Between Bonn and Berlin : German Politics Adrift?

Examining Germany's image of political drift, the authors focus on current debates regarding the country's welfare state, European monetary policy, security policy, warnings about a supposed 'German hegemony', symbolic or geopolitical implications of the return to Berlin, and new complexities in party politics and public opinion.

As Germany returns its national government from Bonn to Berlin, the country''s politics have become more uncertain than at any time since World War II. Since unification there has been an ongoing debate, both inside and outside Germany, concerning its power, intentions, identity, and domestic structure. Examining the country''s image of political drift, the authors focus on current debates regarding Germany''s welfare state, European monetary policy, security policy, warnings about a supposed ''German hegemony'' in Europe, symbolic or geopolitical implications of the return to Berlin, and new complexities in party politics and public opinion. The authors also question recent analyses that suggest the direction of German politics is either one of overall ''continuity'' or fundamental ''transformation.'' Although there is far more similarity between the Berlin Republic and its West German predecessor than there ever could have been between ''Weimar'' and ''Bonn,'' the authors also show that united Germany is in many ways more than an enlarged version of its successful forerunner. Intended for both specialists and generalists, this timely volume will be especially valuable for students of comparative and international politics who wish to understand the new Germany in its European and international context.