Politics in Germany: A Detailed Overview

Politics in Germany  Learning Objectives (1 of 3) Identify the current economic and political challenges facing Germany’s government. Compare and contrast conditions in East and West Germany, both before and after reunification. Describe five aspects of the social system in unified G...

Politics in Germany  Learning Objectives (1 of 3) Identify the current economic and political challenges facing Germany’s government. Compare and contrast conditions in East and West Germany, both before and after reunification. Describe five aspects of the social system in unified Germany. Describe the structure of Germany’s federal government.  Learning Objectives (2 of 3) Discuss the differences between the political culture in the early Federal Republic of Germany and the East following unification. Identify the main sources of political socialization in Germany. Discuss the composition and political influence of Germany’s interest groups. Explain the factors that strengthen the role of political parties in the German system.  Learning Objectives (3 of 3) List the benefits and limitations of having many parties represented in the Bundestag. Describe the primary actors in the federal policymaking process. Identify major policy outputs of government and the major sources of government funding. Discuss three prominent policy challenges that Germany continues to address.  Current Policy Challenges Economic issues: recession, stimulus and spending cuts Unification related economic, social issues Social Services: health, pension, rising welfare cost Multicultural nation: source of political tension Foreign policy challenges Role in EU Role in the post–Cold War world  The Historical Legacy (1 of 4) The Second German Empire Otto van Bismarck, 1871 Authoritarian state Power flowed from the Kaiser Suppression of opposition World War I devastated nation 3 million German soldiers, civilians lost lives Economy strained to breaking point Government collapsed  The Historical Legacy (2 of 4) The Weimar Republic 1919—popularly elected constitutional assembly established new democratic system of Weimer Republic Constitution granted both women and men over the age of 20 right to vote Directly elected parliament (Chancellor – head of ministers) Directly elected president Hopeful beginning—disastrous end  The Historical Legacy (3 of 4) The Third Reich, Hitler, election 1933 Used parliament to enact legislation granting dictatorial powers New authoritarian “leader state” Hitler pursued extremist policies Destroyed opposition Massive public works projects to lower unemployment rate Expansion of army Expansionist foreign policy led to WWII 60 million lives lost worldwide, including 6 million European Jews  The Historical Legacy (4 of 4) Occupation Period Western Allies controlled Germany’s Western zone, Soviet Union occupied Eastern zone West Denazification New political parties, democratic political institutions Basic Law (Grundgesetz) East Socialist Unity Party Draft constitution for German Democratic Republic, East Germany  Following Two Paths West Germany East Germany Economic challenge Collectivized agriculture, Free enterprise system nationalized industry, and centralized planning Process of reconciliation Helmut Kohl Gorbachev Opening of Berlin Wall Western Germany dominated the process and outcome of the reconciliation The Two Paths of Postwar Germany  Social Forces (1 of 2) Economics Religion Largest state in the Unification has EU unsettled the delicate Merger of two religious balance of different economies equal Catholic, Protestant Now: Catholics in west, non-religious in east, Protestants outnumber all,  Social Forces (2 of 2) 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 Multiculturalism “a total failure” Regionalism Potential source of social and political division Institutions and Structure of Government (1 of 4) Basic Law (German Constitution) — specific goals: Develop stable, democratic political system Maintain historical continuity in political institutions Recreate federal structure of government Avoid institutional weakness that contributed to collapse of Weimar democracy Establish institutional limits on extremist, Institutions and Structure of Government (2 ofGovernment Federal System and Parliamentary 4) State governments have unicameral legislature, popular vote Sixteen states (Lander) Power divided between federal and state Parliamentary Government Bundestag (Federal Diet) 598 deputies (MPs) Enact legislation Oversight—“question hour” Bundesrat (Federal Council): Has 69 members; represent state interests The Structure of Germany’s Federal Government  Institutions and Structure of Government (3 of 4) Federal Chancellor and Cabinet Strengthened formal powers (Basic Law) Elected by Bundestag Control over Cabinet Federal President: more than a “ceremonial” position Judicial System (specialized arrangement) Ordinary courts Administrative courts Constitutional Court Institutions and Structure of Government (4 of 4) Separation of Powers Basic Law—avoiding concentration of power Constructive no-confidence vote Role of Constitutional Court as a check  Remaking Political Cultures Changes from Germany under authoritarian rule to democratic rule for West and Communism for East Orientations Toward the political community: common history, culture, language Toward the democratic process: created formalized rules for democracy Two peoples in one nation? Political Culture in West and East  Family: major influence, generation gap Education: democratic culture Political in West, communist devotion in Learning East and Political Social Stratification: education Communica has three tiers—working class, tion middle class, university prep Mass Media: politically neutrality?  Citizen Participation 1950s—West German public never discussed politics Today—3/4 talk about politics regularly Rising participation levels Growth of citizen action groups Voting levels highest of Europeans (75-80%) Sign petitions, boycott Both sides (i.e., East & West) of country actively involved Participation Levels in Western and Eastern Germany  Interest Groups Interest groups connected to government more closely in Germany than in U.S. Influence policymaking Business Labor unions Religious groups  Party Government Parties are important actors in German politics. Basic Law: Specifically refers to political parties Guarantees their legitimacy and right to exist Primary institutions/structures of representative democracy Socialization function of parties No direct primaries Parties form government, are central actors in Bundestag  The Party System Christian Democrats (CDU): organized to appeal to broad spectrum, conservative Social Democrats (SPD): represents unions, working class, liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP): pivotal as coalition partner, conservative The Greens: loose association of environmental groups, liberal Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) Alternative for Germany (AfD) Shares of the Party Vote  The Role of Elections Basic Law for Electoral System: Proportional representation system (PR) Single-member system Mixed electoral system Ballot: vote for candidate to represent district; second part of ballot select party Half of Bundestag members elected as district representatives, half as party representatives. Ensures representation for minor parties Electoral Connection: rich set of parties and policies to choose from