Religion and Politics in GermanySee Europe, Eastern Europe. 1. Brief Introduction 1. Brief Introduction to Religion and Politics in Germany Germany has a population of 83.2 million and a population growth rate of -0.05% (July 2009 est). It had a 2008 HDI ranking of #22 and a 2008 CPI ranking of 7.9. The CIA Factbook lists Germany as 34% Protestant, 34% Catholic, 3.7% Muslim, and 28.3% unaffiliated and other. Germany thus remains the historic heir to the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and to the Cold War when Germany was divided into four sectors by the victorious powers. Soper and Fetzer (below) document that for France, Germany, and Great Britain, religion affects politics through party identification, immigration, and education. However, the three countries have very different traditions of church-state relations. Germany exhibits two distinct religious cultures in the former West and East. The West has pluralistic religions of Catholicism and Lutheranism and a tradition of collecting the Kirchensteuer. a religious tax, to support the good works of the church of the taxpayer. This funding makes German religious groups very important in the worldwide religious and social service. The East has a majority of non-believers, with Lutherans the largest religious group. In general, Catholics in West Germany remain moderately more likely to vote center-right. Members of other religions tend to vote Social Democrat or Green. In the East, Catholics and Lutherans remain more likely to support the right and liberalization, with the nonreligious majority voting for the Social Democrats or the ex-Communists (PDS). The parliamentary election of September 2005 split 35.2 percent Christian Democrat, 34.3 percent Social Democrat, 9.8 percent Free Democrat, 8.7 percent New Left, and 8.1 percent Greens. Christian Democrat Angela Merkel, the scientist daughter of a Lutheran minister from East Germany, became chancellor. However, on domestic politics she has to function more as a moderator than a strong leader within the ruling “grand coalition” government. This arrangement makes it difficult to solve economic and health care issues, and the global economic downturn has hurt. She has gradually exerted leadership in European and global foreign affairs. In recent 2008 elections in West German states of Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg, the New Left Party has achieved state representation, complicating national politics for the Grand Coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. The September 2009 elections resulted in 33.8 Christian Democrats; 23% Social Democrats (worst showing since World War II); 14.6% Free Democrats; 11.9% Left; and 10.7% Greens. Since the rest of the votes went to parties that did not meet the 5% barrier for representation, the Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats can form the center-right coalition called for by Merkel in her campaign to replace the "grand coalition" of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. The European Union was made possible by the postwar rapprochement of France and Germany, and Germany continues to serve as the principal economic engine of the E.U. It also retains a strong Christian Democratic Party, thus linking the contemporary E.U. back to its ideological roots in Christian Democracy. Germany will continue to play a particularly important role in the enlargement of the E.U. due to its long-term relationships with Poland and Russia. Islamic immigration to Germany comes principally from Turkey, which gives Germany a crucial role in discussions of that country’s accession to the E.U. Now there is even a German pope (see Catholicism), and the 2006 World Cup energized Germans by showcasing both the competent organizational contribution and the better-than-expected third-place showing of the German soccer team. Hanson (2006) discusses “Religion in Contemporary Europe and the Expansion of the European Union” (pp. 138-45); "National Europe: Politics, Immigration, and Education” (pp. 145-50); and “Religion and Politics in the Contemporary West” (pp. 155-163). 2. A Short Introductory Course to Religion and Politics in Germany Soper and Fetzer on religion and politics in France, Germany, and Great Britain on the issues of immigration and education. All of the books in the third section have sections on Germany. See especially Davie, Emerson, and Kselman and Buttigieg. Soper, J. Christopher, and Fetzer, Joel. “Religion and Politics in Secular Europe: Cutting Against the Grain,” in Jelen, Ted Gerard, and Wilcox, Clyde. Religion in the Comparative Perspective: The One, the Few, and the Many (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002), 169-94. This article focuses on religion and politics in France, Germany, and Great Britain on the issues of immigration and education. 