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BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG A Portrait of the German Southwest 6th fully revised edition 2008 Publishing details

Reinhold Weber and Iris Häuser (editors): -Württemberg – A Portrait of the German Southwest, published by the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg, Director: Lothar Frick 6th fully revised edition, 2008. Stafflenbergstraße 38 Co-authors: 70184 Stuttgart Hans-Georg Wehling www.lpb-bw.de Dorothea Urban Please send orders to: Konrad Pflug Fax: +49 (0)711 / 164099-77 Oliver Turecek [email protected] Editorial deadline: 1 July, 2008 Design: Studio für Mediendesign, Rottenburg am , Many thanks to: www.8421medien.de Printed by: PFITZER Druck und Medien e. K., Renningen, www.pfitzer.de Landesvermessungsamt Title photo: Manfred Grohe, Kirchentellinsfurt Baden-Württemberg

Translation: proverb oHG, Stuttgart, www.proverb.de EDITORIAL

Baden-Württemberg is an international state – The publication is intended for a broad pub- in many respects: it has mutual political, lic: schoolchildren, trainees and students, em- economic and cultural ties to various regions ployed persons, people involved in society and around the world. Millions of guests visit our politics, visitors and guests to our state – in state every year – schoolchildren, students, short, for anyone interested in Baden-Würt- businessmen, scientists, journalists and numer- temberg looking for concise, reliable informa- ous tourists. A key job of the State Agency for tion on the southwest of . Civic Education (Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg, LpB) is to inform Our thanks go out to everyone who has made people about the history of as well as the poli- a special contribution to ensuring that this tics and society in Baden-Württemberg. It is current edition could be published: Dr. Rein- thus high time that a publication such as this hold Weber, Dr. Iris Häuser, Prof. Dr. Hans- one appears in English. One of the most suc- Georg Wehling, Christoph Lang (Studio für cessful regional publications on the southwest Mediendesign, Rottenburg), Ferdinand Pfitzer of Germany is thus now available in the most (Pfitzer Druck und Medien, Renningen), the important international . translation agency proverb oHG (Stuttgart), all of the state institutions involved as well as the The publication “Baden-Württemberg. A Por- Baden-Württemberg Ministry of State. trait of the German Southwest” (now in its sixth edition in the original German version) Stuttgart, August 2008 is the successful attempt to provide concise and understandable, reliable, factual and un- biased basic information about the state of Baden-Württemberg. With a total circulation Lothar Frick of around 150,000 copies in German, it has Director of the State Agency for become the most popular publication of the Civic Education of Baden-Württemberg State Agency for Civic Education of Baden- Württemberg.

The basic information in “A Portrait of the Ger- man Southwest” supplements the wide range of publications on regional studies and regional politics edited by the State Agency for Civic Education. It covers a wide variety of topics ranging from geography and history, the con- stitution, political parties and elections, par- liament, government and administration, the economy and society through to education, religions, media, art and culture. Numerous diagrams and illustrations accompany the text and are themselves an important part of the information.

3 CONTENTS

Editorial 3 Contents 5

Baden-Württemberg: and Borders 6 Historical Territories and Political Culture 10 The Foundation of the Southwest State 16 Population – the People in the State 24 Elections and Political Parties 30 The Baden-Württemberg 42 The Budget Law – the “Royal Prerogative” of Parliament 52 The State Government 54 Baden-Württemberg in the and in 62 Baden-Württemberg‘s Administration 70 Local Politics 76 Legal Channels and Appeals 81 The Economy in Baden-Württemberg 82 Agriculture 88 Environmental Policy 90 Education, Science and Research 96 Art and Culture 102 Media Landscape 108 Religions and Denominations 112 Memorial and Commemoration Sites 116 A Changing Society 120

References 126

5 BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG: REGION AND BORDERS

The Neckar near . A meander on the river between and in the heart of the traditional wine-growing area.

Photo: Manfred Grohe

People in Baden-Württemberg affectionately re- Baden-Württemberg also takes third place in inhabitants. , for example, is smaller in fer to their home as “Ländle” (a diminutive form terms of population after North -West- size, the neighbouring only mar- of Land, the German word for state). But the phalia and with around 10.7 million ginally bigger with 41,293 km2. Countries such southwest of Germany is anything but a small, people living within its territory. Neither is as , , Denmark and Ireland have straightforward region. The state of Baden- Baden-Württemberg a dwarf when it comes to a smaller population than the state in the south- Württemberg was created in 1952 and covers area and population in a European comparison. west of Germany. an area of 35,752 km2, making it the third larg- If Baden-Württemberg were an independent est of the German states in terms of size. Only state, it would rank 10th amongst the 27 mem- Bavaria and Lower are bigger. ber states of the in terms of

6 Despite the fact that the natural borders of the economic growth of the Single European the state are mainly bodies of water – the Market to be concentrated. Rhine to the west, the in the east and to the south – Southwest Ger- A variety of natural landscapes many has always been an open region. The Burgundian Gate and the Saverne depression A typical feature of the region is its wide varie- were responsible for early influences from the ty of natural landscapes. Low mountain ranges Mediterranean and western Atlantic region, and lowlands, plateaus and basins, glacial land-

Sharing borders with three countries and three German states

Baden-Württemberg has 1,124 km of internal frontiers with the German states of Bavaria (860 km), (171 km) and Rhineland-Pa- latinate (93 km). To the west, the middle of the Rhine forms the common border with the neighbouring French region of over a length of 179 km. The borders with Austria and Switzerland on Lake Constance are not firmly defined. The shore of Lake Constance stretches for 86 km from Constance to the state border with Bavaria, not including the shore of the Untersee (Lower Lake). The national border to the Swiss neighbour is 316 km long. Baden-Württemberg borders on the cantons -City, Basel-Land, Aargau, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Zurich.

The Swabian stretches for more than 200 km across Baden-Württem- the Graubunden passes in the south for con- berg as a low mountain range. nections with . The opened up Upper , the countryside Photo: Manfred Grohe southeast Europe, and the Rhine valley with between the Swabian Alb, the region ensured important connec- the Danube and Lake Constance: in this hilly landscape lies the tions to the north and east. The southwest “Holy Mountain of ”, of Germany thus always assumed a role as scapes rich in lakes and as well as dry the 767 m high , a vantage mediator, a role that has become even more karst areas with little water; extensive arable point and place of pilgrimage. important over the past decades through pro- land and dense forests alternate in close suc- Photo: Manfred Grohe gressive European integration. Today, Baden- cession and make for the compartmentalisa- Württemberg is a central lynchpin in the mid- tion of the state into small areas. Baden-Würt- dle of Europe. The state also assumes a central temberg straddles two large natural landscape position in the European Economic Area and is units, the German cuesta landscape of the low part of a “Development belt” in an EU struc- mountain range and the Alpine foothills. The tural model, the so-called “Blue banana”, that cuesta landscape is split into the biggest natu- stretches from London over the Randstad Hol- ral landscape unit of the Neckar und Tauber land, , the Ruhr Area and the “Rhine “Gäu” tablelands as well as the Swabian Alb, corridor” through Switzerland to Milan. The , the Swabian Keuper-Lias-Land, “Blue banana” hereby sees itself as the germ the (with ), the High Rhine cell of a future European “Megalopolis”, in area and the lowland plain. The which European structural politicians expect Alpine foothills cover the prealpine uplands

7 A state abundant in water

The southwest of Germany also is a state abundant in water. Although there are cer- tain areas that have few bodies of water such as the Swabian Alb, where water quickly sweeps into the lower ground, Lake Con- stance alone supplies drinking water for al- most four million people in the state as the biggest water reservoir with a surface area of 534 km2. Around 75 percent of the drink- ing water in the state comes from ground- water or springs.

Constance on Lake Constance: the dividing point between and moors as well as the Danube-Iller table- the Upper and Lower Lake of the land. “Swabian Sea”. Close by is the island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the border to Around 40 percent of Baden-Württemberg is neighbouring Switzerland. covered by forest. The highest point in the Lake Constance is one of the biggest state is the in the south of the Black freshwater lakes in the world. Forest, which rises to 1,493 m a. m. s. l. The Photo: Manfred Grohe highest mountain in Württemberg at 1,118 m is the Schwarzer Grat in the district of Ravens- burg, part of the mountain range, some northern foothills of the Allgäu . The high- est point of the Swabian Alb is the The Rhine forms the border near at 1,015 m. The lowest point to the western neighbour . in the state is the Rhine at , 85 m The Europabrücke near leads a. m. s. l. directly to in Alsace.

Photo: Manfred Grohe

The Feldberg is the highest mountain (1,493 m) in Baden-Württemberg and is located in the south of Germany’s biggest forest area, the Black Forest.

Photo: Manfred Grohe

The Rhine (437 km), Neckar (367 km), Dan- ube (251 km), (203 km) and (182 km) are the longest rivers in Southwest Germany. The Rhine and Neckar in particular are the most important waterways.

8 Baden-Württemberg: physical map

Map: Regional Surveyor's Office Baden-Württemberg

9 HISTORICAL TERRITORIES AND POLITICAL CULTURE

Upper Swabia’s biggest equestrian takes place every year on the Friday after Ascension Day: the “Blutritt”. This takes its name from the “Holy Blood Relic” that is kept in the town’s basilica. More than 3,000 horses with magnificent harnesses and their riders in top hats and tails make the Weingarten “Blutritt” a unique event in Europe.

