“Adenauer’s pursuit of Western integration consolidated democracy in the West at the cost of the East.” Comment

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

7 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/29/2006

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Political science

Oboulo.com selection criteria

$ 14.95 Add to cart

Summary :

Introduction
The consolidation of democracy in the west
1. Western integration in Adenauer's view: A criticisable conception of democracy
2. Adenauer's western integration of the FRG: Consolidating democracy
Adenauer's ambiguous role in the partition of Germany
1. Adenauer cannot be held responsible for Germany's partition
2. Supporting the plans of the allies against the Eastern block
A sacrifice that was worth it
1. The cost of the east
2. The myth of the abandonment
3. A possible alternative?
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

According to the newspaper die Frankfurte Allgemeine Zeitung, the number of the unemployed people in Germany has decreased by 25.000 in November, reaching the stage of 4.531.000 jobless persons. The Federal Minister of the Economy, Michael Glos (CSU) spoke in the Bundestag vom ersten November seit der Wiedervereinigung, in dem es zu keiner Zunahme der Arbeitslosigkeit gekommen ist". Even long after adenauer's mandates, his heritage is still perceptible in Germany. His decision to anchor the western Federal Republic in the capitalist block, rather than to pursue unification at all costs, has raised many controversies. Did the policy-making of adenauer, consolidating democracy in the west, indeed harm the east and delay German unification?
Addressing this issue implies to focus on several matters:
-First, one should show that democracy was well consolidated in the western Part of Germany, together with its economic situation. (I)
-Second, one should explain, as the term "pursuit of integration" shows, that adenauer's decision towards western integration was not sovereign, but guided by the occupying forces. However, he actively supported western integration, a policy that makes him responsible for delaying unification and consequently harming the east. (II)
-Lastly, one shall see that the implementation of democracy in the west at the detriment of the east was a sacrifice that was worth it, since it was the quickest and safest way to stability in Germany. (III)
On the whole, the integration of the Federal Republic into the western world was a sacrifice that was worth it.