Glücksfall Bundesrepublik: New Germany and the 1960s

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
KARL CHRISTIAN LAMMERS
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
German History ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
German State ◽  
German States ◽  
German Question ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Political Economic

The downfall and disappearance of the German Democratic Republic, the GDR, and the unification in 1990 of the two German states into the Federal Republic of Germany, the FRG, marked the end of an era. Forty years of divided and non-simultaneous German history had been brought to an end, and the national or German question had at last been solved. Since 1990 German history has continued as the history of the Federal Republic. From this perspective 1990 marked not an absolute end, but the continuity of the Federal Republic and to some degree even the triumph of the political, economic and social system of the FRG, as the inhabitants of the socialist GDR, when they had the opportunity, voted for joining the successful and wealthy West German state. The end of divided history, however, has had another consequence. Even if the era of the GDR, because of the very favourable archive situation, attracted great attention among historians, the focus of historical research has turned more and more to the history of the Federal Republic in order to analyse and explain why the FRG ended as a success, while the socialist GDR failed in its ambitions and aspirations as an alternative Germany. History demonstrated that the GDR was no German option, although for some time it was a German reality.

Exit, Voice, and the Fate of the German Democratic Republic: An Essay in Conceptual History

1993 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert O. Hirschman
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Federal Republic ◽  
German Democratic Republic ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Communist Regime ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Special Shape ◽  
Public Protest ◽  
History Of

The revolutionary events of 1989 in Eastern Europe took a special shape in the German Democratic Republic: large-scale flights of citizens to the Federal Republic of Germany combined with increasingly powerful mass demonstrations in the major cities to bring down the communist regime. This conjunction of private emigration and public protest contrasts with the way these distinct responses to discontent had been previously experienced, primarily as alternatives. The forty-year history of the German Democratic Republic thus represents a particularly rich theater of operation for the concepts of “exit” and “voice,” which the author had introduced in his book Exit, Voice, and Loyalty (1970). The events of 1989 are scrutinized in some detail as they trace a more complex pattern of interaction than had been found to prevail in most previous studies.

Political Leadership under Conditions of «Chancellor Democracy»

2011 ◽  
pp. 25-38
Author(s):  
N. Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Federal Republic ◽  
Turning Points ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
German History ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Political Actor ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Government

In terms of Germany's foreign policy the concept of “chancellor democracy” begins to lose its validity. Nonetheless, the head of the government remains, as before, the leading political actor. In accordance with their own styles and characters each of the chancellors left their mark in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. Many German political scientists and historians are right to understand the “chancellor democracy” as historical concentration of power in the Federal chancellery to the detriment of ministerial principle. Indeed, in all turning points of German history the most important decisions had been taken by the Federal chancellery and by the Chancellor alone.

Neutralism in Germany

1986 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-419
Author(s):  
Marcell von Donat
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
German History ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Freedom Of Choice ◽  
Complex Constant ◽  
German States ◽  
German Situation ◽  
East West ◽  
Freedom Of Action

IN 1986, THE FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANÇOIS MITTERRAND reminded us that neutralism in Germany was not just a simple reaction to political facts but a very complex constant in recent German history. Is the idea of a neutral Germany or of two neutral German states of any political importance today? Are there still supporters for neutrality in Central Europe? Would it not be normal for some people to think in those terms?In today's relatively tension-free period of East-West relations, the fact may be overlooked that the German situation remains exceptional and that the Germans have a burden to carry which other nations do not have. The Federal Republic of Germany does not have full freedom of choice like for instance, Norway, which is a member of NATO without being a member of the EC, or Ireland which is an EC-member without belonging to NATO. What is considered as a normal option for any other nation might not be permitted for the Germans. Thus the frontline state at the frontier of the two world ideologies cannot claim normal freedom of action.

