cover of The Politics of the New Germany

The Politics of the New Germany

By Simon Green, Dan Hough, Alister Miskimmon, Graham Timmins

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About the Book

The Politics of the New Germany takes a new approach to understanding politics in the post-unification Federal Republic. Assuming only elementary knowledge, it focuses on debates and issues in order to help students understand both the workings of Germany's key institutions and some of the key policy challenges facing German politicians.

Written in a straightforward style by four experts, each of the chapters draws on a rich variety of real-world examples. Packed with boxed summaries of key points, a guide to further reading and a range of seminar questions for discussion at the end of each chapter, this book highlights both the challenges and opportunities facing policy-makers in such areas as foreign affairs, economic policy, immigration, identity politics and institutional reforms. The book also takes a bird's-eye view of the big debates that define German politics over time, regardless of which party happens to be in power. It pinpoints three key themes that have characterised German politics over the last sixty years; reconciliation, consensus and transformation.

Reviews

'This thematic treatment of contemporary Germany fills a much-needed gap in the student-oriented literature. The authors have succeeded in producing a fascinating and highly accessible account of all the key issues facing Germany today, making this book a 'must read' for any undergraduate student of German and European Studies.' - Professor Paul Cooke, University of Leeds, UK

'The Politics of the New Germany strikes a perfect balance between the historical origins and evolution of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, the process and consequences of unification, and the future trajectory a united Germany. Unlike many texts on German politics, the authors do not restrict their analysis to the domestic political and economic system, but instead present fully developed chapters on Germany’s role in the European Union and Atlantic Alliance that successfully establishes the critical linkages between domestic politics and foreign policy. The three themes tying the book together---reconciliation, consensus, and transformation and adaptation---provide an accessible framework for students and faculty alike. The authors join this thematic consistency with a uniformly crisp and clear writing style throughout. There is no better introductory textbook on German politics available today.' - Professor James Sperling, University of Akron, USA

'It is about time an up-to-date textbook on German politics came out. Thankfully it is this one. The authors are a formidable team and have performed a fine balancing act well: making sure there is enough historical context to make sense of the peculiarities of German politics, while also organising the material under headings that connect with wider themes in comparative politics. The illustrative material is helpful, the writing excellent throughout, and the structure engaging. The thematic approach - on economic management, welfare reform, the EU, foreign policy - is used well to exemplify issues raised about the wider setting of German politics, its institutional structures and party system. There is no doubt that this book shoots straight to the top of the recommendation list for my students.' - Professor Charlie Jeffery, University of Edinburgh, UK

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Germany and the Burden of History 2. Germany’s Post-War Development, 1945-1989 3. Towards German Unity? 4. A Blockaded System of Government? 5. The Party System and Electoral Behaviour: The Path to Stable Instability? 6. Economic Management: The End of the German Model? 7. Citizenship and Demographics: A Country of Immigration? 8. The Reform of the Welfare State? 9. Germany and the European Union: A European Germany or a German Europe? 10. Foreign and Security Policy: A New Role for the Twenty-First Century? 11. Conclusion

About the Author(s)

Simon Green is Senior Lecturer in German and European Politics at the European Research Institute and Deputy Director of the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham. He has written widely on German politics and especially on immigration and citizenship policy in Germany.


Dan Hough is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Sussex. He has published widely on parties and party systems, devolution and constitutional change and German politics. He recently co-wrote (with Michael Koß and Jonathan Olsen) The Left Party in Contemporary German Politics (Palgrave, 2007).


Alister Miskimmon is Lecturer in European Politics and International Relations and Director of European Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. His research interests are in the field of German foreign policy, as well as wider European and global security issues.


Graham Timmins is Professor of Politics at the University of Stirling. His research areas cover European integration and security and German Politics. Recent publications include Russia and Europe in the Twenty-First Century: An Uneasy Partnership, co-editor Jackie Gower (Anthem, 2007).