Photo: Rupert Leser

Up to the end of the Second World War, Baden- ent states and ) completely changed plan of more than 250 independent territories Württemberg as we know it today consisted of the face of Southwest Germany. It created bor- was a classical example of a system of mini- the traditional states of Baden, Württemberg and ders and a consciousness that have lasted for states in the highly fragmented Holy Roman Prussian Hohenzollern. These had been shaped over 150 years and make up the regional and Empire. Four large territories made up the by the Napoleonic land consolidation at the be- parochial identity of people in the Southwest in basic silhouette which we know today as the ginning of the 19th century. Between 1803 and many different respects to the present day. state of Baden-Württemberg: the Electoral 1810, a “Länderschacher” (German term used , the of Württemberg, the to describe the process of bartering property On the eve of the French Revolution, the – which had long been and land as formerly practiced between differ- southwest of Germany with its chequered divided into the Margraviates of Baden-Baden

10 and Baden- – and the Further Austrian possessions, stretching from the Black Forest through the five Habsburgian cities on the Danube to the County of Hohenberg and, with Rottenburg, almost as far as Tübingen.

Alongside these, the smaller cultures con- sisted of such as Hohenzollern, , (each with subdivi- sions), Fürstenberg, as well as numerous small counties and cantons of Imperial Knights. There were also ecclesiastic domains: Constance, Basel, Strasbourg, and Worms, the “Hochstifte” (bishoprics), the name given to the secular domains of “Fürst- bistümer” (prince-bishoprics); numerous Impe- rial Abbeys such as Schöntal, , an der Rot, Weingarten, Salem or , as well as holdings of the Teutonic Knights such as Mergentheim, and Mainau. And finally, 24 of the altogether 51 Imperial Cities of the Holy in the area covered by today’s Baden-Württemberg ensured even further diversity in the southwest German ter- ritorial patchwork.

A landscape shaped The southwest of Germany at the end of the around by denomination 1789: more than 250 independent a freedom of religion that was anchored in secular and ecclesiastic territories form Some of these territories were Protestant – the a colourful patchwork in a classical the principles of the Peace of from , the old Margraviate of region of mini-states. The only larger 1555, according to which every local ruler de- Baden-Durlach and the Duchy of “Wirtem- areas were Württemberg, Baden, termined the religion of the domains he con- berg”. Others had remained true to the “Old and the Electoral Pala- trolled (“cuius regio, eius religio”). Faith“ – those regions south of the Danube tinate. The Imperial Cities and the which are referred to as Upper Swabia today, large ecclesiastic domains are the most Following the realignment of the territorial the Further Austrian regions of and striking highlights in the patchwork. boundaries in the 19th century, the two cen- , large parts of Eastern Württemberg Map: LpB Baden-Württemberg tral states of Baden and Württemberg were (the Prince-Provostry of and the Im- concerned with establishing a modern politi- perial City of Schwäbisch Gmünd) or the seat cal system with an efficient administration so of the Teutonic Knights in Mergentheim. The as to further the internal integration of the Imperial Cities of and states. In the course of the secularisation of had equal representation – Catholics and ecclesiastic properties and the mediatisation Protestants. The territorial diversity reflected of the smaller secular domains and Imperial

11 A diversity of political cultures

Each of these larger and smaller original re- gions of today’s state has its own political and cultural traditions that spring from its corre- sponding historical experience. Denomination had a decisive influence. The cultural diver- sity and distinctive individuality of the regions have shaped the mentality of their inhabitants and been condensed into specific regional po- litical cultures. They were the “Product of geo- political circumstances, economic conditions, past experiences, authoritarian disciplinary measures and historical traditions” (Hans- Georg Wehling) and are very enlightening for an understanding of the state. The structures of these small cultures were only conditionally reshaped by the unification efforts of the two new central states “by ’s grace” – Baden and Württemberg.

Hohenzollern: thanks to personal contacts, the dynasties of Hohen- Cities, the two states of Baden and Würt- zollern- and Hohenzollern- temberg grew considerably between 1803, managed to maintain their sovereign independence despite the 1806 and the final contractual solutions up to mediatisation of the smaller secular 1815: Württemberg almost doubled in terms domains. During the confusion of the of size and population. The change in Baden 1848/49 revolution, the two territories was even more striking; it quadrupled in size were sold by their rulers to the Prus- and the population increased six-fold. sian King Frederick William IV from the . From then The diversity of religions was to become some- on, 1850 until 1945, the Hohenzollern thing of a domestic problem – in Baden more states were part of the Prussian Rhine so than in Württemberg. In Baden, which had Province as the Administrative District itself been more heterogeneous in the old Mar- of Sigmaringen. – with its graviate and which was lacking a large, ter- enclave – thus extended into ritorial core, the problem was integrating the Allgäu and almost up to the shores of Lake Constance. The Hohenzollern south of Baden and the Electoral Palatinate, elected their representatives to the both Catholic, into the new . Prussian Diet in the constituency of In Württemberg, which had now attained -. The small Protestant the status of a kingdom, the problem was to community in Hohenzollern was part “reconcile” the Catholics in the new Würt- of the Rhenian State Church until after temberg regions in Upper Swabia and East The rich, stout farmer from the new the Second World War, whereas the Württemberg with the Protestant, pietistic Württemberg principal heir territory majority Catholic population had be- inhabitants of old Württemberg. longed to the archdiocese of is superior to the “division of real since the rearrangement of the church property” farmer from old Württem- in the Southwest at the beginning berg, who can carry his entire belong- of the 19th century, and still does ings on his shoulder. As seen by the to this day. Biberach artist Johann Baptist Pflug at th Photo: Burgverwaltung Hohenzollern/Keidel the beginning of the 19 century. Illustration: Grafische Sammlung der Staatsgalerie Stuttgart

12 The differences between the two states are obvious. The only successful revolution on German soil took place in Baden in 1848/49, and could only be quashed by foreign – Prus- sian – troops. Württemberg experienced no revolution but rather a change in the parlia- mentary majority and government with liberal reforms – the fruits of a centuries-old uninter- rupted culture of participation in old Würt- temberg. During the cultural struggle that be- gan in the 1850ies in Baden before spreading to Prussia, there was a very violent conflict between the on the one hand and the State with a Protestant aristocracy and Protestant, mainly liberal administrative elite on the other. Württemberg was regarded as an “Oasis of peace” during the cultural struggles, even though the Catholic-Protestant differen- ces bonded Catholics and shaped the society and politics.

At the end of the 19th century, which heralded the rise of the fundamental politicisation of so- Mannheim today is the second-larg- ciety, the cultural reshaping of socio-economic est city in Baden-Württemberg. The and denominational interests led to very dif- Different modes of land inherit- city, originally founded in 1607 as an ferent social milieus: a (national) liberal, ance shape the society, economy asylum for Calvinist brothers in faith, “modern” milieu based on the secular state and politics was one of the residencies of the Elec- in the generally urban-Protestant regions with toral Palatinate and developed into one powerful craftsmen associations and a strong The different modes of land inheritance also of the most important industrial towns economic bourgeoisie; a largely Protestant proved to be very important. Old Württem- in the southwest of Germany – not least working-class milieu in the industrial loca- berg knew almost only the division of real thanks to the convenient location where tions, and finally an “ultramontane” – looking property, in other words the division of the the Neckar flows into the Rhine. The towards “beyond the mountains” – entire inheritance in equal parts amongst all picture is from around 1900, when Catholic milieu that covered all social classes of the children. Over time this led to a huge smoking chimneys were seen as proof and integrated all denominations. These were fragmentation of property. When the resulting of industriousness and progress. joined in Württemberg by a rural-agrarian and “smallholdings” became too small to support a Illustration: Archiv Reiss-Engelhorn Museu, Mannheim Protestant-conservative milieu. Each of these family, they had to look for additional sources large social classes – characterised by the fac- of income – often in emergent industries in tors region, denomination, class affiliation and towns. The result: large numbers of part-time cultural orientation and borne by different so- farmers who worked in industry and “moon- cieties and associations – supported its own lighted” in the evening on their smallholdings. a party for the proletariat masses but for “the specific party-political lobby groups: the Prot- The consequences are obvious: the working man on the street”, craftsmen and labourers: estant national and liberal left parties, social classes were not a pauperised proletariat but in other words, a reform-based evolution in- democrats, the centre as a party for political long remained rooted in rural traditions in stead of a revolution. Catholicism and the Protestant-conservative which their own, albeit modest homestead Farming Union in Württemberg. played a central role. The southwest of Ger- On the whole, these structures of small and many thus was a region with no distinctive very small properties – reinforced by the rig- urban-rural contrast. This also meant that orous education to labour of a well-meaning industrial economic crises could be survived, establishment – led to an industrious, imagina- since the workers were able to provide at least tive and adept population. The battle for the part of their staple diet themselves. And finally inheritance and survival led to a reduced sense this created a social democracy that was not of solidarity. The confined circumstances in

13 villages, where not only the land but also The right of principal heirs existed in other houses and rights of use were divided, left no parts of the state, in Hohenlohe, the higher room for “everyday liberalism”. This liberal- mountain ranges of the Black Forest or Upper ism, however, did exist in politics in the sense Swabia. The entire property was inherited by of freedom from state interference. one heir. This ensured the survival of viable farms. The predominant form of settlement, the single farm, allowed a high degree of self- confidence and tolerance in the sense of “live and let live”.

The consequences of these different modes Rottweil, one of the biggest former of land inheritance are obvious: those areas Imperial Cities in the southwest of Ger- The hilly landscape of the Hohenlohe that practised the division of real property took many: this view of the town shows the stretches across the north-eastern part the lead on the journey towards an industrial of Baden-Württemberg. It is charac- civic pride and historical significance society. The on the Middle terised by castles and palaces of the of the city on the Upper Neckar which Neckar as well as the industrial Rhine-Neckar house of Hohenlohe and is exemplary for the cultural density in its numerous subdivisions. Waldenburg the Southwest. on the edge of the Swabian-Franconian Photo: Manfred Grohe Waldberge is a very prominent lookout point.

