From Bonn to Berlin: German Politics in Transition

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Columbia University Press, 1998 - 301 pages

Can German democracy endure the stresses of reunification, the challenges of global market forces, and the impact of Europe's intensifying economic and political union? As they examine these difficulties and possible answers, Lewis Edinger and Brigitte Nacos underscore distinct differences and similarities in American and German politics. The first part of the book describes the development and features of German representative democracy: its roots in the Third Reich and the Weimar Republic, the national emphasis on cooperation and collective responsibility, and the role of the media in reshaping electoral politics. The second part addresses the most pressing problems facing Germany at the close of the century, from European integration, to its burgeoning immigrant population and the pressures taxing its social programs. Based on extensive research, From Bonn to Berlin will inform anyone with an interest in either German or American politics.

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Contents

At the Crossroads
1
Continuity and Change
7
German QuestionsOld and New
9
Representative Democracy Roots of the System
46
For Better or for Worse More Participatory Democracy
81
Problems Issues and Prospects
111
The Impact of Societal Change
113
Capitalism with a Human Face
145
Social Welfare State Under Pressure
196
Germany Abroad The Politics of Foreign Policymaking
236
The Road Ahead
252
Notes
261
Bibliography
277
Index
287
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