Germany unification

Why?

Growing ties between the two Germany’s and a certain revival of a sense of German national identity preceded reunification during the 1980s. With the decline of the USSR and the end of the cold war and the fall of the Berlin wall allowed for German unification in 1990s.

When? How?

On October 3rd 1990 GDR and FRG were formally united.

German reunification posed the challenge of introducing new markets to an economy with none. The formerly communist German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (west Germany) It was part of the dramatic demise of communism in Europe as well as a significant event for economic and political reasons.

It occurred at a time when the
• On one hand this restricts the radical decisions but on the other hand the government is increasingly reliant on broad cross party consensus. • Attempts for the chancellor to put his policy making authority into practice are susceptible to the veto of the junior coalition partner.

Pressures on the federal structure. • Although german unification was achieved with minimal changes to the constitutional structure the effects on the balances of federal systems have been significant, partly due to the increase number of Landers and the economic weakness of these states. • Contrary to the attempt of the Basic Law to create a strong decentralised federal system the trend during the 1970s and 1980s was increasing centralisation. Trend that had been sharply reinforced by unification. • The financial weakness of the new Lander had made them far more dependent on the federal government and dependency had made the system far more complex. • Contract of the under privileged east and the affluent west is reflected in the composition of the Bundestrat. • Greater complexity in reaching policy agreements is unfavourable. Makes it more difficult for the chancellor to define and maintain clear policy guidelines • Increased centralisation has more overt party