xx PWW.Nicholls: The Bonn Republic_b

by Anthony James Nicholls

This is a political history of the West German state from its birth amid postwar defeat through to reunification after the fall of the Soviet Union, when she once again became the leading power in Europe. The book describes how the new Germany was brought into being by the rapidly changing political patterns of the Cold War; how it built a stable and, in due course, formidable economy; and how the hard-won triumph of Germany's new federal democratic vision has itself contributed to the larger vision of a federal, democratic Europe. The book ends with a consideration of whether or not the reunified Germany can hold to the same goals and certainties as the old state.

Genres: Germany, Politics

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Mario García · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good summary on the political lives of "West Germans", that tries to clarify the intrigues and political struggles within Germany during the post war period. Nothing more nor less.

There isn't much of a treaty on the cultural development in the country and surely ignores many of the happenings next door in the GDR. I know this is titled "The Bonn Republic", but some snooping on the GDR might further explain the dwellings of their western brothers.

Nevertheless, a good introductory book about the policy of the (reluctantly defined) West German Republic.

[Leon M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Germany's history following the WWII is the story of a country that, having to deal with occuptation, separation and a shocking past, nevertheless manages to climb the ladder of international prestige and economics. This book ends with the culmination of the Ostpolitik into the final reunification of FRG and GDR.

"The Bonn Republic" follows the various political trends and ideas in Germany, sketching the political framework of the FRG along the lines, and giving the reader interesting (though maybe sometimes too biased - see next paragraph) insights into the workings of what now is one of the most important western democracies on earth.

My only criticism of this book is, that it depicts the student movement of the 1960s from a rather one-sided establishment perspective that I would have thought to be out-of-date by now (the book was written 1997, so that might explain it). Arguing, for example, that "the fact that the APO linked its anti-capitalist message with a demand for sexual liberation [made it even more seductive]" (p. 203) and that the picking up of ideas like "'consumer terror' rendered serious criticism of the system impossible" (p. 203) seem exaggerated. This continuously one-sided depiction of the students' ideals even goes so far as to gloss over the fact that Dutschke's would-be-assassin was not only a "young working-class nationalist" (p. 206), but also an ardent reader of the BILD newspaper, which had been writing that "we can't leave all the dirty work to the police" and was asking its readership to "seize the ringleader" only days prior to the attack.

As I had reached that point of the book, I had formed the (wrong!) opinion that Nicholls brings a conservative bias into his depiction of events in Germany (in the earlier chapters on Adenauer he was very complimentary). This, however, is not true, as you will no doubt realize when you read the chapters on the Brandt and Schmidt administrations: Nicholls simply has a slight bias in favour of the establishment, giving the government a slighly more favourable depiction than allowed by the facts at some points. But all of this is only my opinion, and it might be influenced by the fact that up until now I had dealt with (openly) leftist interpretations of the student revolution in school.

All in all, "The Bonn Republic" is definitely a good read - just make sure (as with any history textbook), that it is not your only source of information about this period of German history. Always remember: compare and contrast!

[xhxhx · Rating 3 out of 5]

A conventional political history of West Germany from war to reunification. The focus is on Chancellors and party leaders, to the exclusion of the lesser figures. Political doctrines and public policy take second place to legislative and electoral tactics. Cultural history is given fairly short shrift – there is nothing here of film, music, or visual arts. Foreign policy takes a somewhat larger role, at least in the Brandt period (1969) and after. Nicholls finds Ostpolitik fascinating. I find it tedious.

Nicholls finds little of interest in economic history. Where is the German miracle? Where is the Mittelstand? Where is Frankfurt? Where is the Bundesbank? Where is codetermination? Nicholls is dismissive of one of the few large-scale histories of West German economic life, Giersch et al.'s Fading Miracle (1992). He has little truck with economic orthodoxy, but he does not put too fine a point on it. He ignores it.

It is a good history of West German politics for the uninitiated, and its coverage of denazification, although familiar, is still useful. The book is now out of print, and fairly expensive at resale. Not recommended.