Germany and EU Integration Flashcards
What are some basic facts about the German government?
Federal Government, Bicameral parliament
16 States
Current Chancellor - Scholz
Why can Germany be considered a dominant power in Europe?
11% of EU landmass
83.13 million population 18.6% of EU total
GDP = $4.12 trillion
Largest economy in Europe. Services are 70% of the total GDP, Industry 29.1% and agriculture 0.9%
Why has Germany been historically dislocated?
Two currency destructions 1923/1948
Partition; Unified 1990
2 World Wars
5 different political systems
Key German characteristics
One of the original EEC members
Consensus politics - takes into account a broad range of opinions. Inclusive society.
Not a large military presence. ‘Civilian power’ - economic and political presence.
No weapons of mass destruction
Conscription phased out in 2011
Why did West Germany want integration?
International acceptability - not a sovereign state after WW2.
A sense of identity - being ‘good Europeans’
Means to ‘protect Germany from itself’ - reconstruct the west German state
Repel communism and access to markets.
Post-Cold War integration in Germany
Kohl - CDU - 1982-1998 ‘the 1968 generation into power’
Schroder - SPD - 1998-2005
Broad foreign policy continuity. US helps Germany to reunify, recommits to NATO.
Market independence
Non-Nuclear power
‘Principled Multilateralism’
There was a declining ability to be the EUs ‘paymaster’ - disparity between eastern and western Germany after unification. More of a focus on ‘enlightened self interest’ than on the EU in the 90s.
Continuity in integration after the cold war
More cooperation in justice and home affairs
Strengthening Common foreign and security policy
Strengthening European Parliament
Reforming voting procedure
Enlargement to central and eastern Europe
German economic problems
Massive East to West financial transfers
$70-$80 billion a year - equivalent to Marshall aid to 15 countries over 3 years
Double digit unemployment - 20%+ in parts of the East
Eastern German GDP only 69% of that in Western Germany
German economy shrinks by 5% in 2009, worst performance since 1932. 15% rising unemployment.
Angela Merkel (2005-2021)
‘Pragmatic pro-European’ - ‘the euro is our common fate and Europe is our common future’ (12/2010)
Pro-Europe and Pro-Atlanticism
Tension with Trump
Differences in Franco-German interests - Enlargement, Immigration, EU reform.
Paterson thoughts on Germany
Germany has been a ‘reflexive multilateralist’ since 1945, making a practice of ‘leading from behind’. Reflexive rather than instrumental.
Gradually has been forced to change into a ‘reluctant hegemon’.
Opposition to Integration was endorsement of nationalism and nationalism was a threat to peace.
German influence increases with a lack of British involvement.
The eurozone crisis saw Germany really come into this hegemonic role.
Ludlow on Germany
‘The Germans would not lead, the French could not, and the British neither would nor could’
