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Chapter Ten
Politics in Germany
Comparative Politics Today, 9/e Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm
Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008
Country Bio: Germany Country Bio: Germany
§ Population: § 82.5 million
§ Territory: § 137,803 sq. miles
§ Year of Independence: § 1871
§ Year of Current Constitution: § 1949
§ Head of State: § President Horst Kohler
§ Head of Government: § Chancellor Angela Merkel
§ Population: § 82.5 million
§ Territory: § 137,803 sq. miles
§ Year of Independence: § 1871
§ Year of Current Constitution: § 1949
§ Head of State: § President Horst Kohler
§ Head of Government: § Chancellor Angela Merkel
§ Language: § German
§ Religion: § Protestant 34% § Roman Catholic 34% § Muslim 4% § Unaffiliated or other 28%
§ Scheduled Castes § 16.2% of population
§ Scheduled Tribes § 8.2% of population
§ Language: § German
§ Religion: § Protestant 34% § Roman Catholic 34% § Muslim 4% § Unaffiliated or other 28%
§ Scheduled Castes § 16.2% of population
§ Scheduled Tribes § 8.2% of population
Background: Germany Background: Germany
§ Merkel’s election in 2005 § Testimony to change in Germany § Communism distant past § Two halves of the nation acting as one
§ Major achievement of contemporary German politics § Creation of a unified, free, and democratic nation in a short period of time § Unification occurred in 1990 § Contributed to a stable Europe
§ Merkel’s election in 2005 § Testimony to change in Germany § Communism distant past § Two halves of the nation acting as one
§ Major achievement of contemporary German politics § Creation of a unified, free, and democratic nation in a short period of time § Unification occurred in 1990 § Contributed to a stable Europe
Current Policy Challenges Current Policy Challenges
§ Unification related issues § Eastern Germany: struggled to compete in the globalized economic system
§ EU has invested more than 1,000 billion Euros in the East since unification § Taxes increased for all Germans in the process
§ General socioeconomic course of the nation § What direction for economic reform? § German labor costs and benefits high by international standards without comparable productivity
§ Social welfare costs spiraled upward
§ Unification related issues § Eastern Germany: struggled to compete in the globalized economic system
§ EU has invested more than 1,000 billion Euros in the East since unification § Taxes increased for all Germans in the process
§ General socioeconomic course of the nation § What direction for economic reform? § German labor costs and benefits high by international standards without comparable productivity
§ Social welfare costs spiraled upward
Current Policy Challenges Current Policy Challenges
§ Multicultural nation § New source of political tension
§ Foreign policy challenges § Role in the EU § Role in the postCold War world
§ Multicultural nation § New source of political tension
§ Foreign policy challenges § Role in the EU § Role in the postCold War world
The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy
§ The Second German Empire § Bismarck, 1871 § Authoritarian state § Power flowed from the Kaiser § Suppression of opposition § World War I § Devastated the nation § 3 million German soldiers and civilians lost their lives § Economy strained to the breaking point § Government collapsed
§ The Second German Empire § Bismarck, 1871 § Authoritarian state § Power flowed from the Kaiser § Suppression of opposition § World War I § Devastated the nation § 3 million German soldiers and civilians lost their lives § Economy strained to the breaking point § Government collapsed
The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy
§ The Weimar Republic § 1919 – popularly elected constitutional assembly established the new democratic system of the Weimer Republic § Constitution granted all citizens the right to vote and guaranteed basic human rights § Directly elected parliament and president § Hopeful beginning – disastrous end
§ The Weimar Republic § 1919 – popularly elected constitutional assembly established the new democratic system of the Weimer Republic § Constitution granted all citizens the right to vote and guaranteed basic human rights § Directly elected parliament and president § Hopeful beginning – disastrous end
The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy
§ Severe problems § Versailles Peace Treaty: lost all overseas colonies and large amount of European territory § Burdened with moral guilt and reparations: economic problems § Great Depression of 1929 § Hurt Germany harder than it hurt other countries including the U.S. § One third of the labor force became unemployed § Parliamentary democracy began to fail § Emergence of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazis)
§ Severe problems § Versailles Peace Treaty: lost all overseas colonies and large amount of European territory § Burdened with moral guilt and reparations: economic problems § Great Depression of 1929 § Hurt Germany harder than it hurt other countries including the U.S. § One third of the labor force became unemployed § Parliamentary democracy began to fail § Emergence of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazis)
The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy
§ Failure due to a mix of factors § Lack of support from political elites and the public § They seemed to long for the old authoritarian system
§ Many Germans were not committed to democratic principles
§ Economic and political crises § Eroded public support and opened the door to Hitler
§ Most Germans drastically underestimated Hitler’s ambitions, intentions, and political abilities.
