cabinet Called Bundeskabinett or Called Bundeskabinett or

BundesregierungBundesregierung It consists of the Chancellor and the It consists of the Chancellor and the

cabinet ministers.cabinet ministers. The cabinet ministers have the freedom The cabinet ministers have the freedom

to carry out their duties independently to carry out their duties independently but must follow the Chancellor's directivebut must follow the Chancellor's directive

If two ministers disagree on a particular If two ministers disagree on a particular point, the cabinet resolves the conflict by point, the cabinet resolves the conflict by majority vote (majority vote (KollegialprinzipKollegialprinzip or or principle of deference).principle of deference).

Bundestag (656+)Bundestag (656+)

Mixed Member-Proportional system; 2 ballots Must get 5% on ballot or win 3 districts to get PR “Overhang mandate”--bring in new seats if you

win more districts than overall vote, hurts your party

Passes laws, elects Federal Chancellor, oversight Constitutional controversy: Can Chancellor

dissolve Parliament w/o lack of confidence?

BundesratBundesrat Bundesrat (69) Each lander gets 3 votes; larger states

get up to 6 Members are from state governments Overrepresents small states (Bremeb,

700000 people= 3 seats North Rhine Westphalia= 18 million, 6 seats)

Objection to a bill may be overrridden by proportion in Bundestag (1/2. 2/3)

President of Bundesrat is the Vice President of Germany

A look at Germany’s Greens

Entered Bundestag, 1983 Out in 1990, back in 1994 Split over strategy between Realists

(no nukes) and Fundamentalists (do not relent on environmental issues)

Part of “Green-Red” coalition Former Foreign Minister: Joschka

Fischer, is a Green

Political Party System in Germany

“Two plus one system” Need to form coalition 1960s: “Grand Coalition” of CDU/SPD CDU/CSU: Christian Democratic Union

and Christian Social Union: center-right parties

CDU--Christian ideology, called CSU in Bavaria (Catholic province)

SPD: Social Democratic Party: center-left party

Greens: Entered coalition with SPD in ‘99 (Joschka Fischer, FM, is a green)

PDS: Ex-Communists

Party funding comes from membership Party funding comes from membership dues dues

The political parties receive free The political parties receive free campaign advertising on public campaign advertising on public television and radio stations for television and radio stations for European, national, and European, national, and LandLand elections elections

Although only 3 to 4 percent of voters Although only 3 to 4 percent of voters were members of a political party, all were members of a political party, all the major parties experienced a the major parties experienced a decrease in party membership in the decrease in party membership in the early 1990s, possibly a result of the early 1990s, possibly a result of the increased distrust of political parties increased distrust of political parties

The Judiciary

Traditionally: Rechtsstaat (law state). Sovereign state is impartial.

Under Basic Law, now uses modified version called Sozialstaat (judiciary bound by justice)

Federal Constitutional court has power of Judicial Review

Very prestigious and respected

How Germany Votes: How Germany Votes: ParliamentaryParliamentary

Political Culture

Traditionally lacked Anglo-Saxon liberal democratic foundations, strong “father state” respected/desired.

Street Democracy” almost expected Social movements associated with outsiders 2 generations since Hitler, believe that the

system works, positive attitude towards Const., Parl.

Liberalized values: post-materialist values (feminism, self-development, environmentalism, civic education, liberal child rearing)

Germans don’t favor equal political role for women

Resurgence of anti-semitism

Political Culture (cont)Political Culture (cont)

Dominated by Social Democratic and Dominated by Social Democratic and moderate Conservativesmoderate Conservatives

Divided nationally and militarily due Divided nationally and militarily due to WWI and WWIIto WWI and WWII

East far behind West; ostalgia Easterners had guaranteed job, low

rent, now record unemployment, few have stable political attitude

German Foreign Policy Keep U.S. engaged in European security Promote European integration Peace/ Prosperity for Central Europe:

Will be excellent markets for Russia Russia: Reminds U.S. not to ostracize

Europe Liberal Trade Policy (70-75% trade is

with France); high trade deficit with Japan)

