Many thought that the 'German question', that had shaped European history so catastrophically in the last century, had been solved for good in 1990. And the last elections seemed to confirm that Germany was on the road to 'normalcy'. However, at the beginning of the new century, many see Germany as a problem case in Europe. This raises the question about the future of Germany and the performance of the incumbent government. The book addresses these issues by examining the policies and politics of the Red-Green government and by putting recent changes and developments in this country in a long-term perspective.

Autorentext

WERNER REUTTER is a visiting Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, USA.

Zusammenfassung
Many thought that the "German question", which had shaped European history so catastrophically in the last century, had been solved for good in 1990. Furthermore, the elections in 1998 seemed to confirm that Germany was on the road to "normalcy". For the first time in postwar German history a ruling party coalition was totally unseated by elections. Germany thus finally joined other western democracies as a state where a change of government following elections is commonplace. However, starting in the new millennium many have begun to see Germany as a problem case in Europe yet again. This raises questions about the future of Germany and the performance of the Red-Green government that this book seeks to answer. The contributors to this volume examine policies and politics of the Red-Green government in Germany, put recent changes and developments in this country in a long-term perspective, and provide conclusions about future developments.

Inhalt

Introduction Germany on the Road to 'Normalcy': Policies and Politics of the Red-Green Federal Government (1998-2002); W.Reutter PART I: INSTITUTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL DIMENSIONS: PARTIES, COALITION GOVERNMENT AND CHANCELLOR DEMOCRACY One Electorate? Social Policy Views and Voters' Choice in the Unified Germany since 1990; R.Rohrschneider & M.Wolf The German Party System: Developments after Unification Bernhard Wessels Gerhard Schröder as 'Coordination Chancellor'? The Impact of Institutions and Arenas on the Chancellor's Style of Governance; S.Kropp PART II: 'OLD POLITICS': ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY The Red-Green Government, the Third Way and the Alliance for Jobs, Training and Competitiveness; W.Reutter Policy Failure: The Economic Record of the Red-Green Coalition in Germany, 1998-2002; K.Hübner Continuity or Change: Red-Green Social Policy after Sixteen Years of Christian Democratic Rule; M.Seeleib-Kaiser PART III: CURRENT ISSUES AND 'NEW' POLITICS: INTERNAL SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, AND IMMIGRATION Internal Security and the Politics of Law and Order; G.Glaessner From Taboo to Strategic Tool in Politics: Immigrants and Immigration Policies in German Party Politics; O.Schmidtke Red-Green Environmental Policy in Germany: Strategies and Performance Patterns; K.Kern , S.Koenen & T.Löffelsend PART IV: GERMANT AND THE WORLD: EUROPEAN POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY From 'Tamed' to 'Normal' Power: A New Paradigm in German Foreign and Security Policy?; A.Pradetto European Politics of the Red-Green Government: Deepening and Widening Continued; B.Lippert