FRG Politics Flashcards
1
Q
Why did the allies object to Versailles-like terms?
- Needed to feel supported
- Trade
- Extremism
A
Why did the allies object to Versailles-like terms?
- Show support to integrate into international community
- Need a strong trading partner
- Prevent domestic and international extremism
2
Q
Political Parties in 1945
- CDU/CSU
- SPD
- KPD
- FDP
A
Political Parties in 1945
- CDU/CSU were church based groups supporting welfare
- SPD reformed to become more radical with nationalisation of banks, land and industries and reform of welfare
- KPD reformed to be more moderate, wanting socialism through land reform, education reform and democracy
- FDP formed from small liberal groups and pursued centrist policies
3
Q
The Basic Law (1949)
- Rights promised
- Extremist clauses
- Percentage of votes to get a seat in Bundestag
A
The Basic Law (1949)
- Equal rights, free speech, voting over 18, free education
- Allowed to ban anti-democratic political parties
- 5%
4
Q
Articles from Basic Law (1949)
- Article 20
- Article 21
A
Articles from Basic Law (1949)
- Establishing democracy, right to resist anti-democracy
- Parties are free and public, anti-democratic parties are unconstitutional
5
Q
1949-1961 Election Trends
- CDU/CSU until 1957
- CDU/CSU in 1961
- SPD
- FDP
A
1949-1961 Election Trends
- CDU/CSU until 1957 has increasing votes
- CDU/CSU in 1961 experiences a decline in votes
- SPD has accelerating vote growth
- FDP declines until 1957, but rises significantly in 1961
6
Q
Impact of Adenauer 1949-61
- Nazis
- Communism
- Stability
- Election campaigns
A
Impact of Adenauer 1949-61
- Employed former Nazis and attempted reconciliation
- Opposed Communism and refused to recognise the GDR
- Moderate right politician aiming to make little change
- ‘No experiments’ showed safety of his party
7
Q
Adenauer’s Domestic Policies
- Collective bargaining law on industrial relations (1949)
- Construction law (1950)
- Equalisation of burdens act (1952)
- Work consultation law (1952)
- Pensions act (1957)
- Enforcing article 21
A
Adenauer’s Domestic Policies
- Encouraged co-determination and gave unions more rights
- Led to 4m new homes built
- Redistributed DM126bn from top 5% by 1983
- Reduced workplace tensions and facilitated growth, and reduced strikes
- Strained social welfare budget
- Demonstrated determination to respect democracy
8
Q
Adenauer’s Foreign Policy
- Western relations
- NATO
- EEC
A
Adenauer’s Foreign Policy
- Prioritised western relations over reunification as he saw that as the path to stability - council of Europe + EEC
- Saw NATO membership as crucial to stability
- Saw a strong, united Europe as important economically to ensure independence from USA
9
Q
Challenge to Adenauer
- SPD
- Adenauer
A
Challenge to Adenauer
- SPD reinvented itself to be more moderate in the Bad Godesberg Party congress (1959), agreeing with current economic policies and supporting NATO and EEC membership
- Adenauer was an aging man with declining political judgement, did not visit Berlin after wall construction in 1961, attempting to unite president and chancellor in 1959, and the Der Spiegel Affair
10
Q
Summary of Governments post-Adenauer
- Willy Brandt (1969-1974)
- Helmut Schmidt (1974-82)
- Helmut Kohl (1982-1998)
A
Summary of Governments post-Adenauer
- Willy Brandt (1969-1974) had high expectations of his social reforms, failing due to worsening economic conditions and rising extremism
- Helmut Schmidt (1974-82) continued Ostpolitik, dealt with RAF, but party was divided over inflation, nukes, green issues and tensions
- Helmut Kohl (1982-1998) improved social market economy, continued Ostpolitik
11
Q
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: East/West Relations
- Willy Brandt’s policy 1969-76
- Helmut Schmidt’s policy 1974-82
- Helmut Kohl’s policy 1982-98
A
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: East/West Relations
- Brandt introduced Ostpolitik, compromising with the GDR, e.g. the Basic Treaty 1973 which created better links and acknowledged mutual existence
- Attempted to ease Soviet/NATO relations, were issues over nuclear weapons and terrorists like RAF
- Kohl worked on East/West relations through a 10 page plan
12
Q
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: Economic Problems
- Unemployment
- Kohl’s policies
- National debt
- Poverty
A
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: Economic Problems
- Unemployment peaked at 9% in the mid 1980s
- Kohl’s cost cutting and privatisation was unpopular especially with unions
- National debt as a proportion of GNP rose from 16% in 1970 to 40% by 1982
- Over 4% of households lived in poverty, especially affecting guest workers
13
Q
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: Smaller parties/ Pressure groups
- Anti nuclear movements
- Greens
- NDP
- DKP
A
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: Smaller parties/ Pressure groups
- Soviet IRBM development prompted Schmidt to deploy NATO missiles in the FRG, which resulted in 250k protest in 1981 and 2.7m petition in 1982
- Increasing vote share from 1980 (5%-12%) opposed to nuclear power/weapons and promoting environmental issues
- National democratic party (Neo-Nazis) did not gain enough votes (5%) to get Bundestag representation, though did get into several regional governments like Bavaria
- West German Communist Party, replaced party banned in 1966; never won more than 0.3% in federal elections
14
Q
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: Scandals/Corruption
- Brandt (1969-1974)
- Kohl (1982-1998)
- Schmidt (1974-1982)
- Grand Coalition (1966-1969)
A
Threats to Stability 1969-1989: Scandals/Corruption
- Brandt battled depression, alcoholism and adultery; PA (Guillaume) was an East German spy
- 1984 Flick affair was the Flick group paying personal donations to coalition and Kohl
- Schmidt had issues over policies for inflation, nuclear weapons, green issues and tensions within the coalition over the FDP
- Grand coalition fell apart over tax increases
