Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis

ISBN-13: 9781118641101 / Angielski / Twarda / 2013 / 214 str.

Alan Crawford

Opis

Shortlisted for International Affairs Book of the Year in the Paddy Power Political Book Awards 2014

Angela Merkel was already unique when she became German chancellor: the first female leader of Europe's biggest economy, the first from former communist East Germany and the first born after World War II. Since 2010, the debt crisis that spread from Greece to the euro region and the world economy has propelled her to center-stage, making Merkel the dominant politician in the struggle to preserve Europe's economic model and its single currency. Yet the Protestant pastor's daughter is often viewed as enigmatic and hard-to-predict, a misreading that took hold as she resisted global pressure for grand gestures to counter the crisis. Having turned the fall of the Berlin Wall to her advantage, Merkel is trying to get history on her side again after reaching the fundamental decision to save the euro, the crowning achievement of post-war European unity. Merkel has brought Europe to a crossroads. Germany's economic might gives her unprecedented power to set the direction for the European Union's 500 million people. What's at stake is whether she will persuade them to follow the German lead. Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis is the definitive new biography of the world's most powerful woman. Delving into Merkel's past, the authors explain the motives behind her drive to remake Europe for the age of globalization, her economic role models and the experiences under communism that color her decisions. For the first time in English, Merkel is fully placed in her European context. Through exclusive interviews with leading policy makers and Merkel confidants, the book reveals the behind-the-scenes drama of the crisis that came to dominate her chancellorship, her prickly relationship with the U.S. and admiration for Eastern Europe. Written by two long-standing Merkel watchers, the book documents how her decisions and vision - both works in progress - are shaping a pivotal moment in European history.

Recenzje

'...a crisp new account... The Bloomberg correspondents' book is as much about the course of the eurozone crisis as it is about the German chancellor.' (Financial Times, June 2013) 'In their book Bloomberg News journalists Alan Crawford and Tony Czuczka track Merkel's cautious course, often criticized as faltering and hesitant, through the uncharted waters of Europe's subprime, economic and sovereign debt crisis.' (Bloomberg, June 2013) 'The two authors tell the euro story well, but their most interesting material is about her past. Such details, which include her upbringing in communist East Germany, her position as a woman in a man's world and her background as a research chemist, help to define her domestic politics and her approach to the euro.' (The Economist, July 2013) '...an insightful political biography.' (The Financialist, July 2013) 'For David Cameron, the significant political relationship in Europe is with Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel. What makes her tick should be of crucial importance and an insight can be found in Alan Crawford and Tony Czuczka's Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis' (Total Politics, August 2013) 'Czuczka and Crawford raise some pointed, timely questions about her analysis and handling of the euro crisis that have shaped her chancellorship.' (Irish Times, August 2013) ¯"This book is absolutely fascinating. If I had my way it would be on the curriculum in secondary schools and third level institutions all over Ireland." (Irish Independent, September 2013) "Crawford and Czuczka's approach of understanding one of the most powerful women in the world through her actions and policies during the eurozone's debt crisis lends much credibility to their account" (Gulf Business, March 2014)

Spis treści

Acknowledgements vii

Chapter 1 Exodus (Merkel s Journey) 1

Chapter 2 Revelation (Five Minutes to Midnight) 7

Chapter 3 Genesis (Eastern Roots) 23

Chapter 4 Numbers (Germany s Subprime Scandal) 41

Chapter 5 Job (Greece as Euro s Nemesis) 59

Chapter 6 Lamentations (Safe European Home?) 75

Chapter 7 Joshua (Merkel and the U.S.) 95

Chapter 8 Judges (German Model) 113

Chapter 9 Kings (Merkel s Contemporaries) 131

Chapter 10 Apostles (How She Works) 147

Chapter 11 Proverbs (Where To?) 163

Chapter 12 Chronicles 181

Appendix – Photo credits 193

Bibliography 195

Index 199

O autorze

Alan Crawford joined Bloomberg News as German government editor in January 2006, six weeks after Merkel was sworn in, and steered coverage of her first and second terms as her global importance grew. He lived in Warsaw and Prague after the fall of the Berlin Wall and has reported from across Europe. He previously worked on the Scotsman and the Sunday Herald in Glasgow and in Edinburgh as Highland, political and special correspondent.

Tony Czuczka is an American foreign correspondent who joined Bloomberg News in 2009 as the political correspondent covering Chancellor Merkel, her re–election and the eruption of the European debt crisis. For the past four years, he has had access to Merkel granted to only a handful of foreign reporters, from invitation–only gatherings where she displays rare flashes of humor to major global conferences that expose the strains of leadership. He previously worked for The Associated Press in Europe and the U.S.

Blurb

Angela Merkel was already unique when she became German chancellor: the first female leader of Europe s biggest economy, the first from former communist East Germany and the first born after World War II. Since 2010, the debt crisis that spread from Greece to the euro region and the world economy has propelled her to center–stage, making Merkel the dominant politician in the struggle to preserve Europe s economic model and its single currency. Yet the Protestant pastor s daughter is often viewed as enigmatic and hard–to–predict, a misreading that took hold as she resisted global pressure for grand gestures to counter the crisis. Having turned the fall of the Berlin Wall to her advantage, Merkel is trying to get history on her side again after reaching the fundamental decision to save the euro, the crowning achievement of post–war European unity. Merkel has brought Europe to a crossroads. Germany s economic might gives her unprecedented power to set the direction for the European Union s 500 million people. What s at stake is whether she will persuade them to follow the German lead.

Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis is the definitive new biography of the world s most powerful woman. Delving into Merkel s past, the authors explain the motives behind her drive to remake Europe for the age of globalization, her economic role models and the experiences under communism that color her decisions. For the first time in English, Merkel is fully placed in her European context. Through exclusive interviews with leading policy makers and Merkel confidants, the book reveals the behind–the–scenes drama of the crisis that came to dominate her chancellorship, her prickly relationship with the U.S. and admiration for Eastern Europe. Written by two long–standing Merkel watchers, the book documents how her decisions and vision both works in progress are shaping a pivotal moment in European history.

This is a most interesting read of how Angela Merkel has dealt with the Euro crisis, reflecting on her own unique upbringing and background, and how it may have influenced her decisions. An important read for anyone trying to understand the German leadership through the crisis.
Jim O Neill, Chairman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management (coined the term BRICs to describe the group of major emerging nations, Brazil, Russia, India and China)