France v GermanyFrance v Germany

►FRANCEFRANCE► Pop: 59.8 millionPop: 59.8 million► Political system: Political system:

unitary republic, unitary republic, semipresidential semipresidential systemsystem

► Executive: dual – Executive: dual – president, PMpresident, PM

► Legislature: Legislature: Bicameral (Senate & Bicameral (Senate & National Assembly)National Assembly)

► Judiciary: Judiciary: Constitutional Constitutional Council (9 member)Council (9 member)

►GERMANYGERMANY► Pop: 82.4 millionPop: 82.4 million► Political system: Political system:

parliamentary parliamentary democracy (16 democracy (16 federal states)federal states)

► Executive: chancellor Executive: chancellor is head of is head of government, government, ceremonial president ceremonial president head of statehead of state

► Legislature: Bicameral Legislature: Bicameral BundestagBundestag – lower – lower house and house and Bundesrat Bundesrat – upper house– upper house

France – regime historyFrance – regime history

► Ancien regime Ancien regime (Bourbon monarchy) before 1789(Bourbon monarchy) before 1789► French Revolution 1789French Revolution 1789

Different revolutionary regimes until 1799Different revolutionary regimes until 1799 First Republic in 1792 was first modern European First Republic in 1792 was first modern European

regime based on concept that all citizens, regardless regime based on concept that all citizens, regardless of social background, were equal before lawof social background, were equal before law

► Consulate & First Empire – Napoleon – 1800-1814Consulate & First Empire – Napoleon – 1800-1814 Napoleonic Code of Law – detailed legal frameworkNapoleonic Code of Law – detailed legal framework

► Restoration (of monarchy) 1814-1830Restoration (of monarchy) 1814-1830► July Monarchy – 1830-1848 – July Monarchy – 1830-1848 – Louis PhilippeLouis Philippe► Second Republic – 1848-1851Second Republic – 1848-1851

►Second Empire (Louis Napoleon) Second Empire (Louis Napoleon) 1852-18701852-1870

►Third Republic – 1871-1940Third Republic – 1871-1940 Created after civil warCreated after civil war Parliamentary with weak executiveParliamentary with weak executive

►Vichy regime during WWII – Vichy regime during WWII – collaborated with Naziscollaborated with Nazis

►Fourth Republic – 1946-1958Fourth Republic – 1946-1958►Fifth Republic – since 1958Fifth Republic – since 1958

Current president Nicholas SarkozyCurrent president Nicholas Sarkozy

►Most of 19Most of 19thth & early 20 & early 20thth c – France c – France preserved political & economic preserved political & economic stability at cost of modernizationstability at cost of modernization

►Slow growth of French populationSlow growth of French population►Large peasantry until 20Large peasantry until 20thth c – c –

inhibited industrializationinhibited industrialization►Underdeveloped entrepreneurial Underdeveloped entrepreneurial

spirit – excelled at luxury goods – not spirit – excelled at luxury goods – not mass production mass production

Germany – regime historyGermany – regime history

► First German state – Holy Roman Empire – First German state – Holy Roman Empire – Charlemagne – 800 A.D. (First Reich)Charlemagne – 800 A.D. (First Reich) Two factors hindered German state formation: Two factors hindered German state formation:

uncertain geographic boundaries & religious divisionuncertain geographic boundaries & religious division JunkersJunkers – reactionary noble landlords eastern Prussia – reactionary noble landlords eastern Prussia

– promoted patriotic military, honor, duty, service to – promoted patriotic military, honor, duty, service to state state

► Second Reich – 1871-1918 Second Reich – 1871-1918 Authoritarian regime – democratic in appearanceAuthoritarian regime – democratic in appearance Primary goal – rapid industrializationPrimary goal – rapid industrialization ““scramble for Africa” failedscramble for Africa” failed Count Otto von Bismarck – German chancellor from Count Otto von Bismarck – German chancellor from

1871-18901871-1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II – abdicated at end of WWIKaiser Wilhelm II – abdicated at end of WWI

