Germany

CHARACTERISTICS: Affluent Economy (despite the disequilibria between the Eastern and the Western parts of the country) Unstable territorial limits Divided between 1945 and Difficult but successful unification process.

HISTORY: First Reich: Charlemagne (800 AD) Religious divisions (Protestant Reformation Southern Germany remains Catholic, while the North shifts to Protestantism). Different regional versions of spoken German 1648: the Treaty of Westphalia divides Germany into 360 political entities. 1800s: Industrial development (iron and steel)—Working Class.

Second Reich (1871, after the Franco-Prussian war) Chancellor Otto von Bismark. Weak liberal and democratic traditions Oppositional groups: SPD (Social Democratic Party), Oldest social- democratic party in the world. Non-German minorities and small ethnic parties German Catholics (turned into the Christian Democratic Party later on)

Problems associated with the Late unification of Germany. Difficulties to developing a modern state Nationalism and militarism Authoritarian culture Expansionism (Colonization in Africa) and engagement in wars, until WWI in 1914 –Dramatic defeat - The Versailles Treaty blamed Germany for the war, took out its colonies, and imposed the country an impossible amount of reparations.

1919 The Weimar Republic The Kaiser was removed Weak parliamentary democracy. Lack of democratic traditions, lack of legitimacy (imposed by the victorious allies), catastrophic economic situation (1920s hyperinflation)

1920s – Growth of Nazism The Nazis, a very small party. Increasing political instability 1929 Depression The Nazis win a third of the German vote, and President Hindenburg names Hitler as chancellor in 1933.

The Third Reich The Nazi Party establishes a legislative majority and pass legislation for Hitler to rule by decree for 40 years  Third Reich. Expansionism (Saar, Czech lands, Poland) 1939 Britain and France declared war Summer Germany or ruled over almost all of Europe – Final Solution: Death Camps (six million Jews and a similar amount of “inconvenient Christians” (Gipsies, Poles, others) plus leftists and homosexuals were annihilated The Allies win the war

A Divided Germany four military occupation zones February 1945, Postdam: the Allies divide Germany (and Berlin) into four military occupation zones. Britain, France, and the U.S. combine their zones and create the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in May Self-governed since Chancellor Adenauer ( ) (CDU). “German miracle” The Soviets create the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in October Modern Germany resulted from foreign intervention.

Phases Federal Republic of Germany : Adenauer & other Christian Democratic leaders/ Economic “miracle”/Parliamentar y System/Social Welfare :Social Democrats (Willy Brandt : CDU/ the Green Party German Democratic Republic Socialism (the Berlin Wall) (greater material benefits/GDR becomes a socialist State) (starts opening and relies increasingly on the West) —liberalization and attempts to reunification

Problems of Reunification October 3, 1990 (Dissolution of the GDR) Imbalance (all of the FRG institutions prevail) Economic and social problems –Westeners felt they had to pay for the integration –Easteners did not feel their situation improved (many lost their property/jobs) Xenophobia and resurrection of neo- nazism (problem “solved” in 1992/3)

German Strong Federalism 16 Länder: education, police, mass media. Different versions of spoken German in the regions. Federal legislative powers State level organized Administration and Justice system.

Basic Law Created in 1949 as a temporal document –Through time, it became the German Constitution –Amended several times Three Principles: 1.Germany is a Federal Republic 2.Germany is a State based on the rule of law 3.Germany guarantees the social welfare of its citizens (social welfare is seen as naturally provided by the State).

GERMAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS Head of Government: the Chancellor, elected by the Bundestag for four years—Powerful. Selects all cabinet members (approx 20, head committees in the Bundestag) Head of State: the President, chosen by a Special Convention (five years, two- term limit). Ceremonial.

Bicameral legislature: Bundestag: 656 members (now 669) 4-year term. Largest parliament among democracies. Committee system. mixed system Chosen through a mixed system (5% threshold): ½ through SMD (328), ½ through PR. PR votes determine % of seats – Corrective mechanism.. Bundesrat (upper house): elected indirectly. Gvts. of the Länder (regions) send members to choose representatives.

The Judiciary The German Judiciary is as important as the American Court system. In both the U.S. and Germany the Supreme Court reviews the constitutionality of laws. Federal Constitutional Court 2 Chambers (8 justices each, chosen for one 12-year term). -Roman Law (codified)

Multi-Party System. “Two-Plus” party system: German governments almost always consist of one large party in coalition with one small party.

Parliamentary vs. Presidential PARLIAMENTARY Coalition SELECTS AND OUSTS GUIDES Parties Parliament Voters Cabinet Prime Minister Ministries Parliament Voters President Cabinet Ministries elect PRESIDENTIAL (Source: Roskin)