Photo: Manfred Grohe

district around Mannheim developed into the strongest industrial regions in an inner-Ger- man comparison. Although they had no raw materials and sources of power and although the transport connections often were inade- quate, there was a big supply of well qualified labourers with which the industrial locations gained a reputation for highly-specialised and labour-intensive processed goods.

What makes Baden-Württemberg so rich is its geographic, historical and cultural diversity. The wealth of different historical traditions has left its mark – in the form of residencies and palaces, churches and cloisters, towns and villages, though also in the mentalities and habits of its people. The southwest of Germany is characterised by a diverse cultural density – its people, its society, its historical and political traditions and not least its eco- nomic structure.

14 was a residency and main seat of the Princes of Fürsten- berg. In 1806, the town was ceded to the Grand Duchy of Baden. Donau- eschingen lies on the elevated plain of the on the eastern edge of the southern Black Forest. The nearby confluence of the and is regarded as the real start of the Danube.

Photo: Manfred Grohe Schloss is the oldest residence on the Upper Rhine. This representative palace has been com- The territorial fragmentation in the pletely preserved since being built southwest of Germany created an im- (1700–1707). Today, visitors can view mense cultural density that is expressed the magnificent Beletage with the not least in a wealth of proud residen- state apartments of the of cies. The photo shows Ellwangen, once Baden-Baden. the capital of the Prince-Provostry of Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg the same name and the capital of New Württemberg after the Napoleonic land consolidation between 1803 and 1806, the state centralisation of the new territories in Württemberg. During the course of the reorganisation of the state administration in Württemberg in 1817, Ellwangen became the seat of the government for the “Jagstkreis”, comparable with today’s regional council. The town was also called the “Swabian Rome”, because the Würt- temberg King Frederick established an Ordinary, a Seminary and a Catholic theological college, the “Universitas Fridericana” which was named after him, here for his Catholic subjects. Ellwangen was also intended as the seat for the new state diocese before the decision was taken in favour of .

Photo: Verkehrsamt Ellwangen

15 THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOUTHWEST STATE

The first Minister President of the newly founded state was elected on 25 April, 1952: the Liberal (right). His famous pocket watch can be seen in the top of the picture.

Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

Stuttgart, 25 April, 1952: on the agenda of the for the members of the cabinet. These were rep- ble moment, Reinhold Maier took out his gold- constituent assembly of the as yet nameless resentatives of the DVP (FDP = The German en pocket watch and called out: “It is 12.30. “Southwest German Federal State” – the elec- Liberal Party), as well as the SPD (The German (…) Through this declaration (…) the states of tion of the Minister President. 64 of the 120 Social Democratic Party) and the BHE (Bloc of Baden, Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg- ballot papers bear the name of the Liberal poli- Expellees and Disenfranchised, political party Hohenzollern are united as one Federal State. tician Reinhold Maier, 50 that of the Christian in Germany between 1950 and 1961). The (…) God bless the new Federal State!” Democrat Gebhard Müller. Maier stepped up CDU (The Christian Democratic Union, con- to the lectern on that Friday and to everyone’s servative party in Germany) was booted out as The Southwest State became a reality with the surprise presented the letters of appointment the strongest parliamentary party. In a memora- formation of its government – founded in one of

16 the most tumultuous scenes ever to have been witnessed in the state parliament to this day. It was a “Black Friday” for the CDU, who had assumed that they would be able to assert their claim as leaders and present Gebhard Müller, their “honest broker” between the population of Baden and Württemberg, as the head of the government. Reinhold Maier, on the other hand, had lived up to his reputation as a crafty tactician and had outsmarted the CDU in a “sur- prise attack” – according to his opponents. The first Minister President of the Southwest State was a Liberal, the only FDP Minister President to date in any German state. But Maier only remained in office for one and a half years; the CDU has run the state ever since.

Maier did more harm than good in the sense of the psychology of coalescence. He was the epitome of “Swabian annexation longings” in the eyes of the Catholic population of . In old Baden there was talk of a “brute fusion“ – and it has to be said that brutish vo- cabulary was used on both sides. The reasons why Maier wanted the CDU in the opposition as the strongest parliamentary party were of a much more complex, not least national politi- cal nature. What it all boiled down to was the majority in the Bundesrat (German Federal Council), where Adenauer was worried about Southwest Germany was split support for the integration of Germany into the into three parts from 1945 to 1952. community of western states – one reason why landscape. The hyphen in the name “Baden- The borders between the zones he was no advocate of the Southwest State. Württemberg” does not divide but joins the of occupation divided each of the old states of Baden and Württemberg two parts of the state without levelling out its It can thus be said that it was a complicated into a northern and a southern part. regional diversities. birth for the new state. Nevertheless, the reor- The territorial improvisations of the ganisation of the Southwest turned out to be a American and French occupying There are good reasons for believing that the “Stroke of luck in history” (). To powers created the three unpopular cultural and historical diversity of the South- this day, Baden-Württemberg is the only Ger- “children of the occupation” Württem- west was by no means a mortgage but a pre- man state where the population successfully berg-Baden, Württemberg-Hohen- condition for the coalescence of the different decided on its reorganisation in a referendum. zollern and (South) Baden. parts of the state. If the problem in the years The state has attained an enviable position in Map: LpB Baden-Württemberg leading up to and following 1952 had been to Germany’s political, economic and cultural merge two large, self-contained blocks – Baden

17 This led to three arbitrary administrative con- structs: the Americans put together the state of Württemberg-Baden (with its capital Stuttgart) from their parts. The French knocked together two states: to the south of the artificial border within Württemberg that passed by Tübingen and was referred to as the “Frontière de Det- tenhausen”, the state of Württemberg-Hohen- zollern (Tübingen) and to the west of this the state of (South) Baden (Freiburg). None of the three “children of the occupation” were really wanted by the population.

The Document No. 2

The military governors of the western zones ordered the heads of governments of the states to submit suggestions for a reorganisation of the states in the Frankfurt Document No. 2 from 1 July, 1948. But the existing states and their personnel had already established them- The three protagonists in the battle selves so that the heads of the governments for the Southwest State: Reinhold Maier so that the -Stuttgart- motorway wanted to put off any definitive resolution. (left), Gebhard Müller (second from remained under their control. The more in- Since it was believed that the three heads of the right) and Leo Wohleb (right), at a conference of the three heads dustrialised and densely populated northern government in Southwest Germany were well of the southwest German governments areas of the two former states were now part on their way to an agreement, the emphasis in 1950. of the US zone, the agriculturally dominated was placed on the unification of the three

Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg southern parts of the states with Hohenzollern states – against the vote of the government of the French zone. and Württemberg – this would have been “Wooing the bride in Southwest more difficult. But the job on hand was to co- Germany”; a caricature in the ordinate a number of smaller traditional areas. Stuttgarter Zeitung on 27 August, 1949 In this respect it is the diversity of the state that guarantees its unity. Nevertheless, it has to be stressed that the new state of Baden-Würt- temberg is a product of the occupational and post-war period. Its territory had never before been unified and required a number of stimuli from outside.

The allies‘ policy of occupation

The allied powers of the west were the first to suggest the reorganisation of the state. France’s involvement as a fourth victori- ous power shortly before the end of the war meant that territorial improvisations became necessary. Baden and Württemberg were each split into a northern and southern part. For logistical reasons, the American occupying forces fixed the southern border of their zone

18 Posters from the election campaign for the referendum on the Southwest State.

Abbildungen: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

(South) Baden. The question of the reorgani- had no intention of cutting off North Würt- Unsuccessful southwest German sation of the southwest of Germany was thus temberg. The head of the state government of summit diplomacy uncoupled from the general reorganisation of Württemberg-Hohenzollern, Gebhard Müller states in western Germany. (CDU), thus assumed the role of mediator. The two opposite positions became very clear As a Catholic from Württemberg, he played a at the first “Summit” of the three representa- Three protagonists ruled the roost in the “Bat- pivotal role between Catholics in South Baden tives of the states in Burg Hohenneuffen on tle for the Southwest State”: The head of the and Württemberg, which was largely Protes- 2 August, 1948. Surprisingly, however, an (South) Baden government Leo Wohleb (CDU) tant. He became the “honest broker” between agreement was quickly reached on 24 August, continued to advocate the restoration of the old the opposing interests of Leo Wohleb and Rein- 1948, on the “Karlsruhe Contract” that envis- state of Baden. Reinhold Maier (FDP/DVP), hold Maier – and one of the fathers of the new aged the fusion of the three states with the four Minister President of Württemberg-Baden, Southwest State. regional districts North Baden, North Württem-

19 berg, South Baden and South Württemberg. A Trial run: the straw poll temberg (93.5 %), Württemberg-Hohenzollern few days later, however, Leo Wohleb did an (92.5 %) and North Baden (57.4 %), 59.6 about-turn and declared the agreement to be of In April 1950, Theodor Eschenburg suggested percent of voters in South Baden came out in no binding force. a straw poll to bring some movement into the favour of the restoration of the old states. The tricky discussions about the method of voting. total for the whole of Baden was a wafer-thin The controversy now revolved around the mo- He believed that he could prove that even if majority of 50.7 percent for the old states. One dalities of the planned referendum. Wohleb the votes were counted according to the old thing was clear: the Southwest state only had insisted that the votes be counted according states there would still be a majority in favour a chance if the four-district mode was applied to the old states. The Southwest state should of the Southwest state. Supporters of the South- for the referendum. Any contractual agreement only be realised if there was a majority in the west state were brought back down to earth, between the three heads of government was two plebiscitary districts – Württemberg with however, on 24 September, 1950. Although doomed to failure. Hohenzollern on the one hand and Baden on there were expected majorities for the south- the other. Maier, however, insisted on a vote in west state in the three districts of North Würt- The “Second New Delimitation the four districts, whereby the Southwest state Act” should be founded if there was a majority in favour in three of these four districts. Since an The foundation of Baden-Württemberg was ex- approval appeared certain in North Württem- pedited through the “back door” on a national berg, South Württemberg-Hohenzollern as well The results of the referendum on the politics level, in a manner of speaking. The Bun- as North Baden, the vote of electors in South Southwest State on 9 December, 1951. destag had two draft bills: one from the (South) Baden would then be irrelevant as the fourth Map: Landesvermessungsamt Baden-Württemberg Baden government that planned the poll ac- district. This four-district mode was unaccept- able to the population of South Baden.