§ Failure due to a mix of factors § Lack of support from political elites and the public § They seemed to long for the old authoritarian system
§ Many Germans were not committed to democratic principles
§ Economic and political crises § Eroded public support and opened the door to Hitler
§ Most Germans drastically underestimated Hitler’s ambitions, intentions, and political abilities.
The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy
§ The Third Reich § Hitler: election 1933 § Used domination of the parliament to enact legislation granting Hitler dictatorial powers
§ New authoritarian “leader state” § Hitler pursued extremist policies
§ Destroyed opposition § Attacked Jews and other minorities § Massive public works projects lessened unemployment § Expansion of the army § Expansionist foreign policy led to WWII
§ Initial victories, but followed by a series of military defeats beginning in 1942
§ 60 million lives lost worldwide in the war, including 6 million European Jews who were murdered via systematic genocide
§ At the end of the war, Germany in ruins
§ The Third Reich § Hitler: election 1933 § Used domination of the parliament to enact legislation granting Hitler dictatorial powers
§ New authoritarian “leader state” § Hitler pursued extremist policies
§ Destroyed opposition § Attacked Jews and other minorities § Massive public works projects lessened unemployment § Expansion of the army § Expansionist foreign policy led to WWII
§ Initial victories, but followed by a series of military defeats beginning in 1942
§ 60 million lives lost worldwide in the war, including 6 million European Jews who were murdered via systematic genocide
§ At the end of the war, Germany in ruins
The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy
§ The Occupation Period § At the end of the war, the Western Allies (U.S., Britain, and France) controlled Germany’s Western zone and the Soviet Union occupied the Eastern zone.
§ West § Denazification § New political parties and democratic political institutions
§ Basic Law (Grundgesetz) § East
§ Socialist Unity Party § Draft constitution for the German Democratic RepublicEast Germany
§ The Occupation Period § At the end of the war, the Western Allies (U.S., Britain, and France) controlled Germany’s Western zone and the Soviet Union occupied the Eastern zone.
§ West § Denazification § New political parties and democratic political institutions
§ Basic Law (Grundgesetz) § East
§ Socialist Unity Party § Draft constitution for the German Democratic RepublicEast Germany
Following Two Paths Following Two Paths
§ Faced similar challenges § West Germany § Economic challenge § Free enterprise system
§ Christian Democratic Union § Economic Miracle
§ East Germany § Economic miracle almost as impressive § Collectivized agriculture, nationalized industry, and centralized planning
§ Process of reconciliation § Helmut Kohl § Gorbachev § Opening of the Berlin Wall § Western Germany dominated the process and the outcome
§ Faced similar challenges § West Germany § Economic challenge § Free enterprise system
§ Christian Democratic Union § Economic Miracle
§ East Germany § Economic miracle almost as impressive § Collectivized agriculture, nationalized industry, and centralized planning
§ Process of reconciliation § Helmut Kohl § Gorbachev § Opening of the Berlin Wall § Western Germany dominated the process and the outcome
Social Forces Social Forces
§ Economics § Largest state in the EU § Merger of two different economies
§ Religion § Unification has unsettled the delicate religious balance
§ Economics § Largest state in the EU § Merger of two different economies
§ Religion § Unification has unsettled the delicate religious balance
Social Forces Social Forces
§ Gender § Basic Law guarantees the equality of the sexes, but the specific legislation to support this guarantee often lacking
§ Merkel’s selection as Chancellor may have an impact
§ Minorities § Guest workers § Isolated from mainstream society § Lower end of economic ladder § Some opposition to further immigration
§ Regionalism § Potential source of social and political division
§ Gender § Basic Law guarantees the equality of the sexes, but the specific legislation to support this guarantee often lacking
§ Merkel’s selection as Chancellor may have an impact
§ Minorities § Guest workers § Isolated from mainstream society § Lower end of economic ladder § Some opposition to further immigration
§ Regionalism § Potential source of social and political division
The Institutions and Structure of Government The Institutions and Structure of Government
§ Basic law – specific goals: § To develop a stable and democratic political system § To maintain some historical continuity in political institutions (parliamentary system) § To recreate a federal structure of government § To avoid the institutional weakness that contributed to the collapse of Weimar democracy § To establish institutional limits on extremist and antisystem forces
§ Basic law – specific goals: § To develop a stable and democratic political system § To maintain some historical continuity in political institutions (parliamentary system) § To recreate a federal structure of government § To avoid the institutional weakness that contributed to the collapse of Weimar democracy § To establish institutional limits on extremist and antisystem forces
The Institutions and Structure of Government The Institutions and Structure of Government § A federal system (Bund)
§ State governments have a unicameral legislature, normally called a Landtag, which is directly elected by popular vote.