3. Other Key Resource Materials for Religion and Politics in Germany Byatt, A.S. “What is a European?” New York Times Magazine (October 13, 2002):46-51. Coughlan, John, “God and Caesar in the New Europe,” America 189 (August 4-11, 2003): 20-23. Davie, Grace. Religion in Modern Europe: A Memory Mutates (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000). Dawson, Christopher. The Making of Europe (Cleveland: Meridian, 1956). Emerson, Michael. Redrawing the Map of Europe (London: Macmillian Press, 1998). Garton Ash, Timothy. Free World: America, Europe, and the Surprising Future of the West (New York: Random House, 2004). Greeley, Andrew M. Religion in Europe at the End of the Second Millennium: A Sociological Profile (New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 2003). Judt, Tony. Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 (New York: Penguin, 2005). Kagan, Robert. Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003). Kselman, Thomas, and Buttigieg, Joseph A. European Christian Democracy: Historical Legacies and Comparative Perspectives (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2003). Maréchal, Brigitee, Allievi, Stefano, Dassetto, Felice, and Nielsen, Jørgen, ed. Muslims in the Enlarged Europe (Leiden: Koninklijke Brill, 2003). Nelsen, Brent F., Guth, James L., and Fraser, Cleveland R., “Does Religion Matter? Christianity and Public Support for the European Union,” European Union Politics 2 (2001). Weigel, George. The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God. (New York: Basic Books, 2005). 4. Recent News Articles on Germany (a. Politics; b. Religion and Politics; c. Religion; d. Political Economy; e. Foreign Policy): a. Politics “Germany’s Far Right Tries to Put On a Normal Face,” New York Times, March 14, 2005. The neo-Nazi National Democrats seek to create a good public impression. “Why there were no riots in Germany,” The New Republic Online, November 16, 2005. Andrew Curry explains why Germany, unlike France, has had no riots by contrasting their immigration policies. “Germany Passes Torch to New Generation,” New York Times, November 22, 2005. Both Chancellor Merkel and the new leader of the Social Democratic Party, Matthias Platzeck, are both 51 and from East Germany. “In World Cup Surprise, Flags Fly With German Pride,” New York Times, June 18, 2006. The success of Germany’s hosting of the World Cup, plus the unexpected third place finish of the German team, fostered German patriotism. “As German Leader’s Status Soars Abroad, Her Image Takes a Tumble Back Home, New York Times, September 3, 2006. Merkel’s stronger adept foreign policy versus domestic problems with economy and health care under “grand coalition.” “In Blow to Merkel’s Christian Democrats, Far-Right Party Wins Seats in an East German State,” New York Times, September 19, 2006. Neo-Nazi National Democratic Party wins seats in Merkel’s Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Economic problems. "Berlin Mayor, Symbol of Openness, Has National Appeal," New York Times, September 23, 2006. Berlin's gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit, reelected and discussion of future of Germany's capital city. "Attack Jolts Germany Into Fray on Immigrant Crime, New York Times, January 14, 2008. Christian Democratic Chancellor Merkel caught between position as national leader and heated election in Hesse and Lower Saxony on January 27. In late December attack by a young Turk and a young Greek on 76-year-old retiree caught on tape in Munich. Christian Democratic premiere of Hesse, home to Frankfurt, has used to emphasize law and order in his campaign. "German Vote Confirms Shift of Political Center to Left," New York Times, February 25, 2008. The New Left Party, a combination of former Communists and Social Democrats plus radicals, passes the 5% barrier in the states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Hesse. The national chairman of the Social Democrats has rejected "any kind of active cooperation" with the Party, but that might leave open the possibility of a minority government with New Left support. "President of Germany To Make Bid For 2nd Term," New York Times, May 23, 2008. President Horst Kohler announced that he will run again, setting up a similar competition between the two strongest parties of the ruling coalition. "German Party See Shake-Up As Its Leader Steps Down," New York Times, September 8, 2008. Social Democrats choose popular Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 52, as leader for next year's election. Party leader Kurt Beck resigns under pressure, and is replaced by Franz Muntefering, who led the party in 2004 and 2005. "Vote in Germany Rattles Conservative Bloc," New York Times, September 30, 2008. CDU-ally Christian Social Union posts its worst showing in Bavaria since 1954. "Chancellor of Germany Claims Win In Elections," New