Special arrangement for the Southwest: Article 118 of the “Grundgesetz” (Basic Law)

The Southwest issue only regained momentum in April 1949 when the Allies announced that the reorganisation of states would be delayed until a peace treaty had been concluded. Geb- hard Müller seized the initiative in this critical situation by agreement with Reinhold Maier. In May 1949, literally on the eve of the pass- ing of the Basic Law, he sent a passage for the Basic Law to Konrad Adenauer, the President of the Parliamentary Council, that had been worded by the Senior Civil Servant in the Ministry of the Interior in Tübingen, Theodor Eschenburg. Whereas Art. 29 of the Basic Law already stipulated a complicated procedure for the new delimitation of the states – Eschenburg called it a “State reorganisation prevention ar- ticle – a special arrangement was included for the Southwest in Art. 118. According to this: “If no agreement is reached, the revision shall be effected by a federal law, which shall provide for an advisory referendum.”

20 where the people feared the loss of status for the former capital.

No end to the Baden issue

The supporters of old Baden did not take the defeat in the vote lying down and united to form the “Heimatbund Badenerland” (roughly: Heritage Alliance for the Baden Land) in Octo- ber 1952. They continued the struggle for the old state of Baden right through to the German Federal Constitutional Court. In 1956, this court ruled that the population of Baden could decide on whether they wanted to remain in the state of Baden-Württemberg in a separate vote – without the participation of the popula- tion of Württemberg and Hohenzollern – since their will had been “overlooked by the pe- culiarities of the politico-historical develop- ment” – in other words the separation of the state of Baden in 1945. But although there was a petition for a referendum in Baden in Sep- Posters before the election to the con- tember 1956 that also achieved the prescribed stituent assembly in the spring of 1952. (57.1 %) in favour of the fusion. In terms of the quorum, the actual vote was a long time com- The first time a joint parliament overall area, there was a 69.7 percent majority ing. The referendum itself was held on 7 June, in the Southwest had been elected. in favour of the state of Baden-Württemberg. 1970. The result was an impressive statement Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg on the part of the population in Baden: with a The regional differences in the results of the turnout of 62.5 percent, 81.9 percent of the vote reflected the historical traditions of the electorate in Baden voted to remain in the state cording to the old states and which was backed southwest of Germany. Supporters of the of Baden-Württemberg. by the majority of the CDU parliamentary party, Southwest State were successful wherever the and a “Tübinger draft” from Swabian members “Napoleonic land consolidation” had severed Constitution of parliament, which went under the name of old links at the beginning of the 19th century, and envisaged the four- (e. g. the districts of , , Über- The elections to the constituent assembly were district mode. This was passed as the “Second lingen). There was also a clear majority for the held on 9 March, 1952, with the CDU hold- New Delimitation Act” with a big majority new state in the old Electoral Palatinate, where ing 50 seats, the SPD 38, the FDP/DVP 23, the in the on 25 April, 1951. The act there was still some anti-Baden resentment. In BHE six and the Communists four. After the rapidly passed through the Bundesrat, where the Protestant districts of South Baden such government had been formed on 25 April, 1952, Gebhard Müller had organised the necessary as Lörrach or Kehl, where the supporters of there was a constitutional abeyance for a few majority. the Southwest State achieved relatively high weeks that was brought to an end by the “Law shares, there was a traditional outbreak of a on the provisional exercise of authority in the The referendum on 9 December, “clash of cultures”. There was a clear major- southwest German state”, the so-called “bridg- 1951 ity for the new state in Protestant , ing law” of 17 May, 1952. Only then were the where the economy traditionally followed that three post-war states finally annulled. The act There was no lack of pithy words in the elec- of Württemberg. The unequivocal figures in gave the state the provisional name Baden-Würt- tion campaign that preceded the referendum. the districts in Württemberg speak for them- temberg. The almost seven-year struggle for the But there was no doubt about the result. Al- selves. In contrast, the old Baden strongholds Southwest State had come to an end. though the supporters of old Baden in South were in the areas of the old Catholic Margravi- Baden won 62.2 percent of the votes, there was ate Baden-Baden and the former bishoprics of Some points of the two drafts for a state consti- a clear majority in the other three districts of Speyer and Straßburg (districts of and tution that were submitted to the constituent North Württemberg (93.5 %), South Württem- ). There were also numerous oppo- assembly in the summer of 1953 differed quite berg-Hohenzollern (91.4 %) and North Baden nents to the new foundation in Karlsruhe, considerably. The joint draft submitted by the

21 schools common in Baden, whereas the CDU draft constitution envisaged the co-existence of denominational schools – as were common in South Württemberg-Hohenzollern – and Chris- tian comprehensive schools.

Negotiations only became easier following the resignation of Reinhold Maier, who vacated his office in the Villa Reitzenstein following the CDU victory in the elections to the Bundestag in October 1953. The second provisional gov- ernment formed by Gebhard Müller according to his view of politics included all four demo- cratic parties and created the constitution and established the state. The coalition partners had already agreed on the most contentious questions before the government was formed. The four parliamentary parties in the coalition submitted a joint draft constitution to the State Assembly on the same day that Müller’s gov- ernment was appointed. The constitution of the state of Baden-Württemberg was passed with a large majority on 11 November, 1953. It came into force on 19 November, 1953.

The Basic Law and the state constitution

Article 28 of the Basic Law of the Federal Repub- lic of Germany stipulates very few precepts for the constitutions of the German states. Every- thing else is left up to constituent powers in the states. This means that the state constitutions sometimes differ greatly in their choice of gov- ernment and its dismissal, policy-making powers and the functions of the head of the state. Unlike the Basic Law, the constitution of Baden-Würt- temberg also contains direct laws of instrumen- The members of the Baden-Württem- tality for the population with the possibility of berg government sealed the constitu- governing parliamentary parties provided for a dissolving the parliament through a referendum tion of the state of Baden-Württemberg parliamentary democracy based on the and with the petition for a referendum. with their signatures. Carl Neinhaus, model, though with a policy-making power for the President of the constituent assem- the Minister President weakened by the princi- bly, paid tribute to the constitution Constitutional amendments ple of collective responsibility. The CDU draft as an “indispensable democratic foun- envisioned a state president elected directly by dation for our life as a nation A constitution is a long-term matter but should the people for six years as a counterweight to and a state”. still be open to amendments. The parliament the parliament along with a second parliamen- Illustration: Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart of Baden-Württemberg has the right to amend tary chamber. Furthermore the CDU demanded the constitution with a two thirds majority of greater participation of the population through its members. This right has only been exercised elements of direct democracy. The fields of re- in rare cases up to now. The most important ligion, education and schooling were also con- amendments related to the introduction of the troversial. The governing parliamentary parties petition for a referendum (1974), the exten- were in favour of the Christian comprehensive 22 striding lions with red tongues. This is the coat of arms of the house of , Emper- ors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and Dukes of Swabia in the . A crown with the insignia of the histori- cal coats of arms of (white and red “Franconian rake”), Hohenzollern (black and white party per cross escutcheon), Baden (red sloping bar on a golden field), Württemberg (three stag antlers), Electoral Palatinate (Ho- henstaufen in black) and Further Austria (red-white-red striped escutcheon) rests on the shield. The escutcheon is held on by a golden deer, the supporter of the escutcheon of Württemberg, and on the right by a golden griffin, the supporter and heraldic animal of the sion of the electoral period for the parliament day there were two opposing groups: those escutcheon of Baden. Both animals have red to five years (1995), the participation of the par- who categorically rejected a double-barrelled hoofs or claws. They are the symbolic custodi- liament in important EU projects for the state name because they believed this would not ans and guardians of the state of Baden-Würt- (1995) and the introduction of the right for EU unify the state. The other party argued in fa- temberg and its constitution. citizens to vote in local elections (1995). Three vour of a double-barrelled name and the histori- new state objectives have also been adopted in cal significance of the two states of Baden and The greater state coat of arms, a symbol of state the constitution: the protection of natural liveli- Württemberg. “Baden-Württemberg” turned sovereignty, may be used by the parliament, the hoods in Art. 3 a (1995), the protection of ani- out to be the smallest common denominator, state government, the Minister President, the mals as beings and fellow creatures in Art. 3 b and was also chosen so as not to open up old ministries, the representatives of the state in (2000) and the promotion of cultural life and wounds with the opponents of the Southwest the Federation, the State Court of Law and the sport by the state and communities in Art. 3 c State. Baden was allowed to go first – on the highest courts in the state, the audit court and (2000). one hand to distinguish the new state from the administrative headquarters. former Württemberg-Baden and on the other A double-barrelled name to placate the population in Baden who still had The lesser coat of arms, an escutcheon with for the new state problems accepting the fusion. black striding lions with red tongues bearing a coronet, the so-called people‘s crown, is used by When the constitution came into force on The state coat of arms the remaining state authorities and notaries. 19 November, 1953, the Southwest State was also given an official name. The question as to Art. 24.1 of the constitution of Baden-Würt- what the new state should actually be called temberg only specifies the state colours of black had occupied the population and politicians and gold, the black being taken from the old for months in advance. Numerous suggestions Württemberg and Hohenzollern-Prussian state were made, newspapers organised opinion polls, colours and the gold from the red and gold honorary professors were asked for their advice flag of Baden. But a state coat of arms was also and citizens discussed the matter in readers’ required. Despite exhaustive discussions, the letters. There were some weird and humorous parliament did not decide on a coat of arms suggestions, but the most popular were the his- that symbolised the unity of the new state of torically-based names “Schwaben”, “Staufen”, Baden-Württemberg whilst still upholding the “Rheinschwaben” and “Alemannien”. tradition of the former states and districts until May 1954. But there were good arguments against each of these proposals. In the end, none of them The greater state coat of arms could accurately describe the historical diver- for Baden-Württemberg sity of the state and its population. On the other hand, a lot of people though that “Baden-Würt- The greater state coat of arms has a golden es- temberg” lacked imagination. At the end of the cutcheon in the centre which bears three black

