Germany is a federal democratic republic of 16 states, or Länder. The government is led by the chancellor, who is elected by the Bundestag (Federal Assembly). The president's role is largely a ceremonial one. Basic laws of West Germany, drawn in 1948, became the 1990 constitution of reunified Germany. Familiar with constant growth since the 1950's, the Germans have been shocked by economic recession in 1991.
The problems of unemployment have led to anti-immigrant attacks and an increase in support for far right political parties. Some young Germans resent any foreigners holding jobs. Turks have suffered particular vilification and were the subjects of the Rostock attack in 1992. Racism is no worse than in other European states, but is more sensitive given Germany's history.
German politics remain strongly democratic and essentially stable. It has a long tradition of federative association. Before unification in 1871, Germany was a mass of seperate principalities, kingdoms and city-states. This tradition was in many ways well maintained by Bismarck in his unification of the constitution. Some Länder kept their own monarchies right up to the end of the First World War. |
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During the 1933-1945 Nazi period, the federal system was abolished. The Allies brought back the federal system in West Germany in 1945. The Länder wasn't restored in the east until the reunification of 1990.
The Länder are at the heart of German political life. Each Land has it's own parliament and is able to raise many of its own taxes and run its own financial policies. The decentralized nature of Germany's politics continues all the way down to the city level and even lower.
Nationally, a conservative Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union coalition dominated the Bundestag from 1949 to 1969, followed by the Social Democratic coalition, with Wilhelm Brandt and Helmut Kohl as chancellors, from 1969 to 1982. Since this time, a conservative government has been in power led by Helmut Kohl. This coalition continues to have little to distinguish one party from another. |
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Their economic policies, based on low inflation, stable growth and a central bank, are nearly identical. Many German political parties still support a social market economy on which most of West Germany's prosperity was built upon.
Before reunification, Germany played only a modest part in international politics. The focus of West Germany was the creation of the EU and the policy of Ostpolitik - improving relations with Moscow, which had 400,000 WTO soldiers stationed all over East Germany.
Emphasis on this foreign policy has changed since 1990, and a united Germany is beginning to voice a foreign policy which reflects it's position as the most powerful nation in Europe. It's still a leading proponent of unity. While France remains its closest ally within the EU, although the relationship has cooled off somewhat since 1990. Germany's focus, however, has shifted eastward. It is the biggest investor in all the ex-Comecon economies, bringing the region again under German influence.
The Bundeswehr, is the largest army in Europe. Together with their neighbor France, Germany has been developing the "Eurocorps", a joint army of 50,000 soldiers. |
