Beyond the Swastika

ISBN-13: 9780415138529 / Angielski / Miękka / 1996 / 160 str.

Peter O'Brien

Opis

Since unification, fears of resurgent German nationalism have mounted. In particular, many believe united Germany is reverting to a xenophobic nationalist stance to deal with the increased pressures of migration unleashed by the raising of the Iron curtain. The author argues that these fears are exaggerated. He documents a longstanding, steadily increasing, committment to the liberal principles of the Basic Law in the Federal Republic's policies, which protect foreigners against hostile German nationalism. O'Brien goes on to criticize the very entrenched liberalism which holds German nationalism in check. He traces among German political elites the appeal and uses of technocratic liberalism - an overzealous protection of Germany's liberal democracy which, paradoxically, prevents minority groups from achieving full rights of political participation.

Recenzje

'O'Brien's short book moves at a cracking pace, driven by irony and sarcasm and relentless desire to expose the ambivalence of German attitudes' - Joachim Whaley, Journal of European Studies

Spis treści

Acknowledgements, 1 GERMANY BETWEEN NATIONALISM AND LIBERALISM, 2 ESCAPING THE PAST, 3 LIBERALIZING AUSLÄNDERPOLITIK 1969–1982, 4 CONSERVATIVE LIBERALISM 1982–1990, 5 UNITED GERMANY: BUNDESREPUBLIK OR DEUTSCHLAND?, Bibliography, Index

O autorze

O'Brien, Peter