THE GERMAN ANSWER. Stephen F. Szabo Eiurope in the 1990s is confronted once again with the German question. The process of building a new Germany will take at least a decade to complete as the Eastern portion of the new nation integrates culturally, socially, economically, and politically with the dominant West. But German unification is likely to be an accomplished legal fact by the end of 1990. The reality of German unity reopens fundamental questions regarding the future shape of Europe. The historian Michael Stuermer has likened the German question to a mobile—move one element and everything else moves as well. As the postwar era came crashing down in 1989-1990, the effects have been most dramatic in Germany. The way the Germans shape their country and their role in Europe will be crucial in determining the political and security structure which replaces that formed after World War II. In assessing the impact of the new Germany, it is crucial to separate what from the past remains relevant from what does not. What remains ofthe old German question in the new? The answer must begin with the realization that the German question has really been a series of interrelated questions—the democratic question, the cultural question, and the security question. Stephen F. Szabo is associate dean of faculty and academic programs at the National War College and professorial lecturer in European studies at SAIS. He is also the author of The New Politics ofGerman Security (London: Pinter, 1990). The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United States government. 41 42 SAIS REVIEW The Cultural Question The cultural question has been, simply put: Is Germany a land ofthe East, of the West, or of something in between—often referred to as Mitteleuropa? Is Germany "the land between," with a Sonderweg (a special or separate path from that of the West)?1 The reintegration of Prussia and Saxony and the symbolism of the shifting ofthe capital from Bonn on the Rhine to Berlin in Prussia may reopen this cultural question in the new decade. Certainly the East Germans will bring with them a different and more Eastern perspective to the new union. Yet the firm cultural connections formed over forty years in the Federal Republic and the dominant role of the West Germans in the union are likely to minimize this tendency. Equally important is the reintegration of what was called "Eastern Europe" back into Europe. The former satellites ofthe Soviet Union seem to have more interest in reintegrating into the Western part of Europe than in holding on to an ephemeral Central Europe, which has often been a euphemism for either Austrian, German, or other imperial domination. These Central Europeans want to be part ofthe European Community as quickly as possible. This is likely to further diminish the prospect for a Sonderweg. The Democratic Question The second German question, discussed by David Calleo and others, is: Why did Germany, prior to 1949, fail to develop into a liberal democracy?2 While many theories have been proffered to explain Germany's behavior before 1945, the democratic question has been clearly answered by the Federal Republic. Democracy has found deep roots in the West German political culture, and there seems little prospect for any reversion to authoritarianism in a future Germany.3 1.According to Renate Fritisch-Bournazel, "The German question has always been the question of where in Europe the Germans belong: looking Westward or wandering between East and West." ["The Changing Nature of the German Question," in F. Stephen Larrabee, ed., The Two German States and European Security (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989), 49.] See also the discussion of Mitteleuropa and Germany by Timothy Garton Ash and Jacques Rupnik in Daedulus vol. 119, no. 1 (Winter 1990). 2.David Calleo, The German Question Reconsidered: Germany and the World Order, 1870 to the Present (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978), 1-7. See also Ralf Dahrendorf, Society and Democracy in Germany (New York: Doubleday, 1967). 3.The literature on the remaking ofthe West German political culture is extensive THE GERMAN ANSWER 43 The new Germany will look very much like the...
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Jul 1, 2000
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