23 POPULATION – THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE

The population is becoming older. The over sixties have outnumbered the under twenties in Baden-Württemberg since the year 2000. This demographic change poses a challenge for politics and the society.

Photo: picture-alliance /dpa

The population in Baden-Württemberg grew depend primarily on the number of immi- Ageing population rapidly in the past: there were around 4.1 mil- grants. The excess of births over deaths only lion people living in the southwest of Germany accounts for around ten percent of the growth Constantly low birth rates and an increasing at the turn of the 20th century, by the end of in population. It is very likely that the growth life expectancy in the entire industrialised 1952 this figure had already grown to 6.6 mil- in population will slow down over the com- world have meant that the population is get- lion – and today we have around 10.7 million. ing years. The population figure is expected to ting older. The former pyramidal age pattern Women are in a slight majority with 50.9 per- drop in the long term up to the year 2050. has changed drastically: the erstwhile strong cent of the population. Whether and to what basis of the youngest population stratum has extent the population will grow in future will become increasingly narrower and moved

24 The ageing population is a challenge for poli- 1970ies compared to the other Federal States. tics, the economy and society. It necessitates Women in , for example, and men in an adjustment of the social security systems -Western Pomerania, live two and is not least a challenge for local politics. years less on average. that as yet require relatively few age-care facilities on account of their There are, however, some astounding dif- “young” age structure will have to reckon ferences within the state. There is a differ- with a sharp rise in demand in future. The ence of around two to three years between upwards. There already are clear signs of this demographic change in Baden-Württemberg although this can still boast the youngest pop- ulation in an inner-German comparison. Since the year 2000, there have for the first time been more over sixties than under twenties. While the average age in Baden-Württemberg in 1950 was around 34, the average age of the population in 2000 was already around forty. By the year 2050 this will have risen to around fifty.

The population is ageing at both the bottom and the top: on the one hand the up-and-com- ing age groups are smaller than their parents’ generation, today’s 30- to 40-year olds. This means that in future there will be much fewer potential mothers and fathers than today. The base of the age structure will thus become even narrower. On the other hand, the baby boomers from the 1960ies will start entering retiring age as of around 2025. The longer life expectancy will further increase their share of Age structure of the population the population. overall infrastructure in municipalities will in Baden-Württemberg in 2005 and 2050 assuming a net immigration change in many aspects. The “century of the of 17,000 persons per year. This population ageing affects the entire state senior citizens” that lies ahead for our society Source: Staatliches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg although there are some regional differences. calls for a timely discussion of the expected Over the past thirty years, there has been an problems. above-average increase in the share of older the districts with the highest life expectancy people, particularly in most large towns and Higher life expectancy (Tübingen Administrative District and Lake cities in the state, since many families with Constance District) and the district with children have moved from the cities to the sur- A very striking aspect of the population devel- the lowest life expectancy (Urban District of rounding districts. The current regional differ- opment in Baden-Württemberg is the signifi- Mannheim) over the two decades roughly ences in the age structure will have a decisive cant rise in the average life expectancy. This spanning 1981 to 2001. Possible reasons are effect on the future development of the popu- has risen by around twelve to fourteen years primarily the levels of income and education lation. Those municipalities where the share in under two generations. Thus, a boy born of the population and the associated ways of of old people is already very high will suffer around 1949/51 had an average life expect- and outlooks on life. People in districts with the highest drop in population over the next ancy of roughly 65 years, whereas boys born a higher income live longer on average. This twenty years. In areas where the share of older today can expect to live to around 77. The life also applies for districts with a high share of people is relatively low today, the percentage expectancy of women has risen over the same men and women who have a university or of this population group will tend to rise at an period from almost 69 to nearly 83 years. technical college degree. above-average rate. “Baden-Württemberg lives longer” – this slo- gan has held true since the beginning of the

25 1950ies saw the start of the immigration of migrant workers from Italy, followed mainly by those from Yugoslavia, and . A new phase of immigration broke out at the end of the 1980ies: these were repatriates of Ger- man origin – at first mainly from Rumania and , and then above all from the former – as well as asylum-seekers and civil war refugees from former Yugoslavia. This wave of immigration reached its height be- tween 1989 and 1992 when around 470,000 people arrived in Baden-Württemberg.

Lifelong learning is the key to an ageing society. The days of massive early retirement appear to be past. The experience of older employees is once again in demand.

Photo: picture-alliance /dpa

Baden-Württemberg is a densely populated state. Around 10.7 million berg come from the rest of Germany, primarily people live in the southwest from the federal states in the east. The rest are of Germany. citizens of other nations. Photo: picture-alliance /dpa

Immigration

Declining birth rates There are currently around 1.3 million citizens of a foreign nationality living in Baden-Würt- Since 2001, Baden-Württemberg has been the temberg. Their share of the overall population only state in Germany where more people are is thus around twelve percent. The influx of born than die. Admittedly, the plus in births foreign citizens, though also their starting a has dropped to an almost negligible figure of family – the birth rate among foreign women around 5,000 people per year. As in other parts was initially much higher than among German of Germany, the “baby bust” in the 1960ies led women – accounted for a considerable propor- to a significant and lasting drop in the number tion of the rise in the state’s population. Con- The number of immigrants to Baden-Würt- of births. The birth rate in Baden-Württem- sidering both factors, around one third of the temberg from abroad has dropped significantly berg today is 1.36 children per woman and is overall growth in the population since 1952 is since the middle of the 1990ies: the number thus only slightly higher than for the whole of due to foreign fellow citizens. of repatriates has fallen hugely, many civil Germany, namely 1.34 children per woman. war refugees from former Yugoslavia have re- Both figures are a far cry from the quota of The waves of immigration can be split into turned to their home countries. Nevertheless, 2.1 children per woman which is needed for various phases. In the years following the Baden-Württemberg has the highest share of a stable population figure. Unlike large areas Second World War, it was mainly displaced foreigners amongst the German states (exclud- of Germany where the population shrinkage persons, expellees and refugees who came to ing , and ). has already become a reality, the population the Southwest. In 1950, these amounted to continues to grow in Baden-Württemberg. But 862,000 people or 13.5 percent of the total Most migrants in the state originally came from this is due almost solely to immigration. More population at that time. The economic boom Turkey. The second largest group are Italians, than half the immigrants to Baden-Württem- (“”) in the middle of the followed by people from former Yugoslavia,

26 Croatia and Greece. The on the whole declin- ing number of foreigners is also due to the tem- porary rise in the number of naturalisations. Since the amendment to the citizenship law in the year 2000, around 116,000 persons in Baden-Württemberg have been given German citizenship. The number of naturalisations is now declining again.

The number and share of foreigners who have decided to stay in Germany or Baden-Würt- temberg for a longer period or permanently has risen significantly over the past three dec- ades. Today, almost seventy percent of for- eigners have been living here for more than ten years. Almost fifty percent of foreigners living in the state have spent their entire or majority of their life in Germany. A more ex- act picture of the extent of the integration requirement is provided by the figures for people with an immigrant background. These include not only foreigners born in Germany and those who have moved to the state but also persons with German nationality, in Almost 1.3 million people with other words repatriates of German origin, na- a foreign passport live in Baden- tionalised persons as well as the children of the state capital Stuttgart with 593,000 inhab- Württemberg. The state thus has the those repatriates and nationalised citizens. A itants, followed by Mannheim (308,000) and highest share of foreigners amongst quarter of all persons in Baden-Württemberg the German federal states (except Karlsruhe (285,000). Almost one out of every or 2.7 million people have such an immigrant Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg). five people in Baden-Württemberg lives in a background. The state is once again far above Language and integration courses big city. But the majority of people in Baden- the national average of 19 percent and takes make it easier for natives and Württemberg – almost sixty percent – live in first place amongst the federal states (except immigrants to live together. one of the around 500 municipalities with be- Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg). Forty percent Photo: picture-alliance /dpa tween 5,000 and 50,000 inhabitants. of the population in the urban district of Stuttgart have an immigrant background. The By far the most densely populated areas are shares in Hamburg (27 %) or Berlin (23 %) are 13 percent is also much higher than that of the industrial urban centres in the state, pri- much lower. persons without an immigrant background marily the Stuttgart region. This is followed (approx. 5 %). by the regions of the Middle Upper Rhine and The share of people with an immigrant back- Lower Neckar. The fewest inhabitants per ground is much higher amongst younger age The spatial distribution of the square kilometre can be found in the regions groups than in the middle to older age groups. population of -Franken, Lake Constance-Upper A successful school or occupational integration Swabia and Danube-Iller. While on average plays an important role here. Although foreign The differences in size between municipalities 730 persons live in each square kilometre of youths have a much better level of education in the state are considerable. Although the mu- the Stuttgart region, this figure drops to only today than the older generation of foreign- nicipal reform at the beginning of the 1970ies around 170 in the Danube-Iller region. There ers, much fewer still achieve a higher level of cut the number of municipalities to around are around 300 people per square kilometre education compared to of the same one third, more than eighty of the 1,108 on average in the state, putting Baden-Würt- age. The level of occupational education of municipalities in the state still have less than temberg in fifth place in an inner-German young people with an immigrant background 1,000 inhabitants. On the other hand, nine comparison. similarly remains below that of Germans of the towns and cities in Baden-Württemberg are same age with no immigrant background. The amongst the major German cities with more unemployment rate for migrants of around than 100,000 inhabitants. These are led by

