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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.
List 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.
Summary
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.
Additional text
"[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
