*** BERND ZIELINSKI, BRIGITTE KRULIC (editors): Vingt ans d'Unification allemande. Histoire, mémoire et usages politiques du passé. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen, Switzerland. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Travaux Interdisciplinaires et Plurilingues" series, No. 15. 2010, 258 pp., €45.80. ISBN 978-3-0343-0555-6.
It is indeed a very long time ago since the German Federal Republic of Adenauer, Schmidt and Kohl gave their unconditional support for European construction, which went as far as bidding farewell to the sacrosanct Germany stretching across the Rhine, in an effort to please the country's partners and calm any fears about German unification on 3 October 1990. This constituted a rupture in the perception of German leaders with the political sentiments of restraint and conciliation that had prevailed since the end of the Second World War. This is one of the steps that have been voluntarily taken in the goal of reconciliation, and it is not only the Greeks who have had to face up to certain difficulties either. This explains why this book is of such great interest. It is divided into ten contributions written in French and two in German by eminent specialists. Their analysis is both rigorous and multidisciplinary and covers the different legal, economic and geopolitical aspects in this pivotal period on the European continent. It also examines the great challenges facing Germany.
It goes without saying that a book of this kind cannot be described in just a few lines because it is both extremely comprehensive and edifying. It is only possible to mention some of the main thematic chapters. At a legal level, unification is examined in the light of the choices facing Bonn - and Bonn alone - of offering the accession of West Germany, rather than giving a reunited Germany a new constitution. Professor Matthias Rossi also examines the integration modalities of the former GDR into Community Europe. The different modalities of economic, monetary and social union on 1 July 1990, the prelude to political unification, are then analysed. The main focus on the transformation strategy that took the form of a kind of “shock therapy”, is resumed by two of the editors in this book and which was characterised by, “excessive confidence in the forces of market self-regulation” and which the former East Germany is still bearing the scars. Three contributions also focus on the international framework involving unification and the strategic interaction between the US, the Soviet Union and Community Europe, with regard to the reactions of Soviet leaders after the fall of the Berlin Wall. These subjects and the diplomatic and political challenges linked to the unexpected opening up again of European history are discussed by Pierre Morel, a French diplomat and whose work is of an impeccable quality. Other contributions tackle identity challenges (particularly in light of the slogans adopted during the autumn of 1989 in the GDR, “we are the people” to “we are a single people” and the controversial return of the paradigm of normality in post-reunification discussions, controversies, which still continue today, in relation to the nature of the system in the GDR. The book includes a detour via the Ukraine, another country that had been destroyed and explores its problems of remembrance and identity.
Initially, German unification activated a further deepening in European integration with a single currency on the horizon. Nonetheless, as pointed out by Bernd Zielinski and Brigitte Krulic, Germany successfully introduced into the same Maastricht Treaty, “key elements of its stability culture in budgetary and monetary policy”, which are still being discussed today …
Michel Theys
*** CHANTAL METZGER (Editor): La République démocratique allemande. La vitrine du socialisme et l'envers du miroir (1949-1989-2009). Peter Lang (see address attached). 2010, 373 pp, €41.50. ISBN 978-90-5201-633-7.
This book is the continuation of an international colloquy in historical sciences held in Nancy two years ago. It focuses on the very brief existence (barely 40 years) of the German Democratic Republic. This book explores the history of this country that was so often either demonised or idealised. It draws from East European and Soviet sources and looks at 21 different communications on three main themes: daily life in the GDR, this country's external relations, as well as the memory of the GDR and “Eastalgia” (nostalgia for the former country), which still exists among many East Germans who have been socially excluded and who see their former country as a sort of “paradise lost”. In the first part of the book, the authors highlight the former life of GDR citizens, the way in which the regime of the Communist Party (SED) attempted to display life to the west and the real situation that prevailed, including the permanent resistance to the regime by mainly young people and dissidents. The other authors then tackle the theme of political life under the communist dictatorship, notably by way of propaganda and cultural emblems, whilst the social and economic history is examined in three other contributions. One of them looks at the life of an East German woman, a second looks at the construction of new towns and, finally, an insight is gained into how uranium was exploited in this country. Several contributions also examine the GDR's relationship with non-Communist countries. The book finishes with four responses to the question of what remains of the GDR twenty years after… (MT)
*** HENRIK HEIDENKAMP: Der Entwicklungsprozess der Bundeswehr zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts. Wandel im Spannungsfeld globaler, nationaler und bündnispolitischer Bestimmungsfaktoren. Peter Lang (see address attached). « Sicherheit in der multipolaren Welt » series, No. 1. 2010, 364 pp, €48.80. ISBN 978-3-631-60107-5.
Since the end of the Second World War, Germany has always put a limit on its military development. Following its militarist past and the restrictions imposed on it by certain countries, its military missions and the numbers of its troops have remained limited for a long time. Nonetheless, since the beginning of the 21st century, Germany has seen a change and new development within the federal German army. Several reasons explain why at an international and international this development has occurred. The transition towards a world dominated by several powers has subsequently played a very important role, as has the arrival in power of a new generation of men and women politicians in Germany. These two aspects are examined at great length in this book.