27 The development of the three main spoken in Baden-Württemberg, Cultural diversity the different indigenous dialects used by the namely Franconian, Swabian and inhabitants of the “Ländle”. Around a dozen , can be traced Baden-Württemberg is a multi-cultural state regional dialects are spoken in Baden-Würt- back to the settlement waves of and home to people from almost 200 countries the . This is why the temberg. This sometime leads to problems of around the world. The culture of the state is popular names for the regional dialects comprehension, as can be seen with the word correspondingly rich and diversified. It is not are the same as the names of “potatoes”, for example: In Rottenburg, Na- just the different mother tongues of the im- the tribes or their parts. gold or they are called “Grom- migrants that give Baden-Württemberg such a Map: www.geografik.net bira”, in Künzelsau “Äbirn”, “Jardepfel” in colourful mixture of ; but above all , people in call them “Härd-

28 öpfel” and in Ravensburg they are referred to as “Bodabira”. Village and regional languages are alive and well in Baden-Württemberg, hav- ing braved the recurrent waves of public en- thusiasm for dialects. Neither television with its “smoothed” language nor the mobility of modern society or the disappearance of rural ways of life has seriously endangered the dia- lects. The close ties between settlement his- tory and political development can be easily traced to the history of regional languages and the development of dialects in Baden-Würt- temberg.

Baden-Württemberg is a highly industrialised state. “Laptop and Bollenhut” (A “Bollen- hut” is a type of hat worn by women in the three Black Forest villages of , Wol- fach- and -. It has 11 balls of wool arranged in the form of Hours of painstaking manual work a cross.) – the slogan stands for the link be- The “Rottweiler Narrensprung” goes into making the Bollenhut with its tween modernity and tradition. Traditions, (A famous or “Fasnet” proces- accompanying traditional Black Forest folk culture and popular religious practices sion in the town of Rottweil that takes costume: the red Bollenhut may only have survived despite – or perhaps because place on Shrove Tuesday.) with over be worn by girls for the first time at of – globalisation. Traditional celebrations, 3,000 participating “Narrenkleidle” their confirmation. The black Bollenhut folk music and costumes play an important (Persons dressed in costumes taking is worn by married women on feast role in the cultural and social life of people. part in the procession through the day, during and traditional They express their regional identity in their town, many wearing wooden masks.) customs. , their myths and legends, their celebra- is one of the annual highlights in the Photo: picture-alliance /dpa tions and customs. Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet or carnival. Photo: Manfred Grohe The extraordinary cultural landscape in the Southwest is the product of a centuries-old exchange between the homeland and far away, between what is one’s own and what belongs to strangers. Traditions and customs thus shape the cultural memory of the land and are part of everyday life. Preserving lo- cal history thus means preserving the diverse cultural landscape. But in rural areas in par- ticular it also serves to preserve the landscape and nature. The Baden-Württemberg Heritage Days are held at a different location each year and focus on the broad diversity of the state’s culture.

29 ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES

“State authority is derived from the people.” Suffrage is a fundamental civil right that has been fought for and secured over centuries.

Foto: picture-alliance /dpa

Article 25 of the constitution of Baden-Würt- them every five years in local, parliamentary of functions: firstly, a democratic choice is temberg clearly states that “state authority is and European elections. The German Bun- made. This legitimates the political protago- derived from the people.” This state author- destag is elected every four years. nists and their decisions. Elections create po- ity is exercised in elections and ballots and litical majorities – an important precondition through specific legislative, executive and ju- Democracy is founded on a basic social and po- for political stability. Elections also bring about dicial bodies. Parliaments on various political litical consensus: the minority accepts the de- a choice of different political programmes and decision-making levels are the democratically cisions of the majority, the majority affords the policies. They help integrate different ideals, elected representatives of the people for a set minority protection. Elections are at the heart opinions and interests in political decisions. period. The voters decide who is to represent of the democratic process and serve a number The political decision-making centres there-

30 Voter participation tion campaigns. This interweavement of the various political levels means that the popula- The state constitution emphasises elections tion is finding it more and more difficult to and ballots as the central democratic event in identify which institutions and parties bear the Art. 26 Para. 3: “The exercise of suffrage and responsibility for which tasks and decisions. If the right to vote is a civic duty.” Nevertheless, decision-making processes and responsibilities there is no compulsory voting such as exists are not transparent, people often loose sight in Belgium. The call to participate in political of the ways in which they can influence poli- decision-making processes by voting has met tics. This may be a further reason why a lot of fore also reflect social pluralism. Representa- with an increasingly low response over the past voters have turned their backs on the ballot tives are elected for a set period. Elections are years. Voter participation has dropped steadily boxes. A reform of the German Federal system thus an effective instrument of control over and reached a historic low of 53.4 percent for is thus trying to create more transparency for mandate holders and policy makers. the elections to the Landtag (state parliament) citizens. in 2006. In the year 2001, it was still around Electoral principles 62.6 percent. Despite this obvious decline, the Local elections: elections to muni- overall balance for elections to the Landtag is cipal, town and district councils The universal, direct, free, equal and secret still somewhat better than for local elections right to vote as stipulated in Art. 28 and or elections to the European Parliament. Only Almost 20,000 seats are up for grabs every five Art. 38 of the German Basic Law for the elec- 43.0 percent of eligible voters exercised their years in local elections in the more than 1,100 tion of all parliaments, is the basic prerequisite right to vote at the 2004 European elections, municipalities of Baden-Württemberg. There for any democracy. Suffrage is a fundamental and only 52.0 percent at the 2004 local elec- are almost 2,300 seats in district councils in civil right that had to be fought for and se- tions. Up to now, only the elections to the the 35 administrative districts. Not forgetting cured over centuries. The electoral principles Bundestag (78.7 % in 2005) attracted more elections to community councils in 440 mu- mean: voters to the ballot boxes. nicipalities for around 13,000 seats in 1,700 dependent municipalities. 52.0 percent of universal: There are many reasons for this trend. This eligible voters exercised their right to vote on every citizen, male or female, can vote, irre- development may document a general decline 13 June 2004. Foreigners from EU countries spective of their religion, gender, income or in interest in political decisions. The deliber- are also entitled to vote in local elections. education; ate refusal to vote could also be interpreted direct: as a protest against or lack of enthusiasm for Elections “à la carte” the citizens elect the representatives directly politics. Whatever the reason, one thing is At first sight, Baden-Württemberg appears by casting their vote for a candidate in the clear: abstaining from voting clearly has an to have quite a complicated electoral law for election; influence on the outcome of the election. This municipal and district councils with the pos- free: means that nonvoters not only surrender their sibility of accumulating votes and transferring every person can exercise their right to vote chance to influence politics, they may even candidates from one list to another – or to use without any state or private influence; help precisely those groups whom they do not the technical terms: with the possibility of ag- equal: want to support by not voting. gregation and vote-splitting. The electoral sys- each elector has the same number of votes. tem thus displays an exceptional permeability Each vote has the same value and stand- If one sees the drop in voter participation as for the wishes and ideas of the voters. The ing. Each candidate and party has an equal evidence, it has to be concluded that topics re- electoral system used is proportional repre- chance; lated to state policy and elections to the Land- sentation on the basis of free lists submitted secret: tag itself are increasingly unable to motivate by the parties and voter’s associations for the each elector is entitled to absolute privacy voters. This is particularly true of first-time and constituency. Each eligible voter has the same when casting their vote. younger voters. In 2006, only 33 percent of number of votes as municipal officers to be eligible voters under 30 cast their vote. The elected. The number of municipal or town clearest drop in voter participation, however, council members is governed by law and is was amongst the 45 to 59 year olds, namely between eight and sixty depending on the 9.2 percent. size of the – irrespective of any additional “Überhangmandat” (Constituency State policy is becoming increasingly swamped seats which a party obtains over and above by Federal and European topics. This mixture the seats to which it is entitled on the basis of often also dominates the arguments in elec- the second votes cast for it.).

