HU Credits: 4

Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master)

Responsible Department: cont. german studies:politics, soc.&cult

Semester: 2nd Semester

Teaching Languages: English

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: Dr. Christian Thauer

Coordinator Email: Christian.Thauer@mail.huji.ac.il

Coordinator Office Hours:

Teaching Staff:
Dr. christian thauer

Course/Module description:
The seminar is an introduction to the political economy of Germany after WWII. "Modell Deutschland" will thus be analyzed as concerns its defining elements - theoretically, historically and currently. In a first part, we will discuss the rise and main characteristics of the Wirtschaftswunder state historically and theoretically, and taking into consideration its current transformation(s). Issues/questions that we will discuss in this first part include, among others, German semi-sovereignty, (neo-)corporatism, the current refugee crisis, and how and whether unification and the Hartz IV reforms have changed the German model once and for all. In a second part we analyze "Modell Deutschland" in the context of European integration processes, and in comparative perspective - for example, in juxtaposition to US capitalism or the Scandinavian welfare state.

Course/Module aims:
Good knowledge of German socio-economic and political model; good understanding of the theoretical approaches in the context of which the German socio-economic model matters and is explained; analytical skills: relating empirical observations and historical data and narratives to theoretical arguments and discussions; independent research with a variety of sources

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Critically discuss German politics and contemporary public and academic debates in Germany to the theoretical debates about welfare state development, (neo-)corporatism and varieties of capitalism; conduct independent research on specific topics related to Germany; understand Germany in the context of the European Union.

Attendance requirements(%):
80%

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Intensive text discussions(interactive), which are complemented by lectures on specific topics. Both are supplemented by research assignments, presentations by the students, movies and news reviews.

Course/Module Content:
01. March 2017

I. Introduction


1. Introductory session
Introduction to the topic
Explanation of teaching/learning concept, methods and goals
Expectations and requirements
Organizational questions


08 March 2017

I. Introduction

2. "Modell Deutschland" today

required readings:

Eichhorst, W. (2015). The unexpected appearance of a new German model. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 53(1), 49-69.
Busch, Andreas (2009). Schröder's Agenda 2010: From 'Plan B' to lasting Legacy?, In: Miskimmon, Paterson, Sloam, "Germany's Gathering Crisis", pp. 64-80.


15 March 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - The State


3. The German state in historical perspective - semisovereignty and the beginnings


required readings:

Peter J. Katzenstein (1987). Policy and Politics in West Germany: The Growth of a Semisovereign State, chapter 1: “The Taming of Power: West Germany’s Semisovereign State.” Temple.
Weichlein, Siegfrid (2011). Nation State, Conflict Resolution, and Culture War, 1850-1878. Chapter 13 in: Helmut Walser Smith. The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History.


22 March 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - The State


4. Unification and European Integration


required readings:

Wiesenthal, Helmuth (2003). German Unifiction and ‘Model Germany’: An Adventure in Institutional Conservatism. West European Politics, 26: 4, 37-58.
K.K. Patel (2011). Germany and European Integration since 1945. In: H.M Smith (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 775-795.


19. April 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - Civil Society

5. The role of civil society


required readings:
Putnam, Robert (1995). Bowling Alone. America's Declining Social Capital. Journal of Democracy 6.1 (1995) 65-78: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_democracy/v006/6.1putnam.html#authbio
Sheri Berman (1997). Civil Society and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic. World Politics, 49, pp 401-429.



26 April 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - Civil Society

6. Contemporary issues relating to civil society

research task

German civil society and the refugee crisis 1: organizing help
German civil society and the refugee crisis 2: resistance - Pegida, AFD


03 May 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - Organized labor

7. The logic of collective action and the difficulty of organizing union interests


required readings:

Olson, Mancur (1965). The Logic of Collective Action. Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. Harvard University Press, pp. 5-53 and pp. 66-98.

Movie (shown in 2nd half of the class): "American Dream"


10 May 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - Organized labor

8. The State of the Unions in Germany

required readings:

Hassel, A. (2014). Trade unions and the Future of Democratic Capitalism. The Politics of Advanced Capitalism. In: Pablo Beramendi, Silja Häusermann, Herbert Kitschelt, Hanspeter Kriesi (eds.): The Politics of Advanced Capitalism. Cambridge University Press.
Dribbusch, Heiner and Peter Birke (2012). Trade Unions in Germany. Organization, Environment Challenges. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Study.


