The Federal Republic of Germany at fifty. The end of a century of turmoil

Book abstract:

Fifty years after the formation of the Federal Republic and a decade after German unification, Germany faces a time of great change. The 1998 election was the first in the Federal Republic directly to oust a government, ending the Kohl era and bringing the new Social Democrat-Green coalition to power. In this book, leading international scholars reflect on the dramatic transformations of Germany's past and on Germany's future prospects. Postwar democratic and economic renewal is set in the context of continuing debates about German identity; there are assessments of all major leaders, parties and ideologies; of the still unfinished agenda of integrating East and West; of how the new generation of German leaders will interact with ageing governmental structures; of the Bundesbank and the successes and failures of economic policy, the trade unions and the media; and of Germany's energising role in Europe and the world.

The book is in six parts: German identity at the cusp of a new century; New directions among the German leadership; Aging governmental structures; Political processes and policies; Germany in Europe and in the world; Conclusion.

The editor, Peter H. Merkl, is retired but teaches European Politics, German politics and comparative government part-time at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has written extensively on Germany and his books include: Origin of the West German Republic; Germany: yesterday and tomorrow.

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