►Weimar Republic – 1919-1933Weimar Republic – 1919-1933 Social Democratic Party (SPD) – procedural Social Democratic Party (SPD) – procedural

democracy democracy Multiple political parties – far left to far rightMultiple political parties – far left to far right Flaw - parties did not accept legitimacy of Flaw - parties did not accept legitimacy of

democracydemocracy Treaty of Versailles - reparationsTreaty of Versailles - reparations Great Depression – Great Depression – markmark devalued devalued

►Third Reich – 1933-1945Third Reich – 1933-1945 Adolf Hitler – leader of Nazi party 1920, Adolf Hitler – leader of Nazi party 1920,

chancellor of Germany in 1933chancellor of Germany in 1933 Loss of free speech, free pressLoss of free speech, free press Nazi-dominated cabinet – sweeping powersNazi-dominated cabinet – sweeping powers

►Divided Germany – 1945-1990Divided Germany – 1945-1990 Cold War tensions - division – Federal Cold War tensions - division – Federal

Republic of Germany (West) vs German Republic of Germany (West) vs German Democratic Republic (East) – communistDemocratic Republic (East) – communist

Berlin Wall built 1961Berlin Wall built 1961►Challenge of German unification – 1990-Challenge of German unification – 1990-

19981998 Berlin Wall opened 1989 – formal Berlin Wall opened 1989 – formal

unification took place one year laterunification took place one year later Unification strained Germany’s budget and Unification strained Germany’s budget and

democratic institutionsdemocratic institutions►Germany in Euro Era – 1998-presentGermany in Euro Era – 1998-present

Germany is economic anchor of EUGermany is economic anchor of EUconcerns that open borders and concerns that open borders and immigration will erode what it means to be immigration will erode what it means to be “German”“German”

Organization of State Organization of State – France & Germany– France & Germany

FranceFrance

►Fifth Republic – semipresidential systemFifth Republic – semipresidential system Combines elements of presidential & Combines elements of presidential &

parliamentary systemsparliamentary systems Both president & parliament popularly Both president & parliament popularly

electedelected Dual executive: president appoints a prime Dual executive: president appoints a prime

minister and governmentminister and government Parliament can vote Parliament can vote motion of censuremotion of censure – –

which can force government to resignwhich can force government to resign

► ExecutiveExecutive France first major country to adopt France first major country to adopt

semipresidential system semipresidential system Other countries have since adopted this – Russia, Other countries have since adopted this – Russia,

Austria, Finland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Iceland, IraqAustria, Finland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Iceland, Iraq President is head of state, but also has policy-President is head of state, but also has policy-

making & executive powermaking & executive power Prime minister & cabinet appointed by president Prime minister & cabinet appointed by president

but responsible to parliamentbut responsible to parliament President powerful becausePresident powerful because

►Personalities – Charles de GaullePersonalities – Charles de Gaulle►Powers conferred by constitutionPowers conferred by constitution►Political practices of Fifth Republic – but government, Political practices of Fifth Republic – but government,

not president, still first policy-making institutionnot president, still first policy-making institution

►LegislatureLegislature Bicameral: National Assembly & SenateBicameral: National Assembly & Senate

►National Assembly – passes legislation, and can National Assembly – passes legislation, and can force government to resign by voting censureforce government to resign by voting censure

Power diminished in Fifth Republic - Power diminished in Fifth Republic - especially limited powers of oversight and especially limited powers of oversight and budgetary processbudgetary process

Executive can dissolve National Assembly Executive can dissolve National Assembly before five-year term endsbefore five-year term ends

Executive cannot dissolve Senate – but Executive cannot dissolve Senate – but Senate lacks powers of National AssemblySenate lacks powers of National Assembly►Senators elected by mayors & town councilors Senators elected by mayors & town councilors

– nine-year terms– nine-year terms

►Two major parties:Two major parties: Union pour un mouvement populaire Union pour un mouvement populaire

(UMP)(UMP)►Started with De Gaulle, became dominant Started with De Gaulle, became dominant

again with Chirac in 1995again with Chirac in 1995►Includes current president Sarkhozy Includes current president Sarkhozy