17 May 2017

II. "Modell Deutschland" - Employers and organized capital

9. Neo-corporatism and employer associations

required readings:
Streeck, W. (1983). Between pluralism and corporatism: German business associations and the state. Journal of Public Policy, 3(3), 265-284.
Silvia, S. J., & Schroeder, W. (2007). Why are German employers associations declining? Arguments and evidence. Comparative Political Studies.


07 June 2017

III. Germany in the EU and in Comparative Perspective

10. VoC

required readings:

Hall & D. Soskice (2001). Introduction to Varieties of Capitalism. In: Ibid. Varieties of Capitalism. The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1-68


14 June 2017

III. Germany in the EU and in Comparative Perspective


11. Three Worlds of Welfare State Capitalism


required readings:
G. Esping-Andersen (1990). The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Cambridge, MA: Polity Press, pp. 1-34.



21 June 2017

III. Germany in the EU and in Comparative Perspective


12. European Integration - Theoretical Perspectives


required readings:

Schimmelfennig, Frank, & Rittberger, Berthold (2006). Theories of European integration. Assumptions and Hypotheses. In: Jeremy J. Richardson: European Union: power and policy-making, pp. 73-93.
Rosamond, Ben (2000). Theories of European Integration, St. Martin's Press, New York, chapter 3.

Required Reading:
Among others:

Busch, Andreas (2009). Schröder's Agenda 2010: From 'Plan B' to lasting Legacy?, In: Miskimmon, Paterson, Sloam, "Germany's Gathering Crisis", pp. 64-80.

Dribbusch, Heiner and Peter Birke (2012). Trade Unions in Germany. Organization, Environment Challenges. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Study.

Eichhorst, W. (2015). The unexpected appearance of a new German model. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 53(1), 49-69.

G. Esping-Andersen (1990). The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Cambridge, MA: Polity Press, pp. 1-34.

Hall & D. Soskice (2001). Introduction to Varieties of Capitalism. In: Ibid. Varieties of Capitalism. The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1-68

Hassel, A. (2014). Trade unions and the Future of Democratic Capitalism. The Politics of Advanced Capitalism. In: Pablo Beramendi, Silja Häusermann, Herbert Kitschelt, Hanspeter Kriesi (eds.): The Politics of Advanced Capitalism. Cambridge University Press.

K.K. Patel (2011). Germany and European Integration since 1945. In: H.M Smith (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 775-795.

Olson, Mancur (1965). The Logic of Collective Action. Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. Harvard University Press, pp. 5-53 and pp. 66-98.

Peter J. Katzenstein (1987). Policy and Politics in West Germany: The Growth of a Semisovereign State, chapter 1: “The Taming of Power: West Germany’s Semisovereign State.” Temple.

Putnam, Robert (1995). Bowling Alone. America's Declining Social Capital. Journal of Democracy 6.1 (1995) 65-78: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_democracy/v006/6.1putnam.html#authbio

Rosamond, Ben (2000). Theories of European Integration, St. Martin's Press, New York, chapter 3.

Schimmelfennig, Frank, & Rittberger, Berthold (2006). Theories of European integration. Assumptions and Hypotheses. In: Jeremy J. Richardson: European Union: power and policy-making, pp. 73-93.

Sheri Berman (1997). Civil Society and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic. World Politics, 49, pp 401-429.

Silvia, S. J., & Schroeder, W. (2007). Why are German employers associations declining? Arguments and evidence. Comparative Political Studies.

Streeck, W. (1983). Between pluralism and corporatism: German business associations and the state. Journal of Public Policy, 3(3), 265-284.

Weichlein, Siegfrid (2011). Nation State, Conflict Resolution, and Culture War, 1850-1878. Chapter 13 in: Helmut Walser Smith. The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History.

Wiesenthal, Helmuth (2003). German Unifiction and ‘Model Germany’: An Adventure in Institutional Conservatism. West European Politics, 26: 4, 37-58.

Additional Reading Material:

Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 20 %
Participation in Tutorials 0 %
Project work 0 %
Assignments 20 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 60 %
paper

Additional information:
Expectations/Requirements: regular and active participation; required readings and preparations (ca. 4 hours preparation for the seminar each week!) - you have to come well prepared to the class; 2 presentations/research tasks; final paper of 10-12 pages.