Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges

1. Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges Eighth Edition by Charles Hauss & Melissa Haussman Germany

2. Clicker 2 points Germany’s government is • A Presidential system like the US • A parliamentary system like Great Britain • Still dominated by a royal family

3. Clicker points Shall we let Amanda borrow a clicker for the day? • Yes • No

4. Clicker 2 points Germany’s government structure is • Unitary like Britain or Japan • Federal like the USA • A confederation like the United Nations

5. Clicker 2 points Germany’s Chancellor is currently • Male • Female

7. THE FIRST OSSI –AND THE FIRST WOMAN • Merkel, the first woman and the first person who grew up in the former East Germany, elected chancellor • Part of protest movements • Elected to Bundestag in first post-reunification election • Christian Democratic Party/Socialist Democratic Party grand coalition • Merkel won again with the support of the FDP in 2009.

8. Knud Nielsen/Shutterstock.com

9. Thinking About Germany • The Basics • The strongest country in Europe • Europe’s most populous country • One of world’s richest countries • Europe’s most extensive social-service system • Unification—a unique challenge • Economy—less flexible than others • As socially diverse as France or Britain

10. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Unification and the Kaiser’s Reich • Middle Ages unified state until the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, then divided until 1871. • Prussia’s expansion led to first German state. • Authoritarian • Napoleonic wars consolidated smaller states in Western Germany.

11. THE EVOLUTION OF THE GERMAN STATE: THE GERMAN QUESTION • Unification and the Kaiser’s Reich (Cont’d) • Bismarck’s rule (1815–1898) brought all German States other than Austria under Prussian control. • Historical religious disputes had left Germany deeply divided. • Elections without democracy • State capitalism: Top-down modernization of military and economy make Germany a global power. • Centralization resulted in an alienated working class .

12. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Unification and the Kaiser’s Reich (Cont’d) • Germany pitted itself against the rest of Europe. • Germany torn apart after WWI. • Left opposed the war. • Nationalist groups blamed left and Jewish people for Germany’s problems. • Kaiser forced into exile. • Monarchy hastily replaced with a republic.

13. TABLE 6.1 German Regimes since 1871

14. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Weimar and the Rise of Hitler • Weimar Constitution transformed Germany from authoritarian to democratic overnight with authority in Reichstag. • Proportional representation • Coup attempts from left and right • Reparations and depression • Right-leaning parties looked for scapegoats.

15. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Weimar and the Rise of Hitler (Cont’d) • During the depression support for the regime began to ebb. • Nazis were successful in 1932 elections. • The NSDAP had become the largest party. • On Jan. 30, 1933, Hitler became chancellor and formed a government • Hitler controlled a majority in the Reichstag.

17. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • The Third Reich • Hitler began dismantling Weimar Republic within weeks of taking office. • Trade unions and political parties were banned. • Declared himself füehrer • Universal military service • Nuremberg Laws/Aryan superiority • Use of propaganda

18. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • The Third Reich (Cont’d) • In 1936, Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland violating the Treaty of Versailles. • In 1938, Germany annexed Austria and intervened in the Spanish civil war. • It claimed the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.

19. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • The Third Reich (Cont’d) • The Munich conference of 1938 • Appeasement — 1936–1939 • German forces occupied Czechoslovakia in March 1939. • Signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union in August 1939 • Invaded Poland in September 1939

20. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • The Third Reich (Cont’d) • France and Britain declared war on Germany in Sep. 3, 1939; World War II started. • German succeeded on battlefield for more than two years. • In 1941, Germans attacked the Soviet Union.

21. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • The Third Reich (Cont’d) • The Soviet Union and the United States entered the war. • The Soviet army halted the German in Stalingrad in the winter of 1942-43. • Allied troops invaded Sicily. • Allied planes launched an air assault on the Germany. • Allied D-day invasion of the beaches of Normandy in France .

22. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Occupation and the Two Germanys • Restructuring of political systems • Massive financial aid (especially in West) • Cold War motivated integration of Western occupation zones. • Stalinist regime established in Eastern zone.

23. TABLE 6.2 German Chancellors since 1948

24. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Occupation and the Two Germanys (Cont’d) • The allied powers drafted the Basic Law. • On August 14, 1949, the fist postwar elections were held. • The Christian Democratic Union (CDU )and its leader Konrad Adenauer won. • CDU and FDP forged links with business, industrial, bureaucratic, and union elites, creating a period of economic growth.

25. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Building a Democratic Germany • For 14 years, Adenauer and the CDU’s strong leadership built a strong economy. • Adenauer, similar to De Gaulle, stabilized new regime. • Erhard was credited for economic miracle. • In 1966, Erhard resigned and was replaced by another Christian Democrat, Kurt Georg Kiesinger.

26. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Building a Democratic Germany (Cont’d) • A grand coalition • Law for Promoting Stability and Growth in the Economy • A new coalition between the SPD and FDP • Under leadership of Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt, the SPD enacted modest social reforms and opened up relations with the Communist world.