31 LOCAL ELECTIONS 2004 relegating free voter’s associations to second place in elections to municipal councils. The personality element is also decisive in elections Municipal council elections District council elections to district councils. The clearest indication of Number % Number % this is the strong position of mayors in district Eligible voters 7,754 m. 6,416 councils. A further peculiarity of the local ad- Voters 4,035 m. 52.0 3,405 53.1 ministrative system in Baden-Württemberg is Void voting papers 139,760 3.5 130,644 3.8 that the mayor is not elected at the same time Elected councils 19,353 2,283 in local elections but in separate elections as a of which: direct decision by the voters. Acc. to majority vote 750 – – Acc. to proportional vote 18,603 2,283 The independent voter’s associations were of which: once again able to affirm their strong position CDU 5,717 30.7 930 40.7 in Baden-Württemberg in the local elections SPD 2,632 14.1 415 18.2 on 13 June, 2004. They are particularly domi- Grüne 525 2.8 202 8.8 nant in small municipalities. The big political FDP 254 1.4 119 5.2 parties usually come off much worse in local Other parties 35 0.2 32 1.4 elections than in elections to the Landtag or Joint nominations 1,052 5.7 38 1.7 Bundestag. Voter’s associations 8,388 45.1 547 24.0 Elections to the Landtag Source: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg in Baden-Württemberg

Voters can opt for the easy alternative on elec- representatives of these districts according to Every German citizen over 18 years of age tion day and simply put an unmarked ballot a certain ratio (“false partial district election”). who has had his or her principle place of resi- paper into the ballot box. Each candidate on The municipal councils, however, are elected dence or centre of vital interests in the state the list then receives one vote each. But voters by all voters in the entire municipality. In mu- for at least three months can vote for and be can also aggregate or split votes or combine nicipalities with a false partial district election, elected to the Landtag in Baden-Württemberg. both of these methods. Aggregation means a number of further sources of error have to be This election has been held every five years that one candidate can be given up to three avoided. Suffrage, eligibility and election peri- since 1996 (previously four years) and is very votes. Vote-splitting means that the voter can ods in the district council elections are based simple for voters: they have only one vote and compile candidates from various lists into his on the regulations of the local elections act of elect a candidate nominated by the parties in or her “Personal Municipal Council”. But this the state of Baden-Württemberg. The election their constituency. There are no state lists as can have its pitfalls – especially if a number regulations are contained in the district rules there are in elections to the Bundestag. of municipal councils have to be elected. Just of the state of Baden-Württemberg. one vote too many means that the complete The overriding principle: proportional vote is void. Nevertheless, the number of in- Local elections abide by their own laws representation correctly completed ballot papers in local elec- The main difference between local and other The way in which the seats are determined tions is relatively low in view of the somewhat elections is that they practice the personal for the individual parties is as complicated as confusing electoral system. mandate principle in its purest form. The the election is simple. The electoral system is choice is usually based on the candidate and a combination of proportional representation When calculating the mandates, the number not the party. Voters tend to elect people they and a “Persönlichkeitswahl” or personal man- of seats for each nomination is initially deter- know well and who are rooted in the com- date (electoral system in which a vote is cast mined on the total votes cast for the listed munity. This is particularly true in small towns for a candidate rather than a political party): candidates according to the principle of pro- and municipalities. Local businessmen and the seats won by the parties in the Landtag portional representation (d’Hondt method). chairmen of larger clubs or associations have depend on the proportion of votes won by the The seats are then distributed amongst the a good chance of getting elected. The “pure” parties in the state (proportional representa- candidates on the respective lists according party politician is less in demand, a fact that tion). These seats are distributed amongst the to the number of votes they have won. If a is reflected in the results of local elections: in individual candidates according to the votes municipality consists of separate districts, the Baden-Württemberg there is a preponderance these have won in their constituency (per- standing orders of a municipality may deter- of candidates and lists who do not toe the par- sonal mandate). There are only constituency mine that the municipal council must include ty line. Only rarely does the CDU succeed in candidates. Each candidate thus has to stand

32 for election in one of the 70 constituencies in candidates who have won a so-called first or the state. direct seat in their constituency with a sim- ple majority. The remaining seats for each 120 seats are distributed amongst the parties party go to those constituency candidates in proportional to the total number of votes they the party who received the highest number View of the plenum: the citizens receive in the state. The votes cast for all of of votes in the administrative district propor- of Baden-Württemberg elect their constituency candidates throughout the tionate to the other constituency candidates their members of parliament to the state are then added to these for each party. in their own party without winning a direct Landtag in Stuttgart every five years. The seats to which the individual parties are seat. These are called second seats. The total Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag then entitled are divided amongst the four ad- number of direct seats on a state level is the ministrative districts in the state proportionate same as the number of constituencies, namely to the number of votes received by the candi- seventy. At least fifty further seats are awarded dates within a party in the individual adminis- as second seats. trative districts. Only those parties will be con- sidered who have won at least five percent of “Überhangmandate” and “Ausgleichs- the votes at state level (five percent clause). mandate” In some cases a party in an administrative “First” and “second” seats district may win more first seats (direct seats) It then has to be determined which seats won than the number it is entitled to according to by a party in an administrative district fall to the total proportion of votes. It keeps these ad- which candidates. The first choice is all those ditional seats as so-called “Überhangmandate”

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY (excess seats). If the number of these “Über- hangmandate” contravenes the proportionate Government (executive) distribution of seats amongst the parties on a state level, the other parties are awarded “Aus- gleichsmandate” (compensatory seats). Thus, Minister appoints Minister appoints Secretaries President of State the total number of members of the Landtag can exceed 120. The current Landtag (2006– 2011), for example, has 139 members.

ratifyelect ratify The 2006 Landtag election The 14th Landtag was elected in Baden-Würt- temberg on 26 March – with the lowest ever 120 members of the Landtag (legislative) turnout to date. Only 53.4 percent of the plus “Überhangmandate” and “Ausgleichsmandate” around 7.6 million eligible voters cast their vote. 19 parties were admitted to the election; 651 candidates could be elected.

Parties The 2006 Landtag election ratified the Min- Individual candi- ister President Günther H. Oettinger. He had dates* Election already been elected as the successor to , the former head of the government, by the Landtag on 21 April, 2005, having appoint * special conditions apply here the candidates (see Landtag Election Act) defeated his rival Annette Schavan as the top candidate in the first ever poll amongst mem- bers of the CDU.

Population entitled to vote The CDU only lost a few votes in the 2006 Landtag election, winning 44.2 percent of the © 8421medien.de votes (– 0.6 %). This was their second-best re-

33 sult since 1992 and was only just short of an absolute majority of seats in the parliament. This meant a continuation of the coalition be- tween CDU and FDP. The SPD, on the other hand, with its contender Ute Vogt, received only 25.2 percent of the votes (– 8.1 %), their second-lowest result ever in a Landtag elec- tion. The FDP won 10.7 percent of the votes (+ 2.6 %) and the Greens (“Die Grünen”) also gained more power. With an increase of 4.0 percent, it won 11.7 percent of the votes and confirmed its position as the third-strong- est political party in the state.

The party strongholds remained relatively sta- ble. The CDU kept its firm grip on rural areas and also won an above-average number of votes in predominantly Catholic regions. The SPD losses were lower in towns and constitu- 2006 Landtag election in Baden- encies with a high population density than on Württemberg: the parties campaign average throughout the state. This was also with their top candidates and true of constituencies with a high unemploy- with topics. The economy, education, families and the environment play ment rate or a high share of employees in serv- a pivotal role in the election campaign. ice industries. The Greens achieved above- average figures in areas with a high share of university graduates, in other words university

RESULTS OF THE 2006 LANDTAG ELECTION, distribution of seats according to administrative districts (direct and second seats)

Administrative district Administrative district Administrative district Administrative district KARLSRUHE STUTTGART FREIBURG TÜBINGEN

CDU 43.4 % 18 seats CDU 43.0 % 26 seats CDU 44.1 % 14 seats CDU 47.8 % 11 seats SPD 27.4 % 11 seats SPD 26.2 % 15 seats SPD 24.0 % 7 seats SPD 21.0 % 5 seats Grüne 10.4 % 4 seats Grüne 10.9 % 6 seats Grüne 13.0 % 4 seats Grüne 13.0 % 3 seats FDP 10.6 % 4 seats FDP 11.1 % 6 seats FDP 11.0 % 3 seats FDP 9.3 % 2 seats

FDP FDP FDP FDP

Grüne Grüne Grüne Grüne CDU CDU CDU CDU SPD SPD SPD SPD

Source: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg © 8421medien.de

34 towns and cities. They were also a direct rival for the SPD in areas where service industries are well represented. The FDP strongholds lie in Protestant regions and constituencies in the state where the population has a high purchas- ing power.

The old and new Minister President top candidate, had to face an election of Baden-Württemberg faces the media by the people for the first time and as the election winner on 26 March, came off the clear winner. 2006. Günther H. Oettinger, the CDU Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

RESULTS OF THE LANDTAG IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG 1952–2006

80.0 %

Turnout 63.7 %

59.0 % 53.4 % Turnout

56.7 %

39.6 % 44.2 % CDU 37.6 % CDU 36.0 % 33.3 %

SPD 28.0 % 25.2 % SPD

18.0 % FDP / DVP 15.7 % Other parties 18.0 % 14.4 % 11.7 % GRÜNE 10.7 % FDP / DVP 8.4 % 5.3 % Other parties GRÜNE 0.6 %

1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2001 2006

Source: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg © 8421medien.de

35 Greens won 10.7 percent of the votes and had to accept slightly higher losses of – 0.7 percent compared to the national average (– 0.4 %), the FDP improved above the national average (2.5 %) with a plus of 4.1 percent to win 11.9 percent of votes.