The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History

2012 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Federal Republic ◽  
Literary History ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
German History ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
The European Union ◽  
German Politics ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
History Of

The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History is a multi-author survey of German history that features syntheses of major topics by an international team of scholars. Emphasizing demographic, economic, and political history, this text places German history in a denser transnational context than any other general history of Germany. It underscores the centrality of war to the unfolding of German history, and shows how it dramatically affected the development of German nationalism and the structure of German politics. It also reaches out to scholars and students beyond the field of history with detailed chapters on religious history and on literary history, as well as to contemporary observers, with reflections on Germany and the European Union, and on ‘multi-cultural Germany’. Covering the period from around 1760 to the present, this book represents a synthesis based on current scholarship. It constitutes the starting point for anyone trying to understand the complexities of German history as well as the state of scholarly reflection on Germany's dramatic, often destructive, integration into the community of modern nations. As it brings this story to the present, it also places the current post-unification Federal Republic of Germany into a multifaceted historical context.

SCHOOL AND PARISH CATECHESIS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IN RELATION TO CANON AND UNIVERSAL LAW

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (XXI) ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Myjak
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
Religious Education ◽  
German Society ◽  
Virgin Mary ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Legal Basis ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Church

The article deals with the topic of the school and parish catechesis in the Federal Republic of Germany. The author presents the legal basis of the catechesis, in the Church and in the State. The catechetic teaching is defined in the Code of Canon Law. Information on this can be found in the second chapter of the title “The Ministry of the Divine Word” in this code. After a brief outline of the legal basis the author proceeds to presenting the history of religious education in Germany. Its origins lie in the 16th century at the time of Reformation and Counter-Reformation. As Rainer Winkel stated, when one studies the history of education, there are seven fields of education to be distinguished: 1. pedagogy, 2. religion, 3. ethics, 4. economics, 5. science, 6. politics, 7. art. Each of them is based on the development of one of seven “athropina”, i. e. features that are characteristic for human beings. All in all, it can be said that the religious education must be an integral part of all-round education. In a further part of the article the author describes the current catechetic teaching in Germany. Since the 1960s we can observe a development from catechesis to religious studies in the religious education at school. Instead of forming and educating pupils religiously, knowledge of religions is imparted at school. It is taught that there are many equally valid systems of values. The truths of faith and the sacraments are omitted during lessons. Above all, it can be observed that the German society is misinformed about the sacrament of penance. Besides, the passion of Christ, its meaning for a Christian and the role of the Holy Virgin Mary are not among the topics in school. On the other hand, parish catechesis is not very popular. The reason for this is probably the disappointment of the young people about the institutional character of the Church. In addition, there is a high percentage of atheists (especially in the former East Germany). Therefore, the author claims that there is a need of a renewed evangelisation instead of catechesis in Germany, in order that people believe in Jesus and the Mother of God again.

From Economic Miracle to Standort Deutschland: Exchanging Economic Metaphors in the Federal Republic of Germany

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-65
Author(s):  
Ben Lieberman
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
German Economy ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Economic Miracle ◽  
Economic Achievement ◽  
The World ◽  
German Model ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 1950S

The history of the Federal Republic of Germany is closely connected with economic achievement. Enjoying a striking economic recovery in the 1950s, the FRG became the home of the “economic miracle.” Maturing into one of the most powerful economies in the world, it became known as the “German model” by the 1970s. Now, however, the chief metaphor for the German economy is “Standort Deutschland,” and therein lies the tale of the new German problem.

In Search of Space: The Trope of Escape in German Electronic Music around 1968

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-352
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY SCOTT BROWN
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
Electronic Music ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The Political ◽  
Central Theme ◽  
Musical Genre ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 1960S

‘In Search of Space’ explores the history of Krautrock, a futuristic musical genre that began in Germany in the late 1960s and flowered in the 1970s. Not usually explicitly political, Krautrock bore the unmistakable imprint of the revolt of 1968. Groups arose out of the same milieux and shared many of the same concerns as anti-authoritarian radicals. Their rebellion expressed, in an artistic way, key themes of the broader countercultural moment of which they were a part. A central theme, the article argues, was escape – escape from the situation of Germany in the 1960s in general, and from the specific conditions of the anti-authoritarian revolt in the Federal Republic in the wake of 1968. Mapping Krautrock's relationship to key locations and routes (both real and imaginary), the article situates Krautrock in relationship to the political and cultural upheavals of its historical context.

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