Parti socialiste (PS)Parti socialiste (PS)►Prominent in the 1980sProminent in the 1980s►Sponsored sweeping reformsSponsored sweeping reforms►Key support from civil servants, low-income Key support from civil servants, low-income

groups, educated professionalsgroups, educated professionals

Issues in FranceIssues in France

► Pride in concepts of liberty, equality, fraternityPride in concepts of liberty, equality, fraternity► Extensive welfare state programs – cradle to graveExtensive welfare state programs – cradle to grave

Excellent public schools – free university education for Excellent public schools – free university education for qualifying stuentsqualifying stuents

Public housing, rent subsidiesPublic housing, rent subsidies Minimum wage higher than U.S. – six weeks paid vacation Minimum wage higher than U.S. – six weeks paid vacation

a yeara year► Polls show 63% of French believe their country is in Polls show 63% of French believe their country is in

declinedecline► Largest number of Muslims (5 million) and Jews Largest number of Muslims (5 million) and Jews

(500,000) of any country in Europe(500,000) of any country in Europe► Antiglobalization movement – Jean-Marie Le Pen -Antiglobalization movement – Jean-Marie Le Pen -

anti-immigrant, anti-semitic sentimentanti-immigrant, anti-semitic sentiment

GermanyGermany

►Federal system – 16 states with Federal system – 16 states with considerable powerconsiderable power

►Parliamentary democracy – similar to Parliamentary democracy – similar to Britain and JapanBritain and Japan

►Chancellor (executive/head of Chancellor (executive/head of government) is also head of leading government) is also head of leading party in party in BundestagBundestag (legislature) (legislature) Current chancellor Angela MerkelCurrent chancellor Angela Merkel

►ExecutiveExecutive PresidentPresident

►Head of state, weaker position than chancellorHead of state, weaker position than chancellor►Role more ceremonial than politicalRole more ceremonial than political►President chosen by proportional President chosen by proportional

representation in Federal Conventionrepresentation in Federal Convention

ChancellorChancellor►The “real” leaderThe “real” leader►Elected by majority of members of BundestagElected by majority of members of Bundestag►Forms a cabinet of ministersForms a cabinet of ministers

BureaucracyBureaucracy►Powerful in federal, state & local governmentsPowerful in federal, state & local governments

►Legislature:Legislature: Upper house – Upper house – BundesratBundesrat

►Officials elected or appointed to regional Officials elected or appointed to regional (Lander)(Lander) governments) 69 members from 16 governments) 69 members from 16 statesstates

Lower house – Lower house – BundestagBundestag►Members elected directly - 614 seats– voters Members elected directly - 614 seats– voters

choose individual district representatives choose individual district representatives ►Two ballot electoral system – tends to produce Two ballot electoral system – tends to produce

multiple political parties – but minor parties multiple political parties – but minor parties tend not to gain significant memberstend not to gain significant members

►Personalized proportional representation – Personalized proportional representation – citizens cast two votes on each ballot - citizens cast two votes on each ballot - allocation of seats in Bundestag depends on allocation of seats in Bundestag depends on portion of votes parties obtainportion of votes parties obtain

►Germany often called a Germany often called a party democracyparty democracy because parties so important in shaping because parties so important in shaping state policystate policy

►Major parties:Major parties: Social Democratic Party (SPD) – moderate-Social Democratic Party (SPD) – moderate-

leftleft Christian Democratic (CDU or CSU in Christian Democratic (CDU or CSU in

Bavaria) – moderate-rightBavaria) – moderate-right Smaller centrist Free Democratic Party (FDP)Smaller centrist Free Democratic Party (FDP) Now many smaller parties complicating Now many smaller parties complicating

politicspolitics

Issues in GermanyIssues in Germany►Continuing issues after unificationContinuing issues after unification►Rapid expansion of EU – at odds with Rapid expansion of EU – at odds with

traditional German economytraditional German economy►GlobalizationGlobalization► Immigration – conflict among ethnic Immigration – conflict among ethnic

groupsgroups Rise of right-wing violence – has Rise of right-wing violence – has

education, media addressed Nazi past?education, media addressed Nazi past?►Gender issues – women lag behind in Gender issues – women lag behind in

advancement in businessadvancement in business