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Palgrave Macmillan

German Federalism

Past, Present and Future

  • Book
  • © 2002

Overview

Editors:
  1. Maiken Umbach

    1. University of Manchester, UK

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Part of the book series: New Perspectives in German Political Studies (NPG)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. Introduction: German Federalism in Historical Perspective

    • Maiken Umbach
    Pages 1-14

  3. Federal Habits: the Holy Roman Empire and the Continuity of German Federalism

    • Joachim Whaley
    Pages 15-41

  4. History and Federalism in the Age of Nation-State Formation

    • Maiken Umbach
    Pages 42-69

  5. Federalism and the Heimat Idea in Imperial Germany

    • Alon Confino
    Pages 70-90

  6. Political Unity and Linguistic Diversity in Nineteenth-Century Germany

    • Martin Durrell
    Pages 91-112

  7. Federalism in the Nazi State

    • Jeremy Noakes
    Pages 113-145

  8. Democratic Centralism and Regionalism in the GDR

    • Mary Fulbrook
    Pages 146-171

  9. German Federalism from Cooperation to Competition

    • Charlie Jeffery
    Pages 172-188

  10. Challenges and Perspectives for German Federalism

    • Wolfgang Renzsch
    Pages 189-205

  11. German Federalism in History: Some Afterthoughts

    • Anthony J. Nicholls
    Pages 206-210

  12. Back Matter

    Pages 211-215
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Keywords

About this book

This book explores the German idea of federalism denoting 'diversity within unity'. Historians, linguists and political scientists examine how federalism emerged in the Holy Roman Empire, was re-shaped by nineteenth-century cultural movements, and was adopted by the unified state in 1871 and again after 1945. The myth of federalism as a safeguard against totalitarianism is tested in regard to the Third Reich and the GDR. The book concludes with an outlook on German federalism's future in Europe.

Reviews

'This authoritative and stimulating examination of an important but neglected problem is one of the most important books on German history to have been published in recent years.' - Professor T.C.W. Blanning, F.B.A., Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge

'A unique exploration of the cultural meanings of federalism which have informed political and administrative debates in Germany. Federalism emerges as a constantly changing, frequently renewed political tradition - and as a persistent cultural idiom, embodying fundamental collective attitudes and experiences of the nation. Anyone interested in understanding why Germany continues to be a place where political unity can never be taken for granted must read these insightful essays.' - Celia Applegate

'This rich, multidisciplinary collection examines the important tension between historical contingency and continuity in the practice of German federalism from the Holy Roman Empire to the present.' - Professor Simon Bulmer, Head of the Government Department, University of Manchester

'This remarkable book offers an alternative reading of German history. It denies the traditional arguments about the inevitability of the national state in German history but also questions fashionable ideas about the role of federalism. It question all the orthodoxies. A must for all those interested in the German past, present or future.' - Jonathan Steinberg, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Modern EuropeanHistory, Philadelphia

Editors and Affiliations

  • University of Manchester, UK

    Maiken Umbach

About the editor

ALON CONFINO Associate Professor, History Department, University of Virginia, USA MARY FULBROOK Professor of German History, University College London MARTIN DURRELL Henry Simon Professor of German, University of Manchester CHARLIE JEFFERY Professor of German Politics, University of Birmingham ANTHONY NICHOLLS Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford JEREMY NOAKES Professor History, University of Exeter WOLFGANG RENZSCH Professor of Politics, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg HAGEN SCHULZE Professor of History, Free University Berlin JOACHIM WHALEY Lecturer, German Department, University of Cambridge

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