The Federal Alternative? A New View of Modern German History

Abstract

The review examines the recent literature on German federalism. This literature has identified a decentralized, federal tradition in German history, dating back at least to the eighteenth century and in striking contrast with the ‘unitary’ traditions of the Prussian state. The review questions the extent to which centralization was indeed a Prussian phenomenon in German history by examining the relatively decentralized nature of the Prussian state and the strongly centralizing tendencies of smaller German states in the nineteenth century. The review also examines the origins of the new ‘federal’ historiography, both in terms of contemporary German politics and in terms of the political debate surrounding German unification in the 1860s. It concludes that the idea of a ‘unitary’ Prussian state tradition is simplistic and reflects the inherent anti-Prussian bias of German federalism in the unification era. In this sense, it is the federal counterpart of the better-known Borussian approach to German history.

Federalism in Germany, Italy, and the European Union: History, Characteristics, and Perspectives

“…State building on the level of constituent units had already begun after 1648 (Westfälischer Frieden) when states increasingly became involved in the international system as selfdetermining actors. When the German Confederation was created in 1815, many German states were at the peak of their power, most of them maintaining control through an extensive bureaucracy and a standing army (Green 2003). Even after 1871, the lack of modern bureaucratic capacities at the federal level prevented it from adequately implementing legislation without the support of the states (Broschek 2012, p.670).…”

Federalism and Political Change: Canada and Germany in Historical-Institutionalist Perspective

“…Federalist ideas had been deeply rooted in the early modern and modern tradition of German political thought (Green, 2003; Langewiesche, 2000). As a multifaceted and widespread ideological commitment, federalism significantly shaped political discourses as well as the legal debate during the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation.…”

“…As a multifaceted and widespread ideological commitment, federalism significantly shaped political discourses as well as the legal debate during the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation. A critical reassessment of the long dominant narrative informed by Prussian historiography has revealed that contemporary German federalism can be traced back to a longstanding tradition of political fragmentation, regional autonomy and identities (Green, 2003). During the second half of the nineteenth century, however, these federal ideas increasingly came under pressure from strong intellectual countercurrents.…”

Still a Monstrosity? Some Reflections on Early Modern German Statehood

“…16 Hartmut Lehmann has questioned the effectiveness of formal institutions like the Kreise, suggesting instead that regionalism was more prominently represented in the Empire as spheres of dynastic influence. However, while helpful in understanding the Empire's cultural memory, this interpretation does not really address the question of whether it was a state.…”