York Times, September 28, 2009. Election results (see above). "At German Chancellor's Side, a New Political Power Broker Emerges," New York Times, September 29, 2009. Background of Guido Westerwelle, 47, leader of Free Democrats. After a period as "fun-loving clown prince of politics," Westerwelle has prepared himself to follow in the footsteps of Hans-Dietrich Genscher, who led German foreign policy for two decades. "In Dresden, Cultural Beauty Meets Ugly Bigotry," New York Times, August 15, 2009. Murder of pregnant Egyptian pharmacist contrasts with cultural splendor and economic advancement. Xenophobia stronger in former East Germany, nurtured by far-right National Democratic Party. b. Religion and Politics “Pope Visits German Synagogue and Warns of Growing Anti-Semitism,” New York Times, August 20, 2005. The German Benedict XVI was in Germany for World Youth Day. “Father’s Ideas Forged Life in East for German Candidate,” New York Times, September 15, 2005. Current chancellor Angela Merkel’s father was Lutheran minister in East Germany. “At German Conference on Muslim Relations, One Vote is Unanimous: Mozart Must Go On,” New York Times, September 28, 2006. Government-Islamic meeting following canceling of opera. Good sense of state of discussion. "Germans Split Over a Mosque and the Role of Islam," New York Times, July 5, 2007. Debate over construction of mosque in Cologne, "Rome of the North." Support, but "unease" from Cardinal Joachim Meisner and CDU Mayor Fritz Schramma. Criticism from Holocaust-surviver and writer Ralph Giordano, but other Jews supportive. Interview with Turkish imam Bekir Alboga, fluent in German, leader of interreligious dialogue at Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, which proposed the project. c. Religion “3 Rabbis Ordained as Judaism Re-Emerges in Germany,” New York Times, September 15, 2006. First rabbis, from Potsdam Progressive seminary, ordained in Germany since Nazis. Ceremony on German television and comment by Merkel, etc. Head of Central Council of Muslims in Germany attended. "German bishops' new leader promises liberal agenda," National Catholic Reporter, March 7, 2008. Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg was elected by the German bishops (71 bishops from 27 dioceses) to succeed Cardinal Karl Lehmann after twenty years in office. Zollitsch stated, "We're theologically and personally so close that you'll find it hard to see a difference." Chancellor Merkel and Social Democrats praised the choice, as did Protestant leaders. "Report Details Catholic Role in Nazi Abuses," New York Times, April 9, 2008. The Catholic Church used nearly 6,000 forced laborers during the Nazi era in 800 institutions. Cardinal Karl Lehmann said, "it should not be concealed that the Catholic Church was blind for too long to the fate and suffering of men, women, and children from the whole of Europe who were carted off to Germany as forced laborers." The SS also expropriated more than 300 German monasteries and Catholic institiutions from 1940 to 1942, and thousands of Catholics were sent to concentration camps, reported historian Karl-Joseph Hummel, co-author of the report, "Forced Labor and the Catholic Church, 1939-1945," the most thorough look at this issue. "Professor Hired for Outreach To Muslims Delivers a Jolt," Wall Street Journal, November 15, 2008. Convert, at age 15, Muhammad Sven Kalisch, Germany's first professor of Islamic theology, states that the Prophet Muhammad probably never existed. Germany's Muslim Coordinating Council withdrew from Prof. Kalisch's Center for Religious Studies. Munster University allowed him to keep his professorship, but told him to stop teaching Islam to future school teachers. "German court upholds church tax challenge," National Catholic Reporter, September 4, 2009. Freiburg court rules Catholics may leave Church as a legal statutory body which collects tax, but remain a member of community of faith. German church tax supports national church, Vatican, many overseas projects. e. Foreign Policy “War Exhibit Further Strains German-Polish Relations,” New York Times, August 31, 2006. German exhibit to commemorate German expellees from Poland stirs up controversy and politics on both sides of border. State of German-Polish relations. "German Leader's Status Grows as Voice of Europe," New York Times, January 12, 2007. Chancellor Angela Merkel's enhanced international status, despite domestic political problems. U.S. Kurt Volker calls her the Bush Administration's "anchor point" in dealing with Europe. "After Lifetime in Germany, Turks Still Alone and Torn," New York Times, March 25, 2007. Guest workers never thought they would stay, nor did Germans. For further analysis, see Andrew Curry above (November 2005). Turkish senior citizens in Germany. November 11, 2009. |
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