Citizenship and Democracy in Germany: implications for understanding globalization

Abstract

This chapter outlines the particular character of the development of the German nation and state, of German citizenship and democracy, to chart the problems and issues which this history has produced, and to highlight the ways in which the specificity of this history helps us come to a better understanding of the various ways in which citizenship, democracy, nation and state interrelate with each other, particular in a period where they are undergoing the tremendous transformations being wrought by intensifying social, political and economic globalization. The discussion is organized around two related issues: German fascism and the Holocaust, and the peculiarity of the German treatment of immigrants. The overall argument concerning the significance of the German case will have two elements: first, that the tendency in political theory generally and citizenship debates in particular to see the two elements of the couplet ‘nation-state’ as naturally linked together, with citizens automatically sharing culture, language and way of life, prevents us from seeing many of the complexities of the operation of citizenship and democracy in real historical and geo-political contexts. Second, that we need to come to a better understanding of how and why ‘nation’ and ‘state’ can rub up against each other as often as they work hand in hand. This is particularly important in coming to grips with the operation of ethnic and cultural differences among any particular grouping of citizens, in relation to both migrants and indigenous populations.