During the winter of
2008, the CDU government introduced sweeping changes to
the economy, severely cutting back the welfare state and
weakening labour laws. Immigration was pushed into the
spotlight, and Merkels’ government responded by
introducing sweeping, conservative laws to curb
immigration. By 2009, the reforms had gone further and
Germany was becoming increasingly secular. Merkels
skepticism of the EU led to a gradual drawback and
Germany’s influence over Europe slowly declined. The
economy slowed down at the beginning of 2010, and
unemployment increased largely due to the recession. Mix
and match policies, which attempted to decrease
unemployment and jump-start the economy, failed due to
long term social and economic problems. Germany had
previously restricted its borders too much, and cheap
labour had dried up. Exports and investment decreased,
and the stopgap measures only helped to increase labour
exploitation.
By the end of 2010, Germany was in its own mini
depression. Unemployment continued to rise, economic
growth slowed down and the country was increasingly
ignored on the international stage. The EU was but a
distant, novel idea and conservatism was taking root in
previous left wing areas where religion was increasingly
on the rise. It was seen as a replacement to the pride
Germans once felt about their country: pride that was
taking a hit by recent events. Popularity for the
Government fell, and Merkel struggled to keep hold of
the country. The CDU/SDP alliance split; the SDP
objected to the increasingly right wing policies on
immigration and the economy. Merkel formed a make shift
coalition with smaller parties during the 2010 election,
and the SDP found itself pushed aside, rejected for its
left wing policies in an increasingly conservative
society. Its internal squabbling did not help matters
either.
On the 29th of October
2010, German foundations were shook both literally and
metaphorically. Five separate explosions hit the
capital’s transport network within 10 minutes of each
other, each the work of suicide bombers. It was a stark
reminder that terrorism was just as prominent in 2010 as
it was in 2001 after the September 11th attacks. The
explosions foreshadowed similar attacks in France in
2011, and played into the hands of far right
campaigners. Merkel responded with tightening terrorism
laws, which sparked race riots from heavily populated
Muslim communities. Support for the government
plummeted, and initially rose for the far right,
religious parties reflecting the cultural changes
Germans underwent. The SDP responded with transforming
into a centrist party, exploiting the CDU’s weaknesses
and mistakes. The government however continued to
overestimate what the populace wanted. Borders were
tightened further, and the country spiraled into
secularism in parts. Racial integration reversed itself,
as communities became firmly divided. Protestant and
Catholic elements grew stronger, and the government lost
its grip.
By 2012, German
politics was transformed. Conservative religion was as
much a factor as liberal reform once was. Left wing
elements did remain, supported by groups concerned about
the growing religious support and traditionalism. Far
out weighted by moderate Christians however, politics
had taken a significant shift to the right. Germans were
not easily converted to extreme nationalism however, and
although the country had become far more conservative
than it was once used to, it still refused to vote for
far right parties. The CDU lost out only to the SDP in
the 2013 election because of its past failures, and the
SDP’s clever manipulation of current affairs under its
new leader Ewald Meyer. Seen by many as a fresh start,
he conveyed a centrist policy for government, advocating
policies similar to third way politics of the earlier
decade. Appealing to most groups, he was voted in due to
the countries current situation and his promise to
transform Germany.
Ewald Meyer has since
come under criticism for his lack of experience. His
manifesto promised more liberal immigration laws to help
boost the economy and increase cheap labour. His
policies also promised to help protect German jobs by
improving labour laws and re-starting the nation’s
social security damaged by the Merkel government. Racial
integration was also high on his list, as was jump
starting the EU and increasing German influence
worldwide. His policies are not comparable to the SDP’s
former left wing tendencies, with many CDU supporters
expecting the government to fall at its first hurdle
with too many differing groups of supporters to please,
and its support spread too thinly. Meyer spoke out
against such claims, advocating a central platform for
government in his first policy speech as Chancellor in
February 2013. So far, he has yet to enter the debate on
growing religious matters (abortion, contraception,
divorce). An advocator of more liberal values and
rights, he had shied away from tackling the growing
religious right. His personal opinions kept quiet;
instead, he focused his campaign on rebuilding Germany.
Economic Situation
Germany’s once strong economy was in fear of drastic
decline as it hit a plateau and lost out to major
competitors in Asia during the last few years of the
first decade. Right Wing economic policies and forced
reduced immigration led to a decline in cheap manual
labour, having knock-on effects for all industries.
