Since unification German society and institutions have been challenged by various transformations and the need to adjust to changing conditions. While much has been accomplished, many political, legal, and institutional problems remain. This volume deals with selected aspects of domestic and European policy, political parties, the challenge of direct democracy, and federalism in unified Germany – all issues that have been the subject of much discussion, political posturing, legislation, and, to some extent, constitutional amendments and court decision for many years, if not decades. In conclusion, a British scholar looks at German federalism and a number of public policy issues from a comparative perspective and arrives at some surprising and encouraging results.
Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Jackson Janes
Notes on Contributors
Introduction: German Unification, Public Policy, and Federalism
Arthur B. Gunlicks
Chapter 1. Historical Dimensions of German Statehood: From the Old Reich to the New Germany
Wolf D. Gruner
Chapter 2. On the Misery of the German Financial Constitution
Gisela Färber
Chapter 3. Territorial Reform of the Länder: A Demand of the Basic Law
Uwe Leonardy
Chapter 4. Länder Parliaments in the Federation: Some Remarks on the Division of Powers
Franz Greß
Chapter 5. Germany’s Latent Constitutional Conflict
Werner J. Patzelt
Chapter 6. The Changing Party System and the Challenge of Direct Democracy
Peter Lösche
Chapter 7. Direct Legislation in United Germany
Hermann K. Heußner
Chapter 8. The German System of EU Policymaking and the Role of the Länder: Fragmentation and Partnership
Udo Diedrichs
Chapter 9. German Länder Participation in European Policy through the Bundesrat
Elisabeth Dette-Koch
Chapter 10. Dimensions of Constitutional Change: Germany and the United Kingdom Compared
Charlie Jeffery
Conclusion: Toward an Understanding of German Politics at the Turn of a New Century
Arthur B. Gunlicks
Bibliography
Index
About the Author :
Arthur B. Gunlicks is Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Richmond, Virginia. He has published widely on German politics, especially German federalism and party and campaign finance.
Review :
"[These papers] offer a variety of insightful analyses and perspectives. Taken individually, they provide informative, well-researched understandings of contemporary debates on German federalism and public policy…should be required reading for all scholars of comparative politics." Publius. The Journal of Federalism
