Entries from SAIS Next Europe tagged with 'Germany'
Republicans Need Direction? Check Out Germany
It's been a tough four years for Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), so much so that comparisons with the U.S. Republican party's woes aren't too far off base. Chancellor Schroeder made an unpopular move to Gazprom just weeks after leaving office; party vice president Kurt Beck stepped down over supporting coalitions with the Left party (Die Linke). Now comes "Limogate": health minister Ulla Schmidt allegedly took her chauffeured limousine on vacation to Spain, where it was stolen. Now the SPD must explain why Schmidt needed the 100,000-Euro vehicle on her vacation, when it should be campaigning for the upcoming September 27th general elections. This won't be easy, since the trip only included two official events: speaking with German retirees and meeting the mayor of the village in which she stayed.
Resetting Russian Relations
Despite the murder of human rights activist Natalia Estimirova in Chechnya, the subsequent visit of Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev to Munich for the annual Petersburg Dialogue meeting between Russia and Germany appears to have gone off swimmingly. Medvedev spoke sharply against the killing and the meeting focused on energy and economic ties, including the purchase of automaker Opel by a consortium including Russia's largest bank.
Soccer's Role in Germany's Future
Soccer championships seem to bring out the German identity debate. Who doesn't remember the sudden proliferation of black-, red- and gold-clad fans, cars, windowsills and even hairstyles during the 2006 World Cup? Commentators around the world saw it as the country's chance to get comfortable with its national identity.
During last month's European Under-21 soccer championship in Sweden, another display caused quite a stir. This time it was not the overwhelming show of the German colors, but the names of players on the German national team: Khedira, Özil, Castro, Dejagah, Aogo - all names that many Germans still have trouble considering their own.
What is German? It's a heated debate. The late 1990s brought calls for a German "Leitkultur;" a defining, leading culture serving as an anchor for all Germans and especially as a point of reference for immigrants coming to Germany. Debate still simmers about whether Germany should be an immigration nation or not. And the recent resolution by the Christian Democrats (CDU) to make German the official language of Germany has also sparked controversy.
But the success of Germany's multi-ethnic team - Germany won the tournament in a 4-0 shootout against England - might elevate this debate. Immigrant children are twice as likely to drop out of school, and some argue that they are responsible for more than their share of crime. Job applicants with German names are ten times more likely to be invited to an interview than applicants with Turkish names. So the triumph of a young and determined team, whose captain's name is Khedira, may work against those stereotypes. It might also allow immigrant adolescents to follow the paths of these role models, whether in sports or elsewhere.
Germany needs these discussions, and not only to come to terms with the troubling parts of its past. In a time when low birthrates impede the success and viability of the German society, an inclusive discussion about the role of foreign-born Germans and their children is more than necessary. Maybe soccer, in its own way, could contribute to Germany's future.
Nikolas Foster is a graduate student in Energy and Environmental Policy and International Economics at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC.
Germany's 'Madame No'
On a recent cover of Der Spiegel, Germany's leading newsmagazine, she's referred to as "Angela Mutlos". Translation: Fainthearted Angela. The headline of a recent article in The Economist asks where she can be found.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's response to the world's economic crisis has been slow and hesitant, earning her the nickname of Madame No in media across Europe.
Now, it has drawn criticism from within her own Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and particularly from its more conservative sister party, the CSU. And although her party still leads in the polls, the percentage of Germans who credit her with strengthening the country's economic power has slipped 17 percent in about a month.
Germany's New Obamania
European politicians - whose nations have long struggled with the issue of racial integration - have duly noted the excitement generated by the U.S. electorate's choice of an African-American as its next president.
Now, Germany may be on the way to its own version of Obamania - thanks to the election of Cem Özdemir as Green Party leader. Özdemir's parents are originally of Turkish descent and immigrated to southern Germany during the peak of the Turkish guest worker immigration. Although there are now over 2.6 million ethnic Turks in Germany, Özdemir is the first ethnic Turk elected as a party leader and the highest-ranking politician ever with an immigrant background.
Ozdemir's election comes at a time when German leaders are struggling to fully integrate immigrants into Germany, and Ozdemir's election can be seen as reaffirming the government's efforts. The election will be inspirational for German youth of Turkish background, even if it does not immediately solve real problems such as unemployment and poverty. And too the Greens may have just discovered a new source of electoral strength within the immigrant community.
Europe's Winner in Financial Crisis: Politicians
In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy nearly abandoned capitalism during his speech in Toulon on September 24th. Coming from the current EU President, his comments added to the sense of panic, rather than showing resolve and leadership. Those comments may have resonated with socialist sympathizers in France, but left financial analysts scratching their heads. Many are wondering if this is just another French promised reformist, turned apathetic. A few weeks ago he gathered with his European counterparts for a coordinated rescue package, which calls into question the purpose of his Toulon rhetoric. Remind me which side was he on during the '68 protests? He's made a decent effort to spearhead negotiations recently among the EU and US counterparts, but now appears to be stalling the process with his insistence on including energy-related language. If the Kyoto and the EU carbon credit fiascos taught anything is that the US and the EU are nowhere near consensus on climate change.
Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi appeared too fixated on saving Alitalia to notice the looming global meltdown. Now, with the banking system called into question, the rescue of Italy's national airline is on the backburner. Although he's a successful business executive who must understand markets, with his three-thousand Euro suits Berlusconi embodies an air of the backroom-deal and golden parachute that many attribute as the prime causes of the financial crisis. It may be hard for the billionaire to appeal to the unemployed if the crisis gets out of hand in Italy, but the jury is still out, pending the country's financial state in the coming months.
German Legislators Boost Afghan Troops
Though overlooked in the States, the recent vote in the Bundestag represents a drastic shift in German foreign policy. By passing an extension and expansion of Germany's mandate in Afghanistan, Germany's leaders not only went against popular domestic opinion but also took one more in a series of gradual steps towards employing a more muscular foreign policy. This is a notable development for the U.S. as it seeks broader international support for its security efforts.
Obamania in Germany
In July, a 200,000-strong crowd cheered for Barack Obama when he gave his speech in Berlin. If you stroll down German streets these days, you will come across many people wearing Obama shirts and stickers as fashionable accessories.
A recent survey now revealed that the presidential candidate enjoys a favorability rating of 83% in Germany. More than 50% of Germans think that transatlantic relations will improve if Obama is elected. For John McCain that figure stands at 11%.
What is perplexing about this is that most Germans would vote for Obama, even though they do not share many of his policy positions. If he were to implement large parts of his foreign and security agenda, it could quickly turn him unpopular in Germany.
Recent Posts
- Europe Must Help Obama Close Guantanamo
- Republicans Need Direction? Check Out Germany
- Exposing NATO's Weaknesses in Afghanistan
- Resetting Russian Relations
- Nabucco Pipeline Gets the Green Light
- Bulgaria's 'Batman' Prime Minister
- Soccer's Role in Germany's Future
- Albania's Outlook Unclear After Elections
- Education, Our Non-Priority
- Europe Sleeps As Power Passes It By
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