§ Sixteen states (Lander) § Political power divided between federal and state governments.
§ Parliamentary government § The Bundestag (Federal Diet) 598 deputies; elections every four years
§ Enact legislation § Forum for public debate § Oversight “question hour”
§ The Bundestrat (Federal Council) 69 members § Role is to represent state interests
§ The Federal Chancellor and Cabinet § Strengthened formal powers (Basic Law) § Elected by the Bundestag § Control over the Cabinet
§ A federal system (Bund) § State governments have a unicameral legislature, normally called a Landtag, which is directly elected by popular vote.
§ Sixteen states (Lander) § Political power divided between federal and state governments.
§ Parliamentary government § The Bundestag (Federal Diet) 598 deputies; elections every four years
§ Enact legislation § Forum for public debate § Oversight “question hour”
§ The Bundestrat (Federal Council) 69 members § Role is to represent state interests
§ The Federal Chancellor and Cabinet § Strengthened formal powers (Basic Law) § Elected by the Bundestag § Control over the Cabinet
The Institutions and Structure of Government The Institutions and Structure of Government
§ Federal government functions based on three principles based on Basic Law § Chancellor principle § Ministerial autonomy § Cabinet principle
§ The Federal President § Basic Law transformed this office into a mostly ceremonial one
§ Federal government functions based on three principles based on Basic Law § Chancellor principle § Ministerial autonomy § Cabinet principle
§ The Federal President § Basic Law transformed this office into a mostly ceremonial one
The Institutions and Structure of Government The Institutions and Structure of Government
§ The Judicial System § Ordinary courts § Administrative courts § Constitutional Court
§ The Separation of Powers § Basic Law – avoiding concentration of power
§ Constructive noconfidence vote
§ Role of Constitutional Court as a check
§ The Judicial System § Ordinary courts § Administrative courts § Constitutional Court
§ The Separation of Powers § Basic Law – avoiding concentration of power
§ Constructive noconfidence vote
§ Role of Constitutional Court as a check
Remaking Political Cultures Remaking Political Cultures
§ Orientations § Toward the system and nation § Toward the democratic process
§ Social values and the new politics § Two peoples in one nation?
§ Orientations § Toward the system and nation § Toward the democratic process
§ Social values and the new politics § Two peoples in one nation?
Political Learning and Political Communication Political Learning and Political Communication
§ Family influences § Education § Social stratification § Mass media
§ Family influences § Education § Social stratification § Mass media
Citizen Participation Citizen Participation
§ 1950s almost twothirds of the West German public never discussed politics § Today about threequarters claim they talk about politics regularly. § Rising participation levels § Growth of citizen action groups § Voting levels highest of any European democracy § Sign petitions, boycott § Both sides of the country actively involved
§ 1950s almost twothirds of the West German public never discussed politics § Today about threequarters claim they talk about politics regularly. § Rising participation levels § Growth of citizen action groups § Voting levels highest of any European democracy § Sign petitions, boycott § Both sides of the country actively involved
Politics at the Elite Level Politics at the Elite Level
§ Few thousand political elite manage the actual workings of the political system § Party elites § Leaders of interest groups and political associations
§ Recruitment § Long apprenticeship period
§ Varied political preferences among elites
§ Few thousand political elite manage the actual workings of the political system § Party elites § Leaders of interest groups and political associations
§ Recruitment § Long apprenticeship period
§ Varied political preferences among elites
Interest Groups Interest Groups
§ Interest groups are connected to the government more closely in Germany than in the U.S. § Formally involved in the policy process § Neocorporatism § Social interests are organized into virtually compulsory organizations. § A single association represents each social sector. § These associations are hierarchically structured. § Associations may participate directly in the policy process.
§ Business § Labor § Religious interests § New politics movement
§ Interest groups are connected to the government more closely in Germany than in the U.S. § Formally involved in the policy process § Neocorporatism § Social interests are organized into virtually compulsory organizations. § A single association represents each social sector. § These associations are hierarchically structured. § Associations may participate directly in the policy process.
§ Business § Labor § Religious interests § New politics movement
The Party System The Party System
§ Christian Democrats § Free Democratic Party § The Greens § The Party of Democratic Socialism
§ Christian Democrats § Free Democratic Party § The Greens § The Party of Democratic Socialism
The Role of Elections The Role of Elections
§ Goals of Basic Laws for the electoral system: § Create a proportional representation system (PR) § Also, use singlemember system to avoid fragmentation of the Weimar party system and ensure some accountability between electoral district and its representative
§ Mixed electoral system § Ballot: vote for a candidate to represent district; second part of the ballot they select a party
§ Half of Bundestag members are elected a district representatives and half as party representatives.