In the first part of the book, Henrik Heidenkamp tackles developments on the international scene, with the first decade of the 21st century seeing the emergence of new major powers, which has not been without repercussions to Germany, as borne out, for example, by its growing importance within the United Nations. Several countries therefore called on Germany to take an active part in certain conflicts, such as the one in Afghanistan. The Bundeswehr therefore had to go an important internal transformation, particularly at a strategic level, in order to respond to its new missions. The author of this book then turns to domestic considerations in Germany, which explain the developments and transformations occurring within the armed forces. The culture of German security was above all based on maintaining a military capability, which is a particularly sensitive subject on the German political scene. Moreover, the cultural changes that have occurred over the past decade have seen certain taboos within society torn apart, which appeared to involve more of a friendly sort of disinterest than opposition to reforms. Heidenkamp also tackles the political dimension at both national and European levels and looks back at the evolution in spending and funding for the army as it prepares for its new missions abroad. Recent tensions between the armed forces and the political community at both a government and legislative level are also examined. The author ultimately focuses on Germany's alliances and how these alliances have provided a dynamic to the changes and evolution taking place within the Bundeswehr. The two main organisations Germany is a member of are NATO and the European Union. The author highlights the role played by Germany in these organisations and shows how the development of European Defence and Security Policy has played a decisive role in determining the evolution of political practices in Germany, as well as in the missions undertaken by the army. Since NATO was set up, the role of Germany in this organisation has always posed a major question. It is now one of its most influential members and its rising power (mainly sought by its partners) is one of the fundamental reasons for the developing role of its army. The author does not exclusively focus on the contents of the policies taken in these two organisations and the role of Germany within them, he also examines the catalyst effect created by these alliances within the development of the Bundeswehr over the past decade. He subsequently describes and analyses the internal and external dynamic, which led the German army to become an “army of the alliance”. (JD)
*** HASAN KAYGISIZ: Menschenrechte in der Türkei. Peter Lang (see address attached). 2010, 430 pp, €60.60. ISBN 978-3-631-59892-4.
Discussions on a possible European future for Turkey have been going on for many years. It has been involved with Community Europe since 1963! Nonetheless, it had to wait until 2005 for genuine accession negotiations to be started. Since then, the most virulent attacks have not ceased to be made, particularly during the French presidential campaign or in Germany, which is home to the biggest community of Turks outside of Turkey itself. The accession process appears longer and more painful for Turkey than for other candidates. In itself, there is nothing abnormal about this, because in addition to the difficulties experienced by the country of Ataturk and the problem of Cyprus, there have also been questions involving minority rights and human rights, which have created very real obstacles to this country's accession. These are the very themes examined in this book. In it, Hasan Kaygisiz, tackles the accession process and the specific case of Turkey in a very broad sweep. Contrary to what the title of this book may appear to suggest, the theme of human rights is not the only subject to be explored in this work and there is also a significant focus on Turkey's foreign policy and its domestic situation, particularly through an angle of individual and minority rights.
Following an introduction of 50 or so pages where the author presents the theme of the book and the methodology he has adopted in his approach, different underlying theories on European integration are presented, namely the theories of hegemony, neo-functionalism and liberal inter-governmentalism. The author also examines questions linked to the universal nature of human rights. He then tackles the different aspects of Turkish foreign policy and explores the international role played by this country since the end of the Cold War and the geostrategic advantages of joining the European Union, as well as those for the US, an avid supporter of this accession. The author then analyses the role played by the different institutions in Turkey and obviously focuses particular attention on the army and religion. This is followed by a chapter including a very comprehensive look at the negotiations between Turkey and the European Union since the 1990s, in addition to the accession process and the criteria applied. The final part of the book exclusively focuses on the domestic situation, the questions of human and minority rights, particularly with regard to the Kurdish minority in the east of the country. Hasan Kaygisiz seeks to verify how the Copenhagen criteria can be applied in practice to the Turkish case. He also provides an insight into the legal system, individual freedoms and political rights in Turkey. The arguments for and against Turkey's accession to the Union are discussed in the two last parts of the book. First of all, the author details the advantages and difficulties there are for the Union taking in Turkey. He then looks at the different opinions regarding this accession. (JD)
*** JAMAL MALIK (editor): Mobilisierung von Religion in Europa. Peter Lang (see address attached). 2010, 419 pp., €65.20. ISBN 978-3-631-60037-5.
Society within the European Union is increasingly evolving towards a secular model where religious identity is becoming hidden. At the same time, certain leaders in the Union have publicly declared that Europe's origins are located in Christianity. It should be pointed out that religions are once again forming a fracture line within European society. Different laws and regulations have been voted in by the national parliaments in an effort to restrict religious expression in their respective societies and have de facto created an identity crisis among the people affected by this issue. This collectively written book, edited by Jamal Malik, is based on this observation. Within European society in general and in more specific cases, the place of religion is creating a number of questions. In this connection, the Cypriot context is emblematic because this country is divided on the basis of a religious fracture and religion has been used in the process of endorsing a specific political situation. More than 25 writers have helped contribute to this book, which is subdivided into three different parts focusing on themes of fundamental importance for contemporary society: religious identity in the European unification process; the institutionalisation and representation of religion and their fixture in policy and association with acts of violence. The first chapter primarily focuses on the role of religion in Europe and in European construction. Questions such as the Cypriot problem or the place of the Catholic Church on the continent are tackled here. The authors then analyse Islam within the European Union, particularly in the light of the role of religion in schools or in the political representation of religion. The final part of the book deals with the most sensitive issue of all, the role of religion in armed combat, including jihad and cultural conflict. The case of Tariq Ramadan is explored at length in this book. (JD)