This revised and updated third edition provides readers with a comprehensive description and analysis of the German political system, and of the political behaviour within the context of that system. It surveys the historical development of German politics, including the background, processes and political consequences of reunification, and recent changes to the electoral system, party system and recent Bundestag and Land elections.
This authoritative yet accessible textbook presents certain specialised topics, such as the career of Angela Merkel and the Eurozone crisis, in separate sections within the relevant chapters, and provides tables for key information including election results, the membership of trade unions and lists of presidents and chancellors. The appendices include a review of significant constitutional court cases, a survey of the more important political features of each of the sixteen Länder, and the Bundestag election campaigns since 1949. Each chapter also offers suggestions for further reading.

This new edition of German politics today offers a sound foundation for undergraduate courses focused on, or involving, study of the German political system.

PrefaceAbbreviationsGlossary1. The creation of present-day Germany2. The context of politics in reunified Germany3. The development of the political system of the Federal Republic4. The electoral system and electoral politics5. The party-state6. The federal structure7. Chancellor democracy8. Parliamentary politics9. Interest group politics10. Germany and Europe11. Germany: a 'normal' democracy?AppendicesIndex