Germany’s initial economic prosperity of Angela Merkel’s
government was lost in the failure of foreign business
and investment to be attracted to Germany. Arguably, not
the government’s fault due to the 2010 recession,
economic growth declined and unemployment increased
(serving to merely increase resentment for immigration).
There appeared a divide in economic prosperity that
paralleled political affiliations; the rising right,
east of the country, which opposed mass immigration and
empowered ethnic minorities, were hit the hardest. Tough
new measures to decrease unemployment failed, as
Germany’s borders grew tighter to investing businesses.
Although gloomy,
Germany’s economic problems were temporary. Toward the
end of 2012, growth increased to 1.6%, and the economy
recovered slightly. Investment into Germany resumed,
and, recognizing the importance of cheap labour, borders
reopened, albeit slightly. Resentment remained for the
CDU however, leading to their defeat in March of 2013.
The new Chancellor, Ewald Meyer, has recently advocated
increasing the countries labour laws, lowering taxes for
greener companies and favouring skilled migrant workers
to enter the country.
Defense
Germanys defense force was one of the only things to
remain strong during the uneasy political climate up
until 2013. Right wing policies ensured that the Army
retained its numbers and equipment procurement. Fresh
orders were placed for the Eurofighter typhoon (albeit
small, increasing the fleet only by 100), and the Navy
enjoyed a slightly more numerical, yet more advanced,
surface fleet. However, Germany is still heavily
invested in European defense projects, and in the future
has openly expressed interest in working with other EU
member states on Defense projects.
Social Issues
Social cohesion was a major political issue in the
2013 election. Riots in ethnic areas and fears over
terrorism after the 2010 bombings fuelled a distrust of
ethic minorities, particularly Muslim communities that
remained segregated. Tough government policies of the
Merkel era sparked anger throughout the minorities and
served only to fuel far right wing party politics. As in
line with the rest of Europe, Germany is becoming
gradually more religious, forcing issues such as
abortion and contraception back into the spot light.
Conservative views are growing as Catholic and
Protestant communities encourage what some people refer
to as the “pride in Germany” and traditionalism
allegedly lost over the years. The Catholic Church has
seen considerable increases in numbers over the past
five years. However, the German Protestant Churches are
showing the most increase in number in the north part of
the country. Religious holidays are celebrated with
greater enthusiasm, with religion taking a central role
in people’s day-to-day lives. Markedly, a significant
shift, both culturally and politically has emerged to
the right.
Religious views are
having an increasing effect on party politics and
opposition parties, however, as of yet there is still to
be seen the same kind of religious interference observed
in the US in the past decade. The divide between the
State and the church is respected, although due to
Christian religion representing a larger majority of the
population than in the past, it has sparked debate from
those considered ‘un-religious’ citizens, fearing the
church will take a greater role in government; one of
the reasons which saw an increase in the SDPs share of
the vote.
Foreign Relations
Germany suffered a decline on the international stage
while it underwent change domestically. With economic
growth slowing and its exclusion from the UN Security
Council as a permanent member, it played a small part in
international politics when compared to the UK or USA.
Its strong relationship with France continued, although
troubles in both countries over the years placed a
strain on relations. Still in strong support of the EU,
pressing for a stronger EU relation, Germany still
maintained a distance of sorts, refusing to relinquish
too much power to Brussels. Immigration fears led to an
anti-EU mood during 2009 to 2010, however, improvements
in Germany’s economy and influence by 2012 reversed
opinions and Germany continued to take a leading role. A
rebuilding of Germanys dominance and foreign influence
is currently underway, although not to exceed it’s
previously considered non-interventionist policies of
the earlier years of the decade. Its relationship with
the US, although strained, remains very much in tact
with the presence of Ramstein Air Base.
Meyer Government
Ewald Meyer came to power in February of 2013 promising
widespread reform and change for Germany. For many,
Merkel had over estimated what the populace truly
wanted. They feared terrorism, but respected civil
liberties. They were worried about immigration, yet did
not want the closure of German borders. Many still
remember the prosperity Germany enjoyed as a major world
player, leading the EU and maintaining a strong economy.
While arguably, religious conservative views have
replaced the longing for a greater Germany, many were
unprepared for the drastic measures Merkel took.
Meyer promised to
repair the damage and reintegrate communities. Opening
the borders again to economic migrants is expected, as
is stronger labour laws for German workers that lost
their jobs under Merkel. Traditionalism, coupled with
religion is a much stronger force now than in the 2010
election. By 2015, Meyers hopes the economy will recover
to a 2.5% annual growth rate with foreign investment and
greater EU cooperation. |