Commercial interests drive German foreign policy

More German Foreign PolicyMore German Foreign Policy Germany's foreign policy is oriented towards the aims of Germany's foreign policy is oriented towards the aims of

maintaining freedom, peace and prosperity, promoting maintaining freedom, peace and prosperity, promoting democracy, developing respect for human rights all over democracy, developing respect for human rights all over the world, fostering sustainable development in all the world, fostering sustainable development in all countries of the southern hemisphere and safeguarding countries of the southern hemisphere and safeguarding the future of the global community. Germany's foreign the future of the global community. Germany's foreign policy on the European level is focused on deepening and policy on the European level is focused on deepening and enlarging the European Union (EU) to become a full-enlarging the European Union (EU) to become a full-fledged partner in all areas of global policy as well as on fledged partner in all areas of global policy as well as on the further development of partnership-relations with the the further development of partnership-relations with the regions bordering the EU, in the interest of promoting regions bordering the EU, in the interest of promoting development and stability.development and stability.

On the international level, Germany's framework for On the international level, Germany's framework for action in the sphere of foreign policy will continue to be action in the sphere of foreign policy will continue to be the further development of the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) the further development of the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) and transatlantic cooperation as well as the strengthening and transatlantic cooperation as well as the strengthening of international organizations, above all the United of international organizations, above all the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the development of a Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the development of a more active and important role for Germany in these more active and important role for Germany in these organizations. organizations.

German-US RelationsGerman-US Relations

50% of German foreign direct 50% of German foreign direct investment goes to the United investment goes to the United States States

Sent German troops to Sent German troops to Afghanistan to support American Afghanistan to support American TroopsTroops

Joint NATO membersJoint NATO members

Learning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesAfter mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to:After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to: Gain knowledge of the history of the political system, economic Gain knowledge of the history of the political system, economic

development and statehood formation of Germany in the 20th century. development and statehood formation of Germany in the 20th century. Understand the role of Weimar Republic in the history of German Understand the role of Weimar Republic in the history of German

statehood formation.statehood formation. Recognize the importance of Basic Law.Recognize the importance of Basic Law. Understand the specifications of the Modell Deutschland.Understand the specifications of the Modell Deutschland. Assess the importance of Angela Merkel’s political victory.Assess the importance of Angela Merkel’s political victory. Understand the functionality and the structure of German federal system. Understand the functionality and the structure of German federal system. Define civil society and political culture of Germany. Recognize the role of Define civil society and political culture of Germany. Recognize the role of

neo-Nazi and radical parties and social protest movements in Germany. neo-Nazi and radical parties and social protest movements in Germany. Define faulted society period in German history.Define faulted society period in German history.

Understand the impact of Nazi regime and the World War II on the Understand the impact of Nazi regime and the World War II on the development of German state in the 20th century.development of German state in the 20th century.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to:able to:

Define the role of political parties in the political process of Define the role of political parties in the political process of Germany. Learn the ideological differences among the Germany. Learn the ideological differences among the following political parties: CPU, FDP, PDS, SPD, Greens, following political parties: CPU, FDP, PDS, SPD, Greens, NASDAP, DDRNASDAP, DDR

Describe the unique role and the structure of Bundesrat.Describe the unique role and the structure of Bundesrat. Recognize the specification of German electoral system. Recognize the specification of German electoral system.

Comparatively analyze the electoral system in Germany while Comparatively analyze the electoral system in Germany while using few other countries for your comparison.using few other countries for your comparison.

Identify the role of German civil service.Identify the role of German civil service. Define the position of the Bundesbank in German economy and Define the position of the Bundesbank in German economy and

financial sector.financial sector.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to:to:

Describe the functionality of the Constitutional Court in Germany.Describe the functionality of the Constitutional Court in Germany. Recognize the essence of German corporatism, including the Recognize the essence of German corporatism, including the

Concerted Action specifications.Concerted Action specifications. Identify the uniqueness of codetermination in the German economic Identify the uniqueness of codetermination in the German economic

system.system. Understand the history and impact of the unification in Germany.Understand the history and impact of the unification in Germany. Comprehend the impact of privatization and denationalization on Comprehend the impact of privatization and denationalization on

economic and political development of the German state, specifically economic and political development of the German state, specifically the East Germany. Define social market economy in Germany. the East Germany. Define social market economy in Germany.

Recognize economic, political and social challenges of unification, Recognize economic, political and social challenges of unification, including the role of Treuhand.including the role of Treuhand.