Overview
- Analyses multiple indicators, thereby providing a deeper appreciation of popular support for democracy in Germany
- Investigates the extent to which democratic values are embedded within the German public is still sensitive
- Balances existing comparative studies with a single-country case study of Germany
Part of the book series: New Perspectives in German Political Studies (NPG)
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Table of contents (9 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
- ALLBUS
- popular support in Germany
- specific and diffuse support
- postmaterialism
- social trust in Germany
- east-west differences
- political change
- satisfaction with democracy
- evaluations of socialism
- affective support
- constitutional patriotism
- civil society
- trust in democratic institutions
- democratic reform
- democratic deficit
- German trust in the EU
- integration
- social structure
- attitudes towards democracy
- democracy
About this book
This book examines attitudes towards democracy in the Federal Republic of Germany. By drawing on extensive survey evidence, it charts Germans’ changing views of the political system prior to and following unification. The study examines four aspects of the political system: how it functions overall, attitudes towards the Basic Law, trust in representative institutions, and views of the European Union. Rather than accepting or rejecting democracy, the research shows how Germans merge shades of criticism and support. In addition, it pinpoints the factors that condition support, showing how it is influenced by durable and changeable stimuli. Overall, the findings challenge suggestions of a crisis of democracy but they also demonstrate that support is particularly low towards aspects of the European Union. This book appeals to readers interested in public opinion and democracy in Germany, along with those interested in the changing relationship between citizens and the state.
Reviews
“This is a timely book. Campbell has made a major contribution to our understanding of German political culture in the 21st century. He has taken research on political culture to a new level; Germans are increasingly critical of authority, institutions, and processes, but not of the fundamental constitutional and democratic order. To those tempted to succumb to the current “sky is falling” view of German democracy, this book should be required reading.” (Professor David Conradt, East Carolina University, USA)
“Based on an exhaustive and sophisticated statisticalanalysis of a wealth of data, this remarkable book provides some fascinating insights into recent developments in German politics. The book provides a reassuring message on the health of contemporary German democracy, a political system that has coped well with the challenges of the past and is more than ready to face the demands of the future.” (Dr Wolfgang Rüdig, University of Strathclyde, UK)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Ross Campbell is Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK. His research focuses on the politics of the Federal Republic of Germany and he has published widely on attitudes towards democracy, electoral behaviour and political participation. His recent articles have appeared in the European Journal of Political Research, International Political Science Review, German Politics and Contemporary Politics. He is a member of the editorial board for the Journal for Contemporary European Studies.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Popular Support for Democracy in Unified Germany
Book Subtitle: Critical Democrats
Authors: Ross Campbell
Series Title: New Perspectives in German Political Studies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03792-5
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Political Science and International Studies, Political Science and International Studies (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-03791-8Published: 22 February 2019
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-03792-5Published: 05 February 2019
Series ISSN: 2947-6747
Series E-ISSN: 2947-6755
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVI, 263
Number of Illustrations: 40 b/w illustrations
Topics: European Politics, German Politics, Democracy, Political History