Stability over Everything

“Stabilität über alles”

The Transition of German and Hungarian Politics since 1989

There can be little doubt when studying the political transition within Germany and Hungary that since 1989 there has been a change in ideology since the collapse of the communist regime in Eastern Europe and the reunification of East and West Germany. Nevertheless it must be acknowledged that the truly astonishing events of 1989/90, “which even at the beginning of 1989 could not have been predicted, brought about the most exciting and far far-reaching changes in life and society in Germany” and Hungary since 1945. Through the various paradigms Globalization, Europeanisation and Democratisation, we are able to come to an understanding of the politics in transition and also highlight and explain several key aspects of the political, economic, social and cultural life in contemporary Germany and Hungary.

The trend of ‘globalization’ is attracting more and more attention and with this is “transforming the historical approach that “state, society and economy are, as it were co-extensive within the same national boundaries. The international economic system, in which states draw the borderline between the domestic economy and foreign trade relations, is being metamorphosed into a transnational economy in the wake of the globalization of markets”. These trends are mirrored by the current emphasis of Germany to grow as a major leader within the European Union and Hungary in their approach for acceptance by the European Union as a member.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, we have seen Germany come forward as one of the forefront leaders in the European market. “From an economic perspective, globalization has brought incontestable welfare gains to Germany and Europe through an enhanced international division of labour” (e.g. trade and investment). “Yet globalization has also exposed and intensified weaknesses in growth, investment, and innovation in Europe and has led to exceedingly high unemployment rates”. For ten years now “the German economy, has been transferring DM 150 billion in net payments from the West to the East. This is not a symptom of the economy’s weakness, but rather a symptom of strength, and is maintained by the fact that few economies in the world could do this successfully, and none is required to do so”. Undoubtedly it puts an enormous strain on the German economy, but it is shouldering it well. Even though Germany has been transferring money to the East, it has still managed to register a “trade surplus of DM 100 billion annually”.