Germany: Political System
Chronology
1517: Martin Luther initiates Reformation
1555: Peace of Augsburg
1648: Peace of Westphalia ends Thirty Years War
1871: Bismarck unifies Germany under the Kaiser
1914-1918: WWI
1919: Weimar Republic established
1933: Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany; establishes "Third Reich"
1939-45:WWII
1945-49: Germany occupied by the Allies
1948 Berlin Blockade
1949: Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic established
1949-63: Adeneur serves as W. German Chancellor
1952: W. Germany joins European Coal and Steel Community (later EU)
1955: W. Germany joins NATO; E. Germany joins Warsaw Pact
1961: E. Germany builds Berlin Wall
1966-69: Grand Coalition
1969-74: Brandt as Chancellor; Ostpolitik
1971-90 Honecker heads E. Germany
1974-82:Schmidt as Chancellor
1982-present: Kohl as Chancellor
1990—unification
Political Culture
Social Cleavages
East-West
Urban-Rural
Proletariat-Industrialists
Protestant-Catholic
Foreigners vs. Germans
Regionalism
Initial surveys in post-war W. Germany
:
- Apolitical; accept authority; intolerant of opposition
- Strong sense of German identity (cultural identity pre-dates political unification)
- Identity did not transfer to political system—attachment to various regimes
(monarchy, Third Reich, Weimar parties; federal republic; DDR);
Current
High value on stability and progress, even at the expense of democracy; in West, evolve
more respect for democratic procedures.
Generational difference: older value for prosperity; younger generations as
post-materialist. Also relates to East-West divide.
Discussion Questions 1:
Why do you think German political culture was able to evolve so dramatically in the
post-war era?
Institutions
(Student Presentation)
Political Socialization
Family—post-war problems—old values were seen as the problem (undemocratic in
the west and un-Marxist in the East)
Education—key agents of socialization in the east and west in post-war era.
Education system criticized as elitist.
State action—more direct state socialization in the east where associations were
under state control.
Media—post-war occupation in west attempted to create journalistic values of
neutrality and pluralism while excluding Nazi-oriented press. No national press as in
France/England. Media in west had little role in socialization process.
Participation
Levels of citizen participation in both east/west increased from independence to 1980s.
Fairly high levels of voter turnout.
Easterners more willing to discuss politics and participate in protests, petitions,
etc.
Recruitment
Most national leaders have long history of party/governmental work. Little transfer
from other professions to political office.
Interest Groups
Neo-corporatism
. Facilitated by hierarchic structure of most
groups into peak associations and formal processes for such associations to participate in
political negotiations.
- Positive: open channels of communication for organized interests
- Negative: interests organized in unconventional ways risk exclusion.
Industrial decisions through a system of co-determination
Churches also supported by government taxes.
Post-material interests are also represented by groups, including environmental and
women’s groups.
Parties
CDU—Christian Democratic Union (conservative) dominant party at independence and
today. Support from Catholics, elderly, and rural constituents.
SPD—Social Democratic Party (leftist/liberal) representative of urban and working
class interests. Stronger in central and northern regions. Came to power under Brandt, but
lose power when coalition with FDP falls apart.
FDP—Free Democratic Party (moderate). Smaller than two parties above but is
frequently important in the development of governing coalitions.
Greens—Environmental party, became moderately successful at the national level
during the 1980s although the party has faltered in more recent national elections.
Stronger among middle-class, younger and better educated constituents.
Communists (Democratic Socialists)—the former ruling party in the east, has some
remaining political support in the east.
Parties are centrally organized and strong. Party more important than individual
members. High party loyalty with the Bundestag.
Electoral System
Single member District and Proportional Representation with Party List is used. Parties
must receive above 5% of the list vote receive additional seats from the proportional
representation system.
Frequently parties like the FDP convince SPD or CDU voters to support them on the party
list.
Discussion Questions 2
How has the West German electoral system been able to maintain partisan competition?
In what ways is the German political system more democratic than the US system? In what
ways is it less democratic?
How has unification complicated partisan competition and political socialization?
Policy Process
Executive (in consultation with ministries) generally proposes new policies. Proposed
legislation is generally supported. Cabinet approves budgetary measures which cannot be
altered by Parliament. Cabinet review of proposed legislation includes reviews of
Bundesrat comments. The Bundestag debates the merits of bill, then sends version to
Bundesrat.
- If accepted by Bundesrat, it becomes law.
- If opposed by Bundesrat, mediation committee seeks compromise;
- if accepted by both Bundesrat and Bundestag, compromise becomes law.
- If not, Bundestag may again pass bill and it becomes law without Bundesrat approval.
Law may be reviewed by Constitutional Court which can void laws that contravene Basic
Law, either in principle or in the setting of a particular dispute.
Policy Issues
Broad social security guarantees
EU membership/single currency
Development in the East
Environmentalism versus development
Military issues
Immigration and asylum