The political history of Germany is a story of discontinuity and fragmentation, culminating in the replacement of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic by a new unified Germany in 1990. Governing Germany offers an account of the German political system and its institutions within the context of this volatile history, providing a detailed consideration of the constitutional, executive and legislative dimensions of politics in Germany and taking particular account of the federal nature of the German system, with its tension between centralization and decentralization. The authors also offer a timely view of Germany′s role within the EC and NATO at a time of great change and uncertainty in the international arena, suggesting that economic success is the driving force of the political system while foreign policy remains the most serious problem facing the state. Comprehensive, authoritative and up–to–date, this book provides all students of German politics and history with an indispensable text.