This comprehensive overview of German politics, using the United States as a counterpoint, explains the salient aspects of the Federal Republic's political system and sheds light on the problems posed by the reunification of two very different nations.

Can German democracy endure the stresses of reunification, the challenges of global market forces, and the impact of Europe's intensifying economic and political union? As they examine these difficulties and possible answers, Lewis Edinger and Brigitte Nacos underscore distinct differences and similarities in American and German politics. The first part of the book describes the development and features of German representative democracy: its roots in the Third Reich and the Weimar Republic, the national emphasis on cooperation and collective responsibility, and the role of the media in reshaping electoral politics. The second part addresses the most pressing problems facing Germany at the close of the century, from European integration, to its burgeoning immigrant population and the pressures taxing its social programs. Based on extensive research, From Bonn to Berlin will inform anyone with an interest in either German or American politics.