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Essay on the Historical Stages of Democratization in Germany Introduction The Germany is now considered as country that sets democratic standards in EU. Many East-European new democracies are trying to use German experience in the field of democratization, to make their countries a better place to live. What caused Germany to successfully transform, after the war, from totalitarian state to a country where peoples civil rights are respected and cherished? Can we only talk of economical means, as factors that enabled Germany to become a strong geopolitical power, within 10 years after the end of World War 2?
In order for us to be able to come up with the answer, we would have to take a little excursion in the past. (1) After Germany had lost the First World War, the Allies imposed strict economic and political sanctions on this country. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was only allowed to have army of 100. 000. It had to surrender all of its fleet and was deprived of many of its historical territories, like Rhineland and East Prussia. On top of this, Britain, France and USA demanded that Germany had to pay 1 billion marks in annual contributions.
Germany was being declared responsible for the outbreak of the war, while in fact, it were the countries of Atlanta that had a direct interest in the war, because it would help to revitalize their economies, while eliminating Germany out of competition. Even though, many refer to the period of Weimar republic as truly democratic and progressive, this is very far from being the truth. The never-ending inflation prevented international investments in German economy. This resulted in 60 % all German factories getting closed down by the year of 1921. The unemployment rate was reaching 45 %, making the large portion of German population being left out on the street.
Also, a very few individuals were able to profit immensely on the suffering of German people a process closely resembling an enrichment of many new Russians, after the collapse of Soviet Union. At the same time, Germany was left one on one with an increasing Communist threat from the East. Communist agents of influence have continually tried to overthrow democratic German government, like Kurt Eisner, who proclaimed the creation of Bavarian Soviet Republic in 1918. These processes were also signified with spiritual degradation of many Germans that were encouraged to feel ashamed of their own culture, while becoming cosmopolitans instead It comes as no surprise that National-Socialists began to draw an immense public support. As a mater of fact, there was a national referendum, after Hitler was being appointed a Chancellor in 1933, which proved that 95 % of Germans supported him in acquiring additional political powers.
Even though that we think now of this period as undemocratic, the rise of National-Socialism was perfectly democratic, from the legal point of view. Basically, people simply wanted to prevent their country from being taken over by international Communism and this why they delegated the additional authority to their lawfully elected government. The Nazi rule is represented now as huge blow to the rise of German democracy, but I personally think that wed be much better off, if we consider it as the period of strengthening such democracy with undemocratic means. In the same way, General Pinochet had overthrown the Chilean government, which was unable to effectively deal with the Communist threat. In 1990 he allowed democracy back in his country, after this threat was being eliminated. Also, after attacks of 9 / 11, American government has enacted certain laws that impair citizens civil rights in USA.
This is referred to as yielding democratic principles for the time being, to enjoy democracy in the long run Many respected historians, like David Irving, suggest that both Weimar Republic and the Third Reich were essentially the democracies, although the majority of Germans never supported Republic. (2) After the Second World War, Germany has found itself being totally deprived of national sovereignty. In 1945 many American politicians proposed that Allies should go as far as banning German language and culture, as being overly warlike. The country was divided between USA, Britain, France and Soviet Union, which decided that post-war German industry should only account for no more than 30 % of its strength in year 1938. The country had lost one-fourth of its territory, with all of its prominent scientists being taken prisoners and forced to work for the Allies. The principle of steal what was stolen became the main law in the war-torn country.
It appears highly unlikely that Germany could ever revive again, if it wasnt up to the fact that Western powers had realized Stalin's real intentions. Soviet dictators geopolitical appetites were not satisfied by occupation of Eastern Europe. He wanted to implement his original plan of liberating the whole Europe, which had to be abandoned in 1941, because of Hitlers preemptive strike. This prompted USA and Great Britain to consider helping Germany in getting up on its feet again. On June 5, 1947 The Secretary of State George Marshall introduced his plan of economic aid for Germany.
According to it, Germany was to receive $ 1. 8 milliard for rebuilding of its economy. Simultaneously, U. S. government helped Western-German provisional government with backing up German new currency, which was introduced in 1948. The geopolitical realities at the time, demanded that there had to be established a buffer zone between Soviet Union and the Free world. Germany was thought as being fit for this role.
Originally, Americans were going to ban all former Nazis from participating in political processes in post-war Germany. Yet, it didnt take them too long to realize that virtually 90 % of German population used to have some affiliation with Nazi party, in one way or another. Thats why American government offered those Germans that wanted to participate in governing West Germany, to undergo a so-called Denazification procedure. This term stood for the process of reeducation. Basically, every respectable German citizen had to attend anti-nazi lectures, organized by American occupational authorities, if he wanted to have any career prospects in the future. The irony here lies in the fact that the notion of democracy was being installed in Germans by the means of naked force.
Yet, it worked, which allows us to conclude that the idea of democracy doesnt have anything to do with bunch of whining politicians and the hysterical apologists of universal equality, that we associate democracy with in modern times. Quite contrary - democracy is the synonym of authority. In 1950, the creation of new German state was announced Federal Republic of Germany, which consisted of parts of Germany that fell under Western control, after the war. The eastern part was transformed into German Democratic Republic, which had the same relation to the notion of democracy, as elephants do to the process of nuclear fusion. While Western Germany was able to become the richest country in Europe by the year 1956, the citizens of Eastern Germany still had to endure food rationing well into the sixties. The first Chancellor of Western Germany, Conrad Adenauer rejected the suggestions of left-wing politicians to nationalize large corporations and to introduce regulated economy.
This proved to be the right decision. On political arena, democratic pluralism became the foundation, upon which government based the principles of its activity. In 1956 there were 20 registered political parties in Western Germany, allowing ordinary citizens the right of political affiliation, while in Easter Germany people only had choice between Communism and Communism. (3) The year 1989 was signified with collapse of Berlin Wall. This was a true sign that it was only a matter of a very short time, before Communism would cease to exist in USSR. The cheer absurdity of this philosophy became obvious to everyone. After the unification of Germany in 1990, many people were afraid that this country might again become a threat to the peace in Europe.
Yet, their fears proved to be groundless Germany has firmly decided in favor of democracy. Nevertheless, the recent political developments in this country indicate that there is still a threat to democracy in the land of Bach and Goethe. Ironically enough, this threat comes from left-wing politicians, who promote the notion of political correctness. Germans are instilled with psychological complex of guilt, over the events that took place half of a century ago. Anyone can be easily charged with inciting hate by simply saying that the holocaust belongs to the past. On February 13, 2005 fifty German citizens were being arrested because they wanted to lay flowers to the monument of Dresden Massacre victims.
Even mentioning that on this day in 1945, the saturated bombardment of this city that had no military installations, resulted in death of 350. 000 of civilians in one day, is thought as something inappropriate. This, of course, is a major setback for the democracy in Germany. The best indication of whether democracy exists in every particular country is its cultural and technological accomplishments, which have nothing to do with the form of government but peoples biological quality. Nations that simply are not capable of comprehending the principles of democracy, can name their governments whatever they like: monarchy, democracy, peoples republic but the principle of such government will still remain the same a dictatorship. This is definitely not the case with Germany. To conclude this, we can say that Germany is going to remain a democratic country for as long as it remains European Bibliography: Hartmann, Thom When Democracy Failed: The Warnings of History March 16, 2003.
Common Dreams News Center. March 2, 2005 web Political Parties and Democratization. 2002. Germany Country Studies. March 2, 2005 web The Origins of NATO. 2002. Balkan analysis. com.
March 2, 2005 web
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