27. The Evolution of the German State: The German Question • Kohl and the New Germany • Helmut Kohl’s German politics • Kohlwas Chancellor for more than 16 years. • He retained the social market economy. • The country became an environmental leader. • He skillfully guided the country among super tensions. • He successfully engineered the reunification of Germany.

28. Creating a Democratic Political Culture • Early years of new democracy were uncertain. • Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba found substantial differences between German and British or American values, which they thought did not augur well for German democracy. • Still signs of rigidity in “quaint” laws. • Economic growth provided stability. • Gradually rising levels of participation

29. Creating a Democratic Political Culture • Rise of Green Party and post-materialist values are latest changes. • Germans are anti-militarist and endorse role in international organizations . • Germany’s new peaceful culture is one of the reasons it has not sought to assert is newfound power militarily.

30. Creating a Democratic Political Culture • Intense academic study finds three reasons for changes. • Federal Republic has been an effective regime. • Political socialization (from schools to families) has changed. • Two generations removed from the Nazi era—the 1930s.

31. TABLE 6.3 Germans and Democracy Source: Adapted from Dieter Fuchs, “Trends of Political Support in the Federal Republic of Germany,” in Political Culture in Germany, ed. Dirk Berg-Schlosser and Ralf Rytlewski (London: Macmillan, 1993), 249.

32. Political Participation • The fragmented and ideological polarized parties were a major problem in the Weimar Republic . • The Federal Republics would have the same experience. • CDU and SDP dominate parties, most of time in coalition with FDP. • A new party, the Greens, has been able to overcome the 5% barrier.

33. Political Participation • Parties and the Electoral Process • The Basic Law puts political parties in a privileged position. • The major parties play a central role in nominating important position in economy and society. • Public funds provide about 30% of the $100 million or more each major party spends during election campaign.

34. Political Participation • Parties and the Electoral Process (Cont’d) • Article 21 in the Basic Law • Created a dual system for electing the Bundestag • Half the seats are elected in 299 single-member districts. • Voters also cast a second ballot • Choose from lists of candidates of each party • Seats are allocated proportionally to all parties that win over 5% of the vote • All parties try to catch all voters

35. TABLE 6.4 German Election Results since 1949: Major Parties Only This table only includes votes cast in the proportional representation half of Bundestag elections. CDU/CSU, Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union; FDP, Free Democratic Party; SPD, Social Democratic Party; PDS, Party of Democratic Socialism.

36. Political Participation • The Christian Democrats • Most powerful party • Early CDU pulled in two contradictory directions • Adenauer forged centrist party • Kohl and impact of unification • Grand coalition

38. Political Participation • The Social Democrats • Second strongest party • Has not been as successful as a catch-all party • Hampered by internal policy disagreements • Sigmar Gabriel was chosen to head the party. • “Siggy Pop” will be a Chancellor candidate in 2013.

39. Political Participation • The Free Democratic Party • Power broker between larger parties • Old fashioned liberals • It has struggled since unification and Genscher’s retirement.

40. Political Participation • The Greens • Broke 5% barrier in 1983 • Ideology based on attempt at holistic analysis of social, economic, and political issues • Disunity has hampered its effectiveness.

41. Political Participation • The Party of Democratic Socialism/Left Party • Descendant of Stalinist party in DDR • Uncertain future • The Far Right • Visible, but not effective; has not come close to 5% barrier • The Stakes of 2013 • Merkel’s popularity has dropped since the 2009 election; garnered little support from German voters who resent paying off deficits elsewhere in the eurozone.

42. Political Participation • Interest Groups • Large, unified labor union movement • Federation of German Labor (DGB) • Umbrella organization representing 17 unions • Two large business groups participate in politics. • Chambers of commerce and industry also active. • Major groups have close ties to parties.

43. The German State: A Smoothly Functioning Democracy • Chancellor Democracy • Fusion of executive and legislative power in chancellor and cabinet • Article 65 • Constructive vote of no confidence procedure offers stability. • Chancellor’s large staff provides opportunity for wide oversight, can develop expertise.

44. FIGURE 6.1 Policy-Making Processes in Germany

46. The German State: A Smoothly Functioning Democracy • The Bundestag • Power is limited like that of UK’s parliament. • Constructive vote of no confidence does offer real power at times of gridlock. • Powerful committee system provides leverage. • Party groups play essential roles in functioning of legislature.

47. The German State: A Smoothly Functioning Democracy • The Bundesrat • Gives states direct representation in government • States select representatives • Can only delay legislation that would not have direct impact on the state • Must approve all legislation affecting states • Convenes “Mediation Committees” when two houses disagree

48. TABLE 6.5 Bundesrat Delegations: November 2010

49. The German State: A Smoothly Functioning Democracy • The Federal System • Basic law divides power between states and federal government, unlike Britain and France, which are unitary states. • States have power for policy in wide range of areas. • States administer most national laws and programs. • Careers of many leaders started in the state governments, unlike Britain and France.

50. The German State: A Smoothly Functioning Democracy • The Civil Service • Long tradition of powerful senior civil servants • De-nazifying the bureaucracy • Decentralized—90% are state employees. • In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the SPD government passed a law to restrict entry of alleged radicals into the civil service at all levels.