§ 5 percent clause § Party leaders have influence on who will be elected due to their ability to place candidates on the list
§ PR system also ensures fair representation for minor parties § Affects campaign strategies
§ The electoral connection
§ Goals of Basic Laws for the electoral system: § Create a proportional representation system (PR) § Also, use singlemember system to avoid fragmentation of the Weimar party system and ensure some accountability between electoral district and its representative
§ Mixed electoral system § Ballot: vote for a candidate to represent district; second part of the ballot they select a party
§ Half of Bundestag members are elected a district representatives and half as party representatives.
§ 5 percent clause § Party leaders have influence on who will be elected due to their ability to place candidates on the list
§ PR system also ensures fair representation for minor parties § Affects campaign strategies
§ The electoral connection
Party Government Party Government
§ Parties are important political actors in German politics. § Basic Law § Specifically refers to political parties § Guarantees their legitimacy and their right to exist if they accept the principles of democratic government
§ Primary institutions of representative democracy § Educational function of parties § No direct primaries § Candidates are merely “representatives” of the party § Parties form government and are central actors within the Bundestag § Structured around parties § Cohesion high
§ Parties are important political actors in German politics. § Basic Law § Specifically refers to political parties § Guarantees their legitimacy and their right to exist if they accept the principles of democratic government
§ Primary institutions of representative democracy § Educational function of parties § No direct primaries § Candidates are merely “representatives” of the party § Parties form government and are central actors within the Bundestag § Structured around parties § Cohesion high
The Policy Process The Policy Process
§ Policy initiation § Most issues reach the policy agenda through the executive branch.
§ Legislating policy § State and federal governments share legislative power.
§ Policy initiation § Most issues reach the policy agenda through the executive branch.
§ Legislating policy § State and federal governments share legislative power.
The Policy Process The Policy Process
§ Policy administration § Basic law assigned the administrative responsibility for most domestic policies to the state governments § States employ more civil servants than the federal and local governments combined.
§ Judicial review § Constitutional Court can evaluate the constitutionality of legislation and void laws that violate the provisions of the Basic Law.
§ Policy administration § Basic law assigned the administrative responsibility for most domestic policies to the state governments § States employ more civil servants than the federal and local governments combined.
§ Judicial review § Constitutional Court can evaluate the constitutionality of legislation and void laws that violate the provisions of the Basic Law.
Policy Performance Policy Performance
§ The Federal Republic’s policy record § Increases in total public spending and new policy responsibilities § Difficult to describe the activities in terms of revenue and budgets – complex system § Extensive network of social services
§ Social security programs are the largest part of public expenditures § Policy responsibility is divided among three levels of government
§ Education § Defense and foreign policy § Economic policy § NATO
§ Public expenditures show the policy efforts of the government, but the actual results of this spending are more difficult to assess.
§ The Federal Republic’s policy record § Increases in total public spending and new policy responsibilities § Difficult to describe the activities in terms of revenue and budgets – complex system § Extensive network of social services
§ Social security programs are the largest part of public expenditures § Policy responsibility is divided among three levels of government
§ Education § Defense and foreign policy § Economic policy § NATO
§ Public expenditures show the policy efforts of the government, but the actual results of this spending are more difficult to assess.
Policy Performance Policy Performance
§ Overall, many areas have seen improvement in both sections of the country: housing, living standards, work, income, social security, environmental security, and public security. § Paying the Costs § Three different types of revenue provide the bulk of resources for public policy programs: § Contributions to the social security system (selffinanced by employer and employee contributions) § Direct taxes § Indirect taxes
§ Overall, many areas have seen improvement in both sections of the country: housing, living standards, work, income, social security, environmental security, and public security. § Paying the Costs § Three different types of revenue provide the bulk of resources for public policy programs: § Contributions to the social security system (selffinanced by employer and employee contributions) § Direct taxes § Indirect taxes
Addressing the Policy Challenges Addressing the Policy Challenges
§ The problems of unification § Reforming the welfare state § A new world role
§ The problems of unification § Reforming the welfare state § A new world role
After the Revolution After the Revolution
§ Unification § Presented new social, political, and economic challenges for the nation. § Mergers bring problems. § Strains magnified by elites § Need for consensus both socially and politically
§ Resolution of questions regarding national identity
§ Unification § Presented new social, political, and economic challenges for the nation. § Mergers bring problems. § Strains magnified by elites § Need for consensus both socially and politically
§ Resolution of questions regarding national identity