The electoral system for the Bundestag: “first” (direct) and “second” (indirect) votes The electoral system for the German Bun- destag is a mixture of a personal mandate and proportional representation. The voters have two votes. Although “second” is usually thought to be something inferior, things are different in an election to the Bundestag, be- cause each vote has its own function. Voters elect a direct candidate in their constituency with their “first” vote (according to a relative “first-past-the-post” system). The “first” vote

Plenary session of the German DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS Bundestag in the Reichstag in Berlin. IN THE GERMAN BUNDESTAG The 2005 Bundestag election Photo: Deutscher Bundestag / Lichtblick / Achim Melde in Baden-Württemberg The turnout for the Bundestag election in CDU / CSU 224 seats Baden-Württemberg of 78.7 percent was SPD 222 seats Elections to the German slightly higher than the national average FDP 61 seats Bundestag (77.7 %). 76 of the total of 614 members of Die Linke 53 seats the Bundestag, including 16 with an “Über- Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen 51 seats Following the planned defeat of Chancellor hangmandat”, come from Baden-Württem- Independent 2 seats Gerhard Schröder in a vote of no confidence in berg. They were elected in the 37 constitu- the German Bundestag, early elections to the encies into which the state was divided for Bundestag were held on 18 September, 2005. the election. The CDU won 33 direct seats They resulted in the second grand coalition in and the SPD four. Of the 76 members from the history of the Federal of Germany. Baden-Württemberg, three became members Contrary to many election forecasts, which of parliament with an “Überhangmandat”. predicted a victory for the CDU/CSU and their Twenty members are women. The CDU in candidate for Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Baden-Württemberg has 33 seats, the SPD election result put paid to all of the planned 23, the FDP nine, Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen coalition alliances. Neither a bourgeois-liberal eight and “Die Linke” three seats in the Bun- Status: August 2007 coalition between CDU/CSU and FDP nor a destag. red-green alliance of SPD and Bündnis 90 / Die Source: www.bundestag.de © 8421medien.de Grünen achieved a parliamentary majority. The SPD lost around 3.4 percent in the state, Following the FDP’s refusal to join a so-called slightly below the national average (– 4.3 %), thus gives voters the chance to have a direct “traffic light” coalition of SPD, FDP and the but at 30.1 percent, the result was still the influence over who is actually elected to the Greens (“Die Grünen”), who would tolerate worst since 1990. The CDU won 39.2 percent Bundestag. The “second” vote, on the other the parliamentary party of “Die Linke” (The of the votes and its losses were slightly higher hand, is decisive for the distribution of seats Left), the only option was a grand coalition of (– 3.6 %) than the national trend (– 3.3 %). in the Bundestag. It elects a party whose can- CDU/CSU and SPD. The German Bundestag Nevertheless, the CDU in Baden-Württem- didates have been compiled in state lists. The elected Angela Merkel as the first female Ger- berg achieved the second-best result for the seats are distributed amongst the parties pro- man Chancellor on 22 November, 2005. Union nationwide after Bavaria. While the portionate to the “second” votes.

36 The constituency seats won by the parties are Elections to the European Proportional representation through lists credited against the seats to which they are en- parliament All citizens of the EU over 18 years of age are titled from the results of the indirect vote. The eligible to vote in European elections in the party retains direct mandates in the constitu- The European parliament is elected every five country where they live. They have one vote. encies even if these exceed the total number years. Up to 1979, it consisted of members who The members of the European Parliament are determined according to the proportion of were appointed by the national parliaments. elected according to a system of simple pro- “second” votes in the state. In this case the There is still no standardised electoral system portional representation via lists. The entire overall number of seats for members increas- applicable for all member states; each country Federal Republic of Germany is regarded as es. These seats are called the “Überhangman- has its own election method. The European one constituency. The electoral lists can be date”. “Ausgleichsmandate” are not awarded Election Act (Europawahlgesetz) applies for submitted as state lists for the individual state in elections to the Bundestag. Germany. It sends 99 members from the total or as a joint list for all states (national list). of 785 members in the European Parliament. Only the CDU/CSU have exercised their right Barring clauses to draw up state lists as yet in European elec- Seats in the Bundestag will only be awarded The trouble with European elections is that tions. All other parties have submitted nation- to parties that overcome the barring clause of they do not really deal with the question of al lists. The 99 European MPs from Germany, five percent of votes cast in the entire country power because the elected parliament is still including 13 from Baden-Württemberg, are (five percent clause). In addition, the so-called not a European government. Although the determined according to the Hare-Niemeyer “basic mandate clause” also applies, according European Parliament has become more im- method on the basis of the votes cast for the to which parties will partake in the distribu- portant in decision-making processes within parties. The five-percent clause also applies as tion of seats according to their share of votes the EU over the past years, elections to the a barring clause here.

RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS TO THE BUNDESTAG IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG 1949–2005

90.2 %

78.7 % Turnout

Turnout 70.0 %

52.8 %

37.8 % 38.9 % CDU 39.6 % 39.2 % CDU

35.6 % 30.1 % SPD SPD 23.9 % 18.9 % Other parties 16.6 % FDP 17.6 % 11.9 % FDP 7.5 % 10.7 % GRÜNE GRÜNE 1.8 % 8.0 % Other parties 0.5 %

1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 2005

Source: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg © 8421medien.de in the entire country if they have won at least European Parliament are still seen as more of Compared to 1999, the turnout for the 2004 three direct constituency seats. a test of public opinion for the government and European elections rose in the state and was opposition in Germany. over 53.1 percent. The election was once again held together with local elections in the state. The CDU suffered minor, the SPD

37 serious losses. The Greens made considerable gains and the FDP once again overcame the five percent hurdle with 6.8 percent.

Political parties

Political parties play a pivotal role in the Ger- man political system. Without them, the me- diators and link between the state and society, between voters‘ wishes and political decision- making levels, it would be impossible to form legitimate governments capable of winning a majority.

The parties virtually have a “monopoly” on delegating representatives to parliament. The term “party democracy” underlines this key position. According to the definition in the

ARTICLE 21,1 BASIC LAW The European Parliament represents almost 500 million people. German Christian Democratic The parliament meets in Strasbourg, “Political parties shall participate in the forma- Union (CDU) other official abodes are Brussels and tion of the political will of the people. They may be freely established. Their internal organiza- Luxemburg. The photo shows The CDU celebrated its 60th anniversary tion must conform to democratic principles. the plenum of the European Parliament They must publicly account for their assets and in Baden-Württemberg in 2006, even if it in Strasbourg, the so-called “Hémi- for the sources and use of their funds.” originally sprang from the four independent cycle“ (semicircle), with its regional associations in North Württemberg, 785 members. South Württemberg, North Baden and South Photo: European Parliament Party Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, Baden due to the former zones of occupation. parties are “… associations of citizens which The roots of Christian-Democratic politics in exert influence permanently or for longer pe- the Southwest go far back. Party leaders and The CDU forerunner “Badische Christlich- riods of time on the formation of the political supporters were recruited after the end of the Soziale Volkspartei” (BCSV) (Baden Christian will at federal or Land level and participate in Second World War on the Catholic side from Social People’s Party) was founded in (South) the representation of the people in the German the “Zentrum” (), on the Protes- Baden on 20 December, 1945 with the later Bundestag or regional parliaments (Landtag) tant side from the potentials of the Christian State President Leo Wohleb as party leader. provided that they offer sufficient guarantee Social People’s Service and the Farming Union The party was not approved, however, until of the sincerity of their aims in the general in Württemberg as well as the (national-)lib- 8 February, 1946. In 1947, it gave itself a character of their circumstances and attendant eral traditions of the southwest states. new name: “CDU Baden”. The controversies conditions, particularly with regard to the size surrounding the foundation of the Southwest and strength of their organisation, their mem- Unlike (South) Baden, which was part of the State proved to be a crucial internal test for the berships and their conduct in public.” (§ 2,1 French zone of occupation, the liberal practices party between 1947 until the mid fifties. of the Party Law). of the American occupying authorities in North Baden allowed political parties to be formed The “Christlich-Soziale Volkspartei” (Chris- There are four parties in the 14th Baden-Würt- more quickly. The “Christian Democratic Party” tian Social People’s Party) was founded in temberg Landtag: the Christian Democratic (CDP) was founded as early as 14 August, 1945 North Württemberg on 25 September, 1945, Union (CDU), the German Social Democratic in Karlsruhe, followed by the “Christian Social an interdenominational, Christian socially-ori- Party (SPD), Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen and the Union” in on 8 November, 1945. ented party. The CDU was acting in a difficult Free Democratic Party / Democratic People’s These and other local initiatives were brought political environment here. The strong indus- Party (FDP/DVP). together in the Christian Democratic Union on trialisation, a traditionally high percentage of 9/10 February 1946 with the foundation of the votes for liberal parties and reservations in the North Baden Regional Association. Protestant population against the party, often

38 perceived as being too “Catholic”, certainly CDU dominant in the state did not make things any easier for the Union. The long-standing dominance of the CDU is characteristic for the party system in the An application for the approval of the “Chris- state. It has been the governing party since tian Democratic Union” was made in South 1953 and has always provided the Minister gung” (MIT) (Organisation representing mid- Württemberg-Hohenzollern in January 1946. Presidents; initially in coalition cabinets up dle class interests), the “Kommunalpolitische The first regional conference could be held until 1972 when it won an absolute major- Vereinigung” (KPV) (Local affairs union), the in Sigmaringen on 23 March, 1946. Political ity. After twenty years of autarchy, the CDU Senior Citizens Union (SU), the Union of discussions in this predominantly Catholic re- lost its absolute majority in April 1992. For Displaced Persons and Refugees (UdVF), the gion were always policy issues more so than the second time in the history of the state af- Protestant Working Group (EAK), the Ring in the other parts of the state; this is reflected ter 1966–1972, a grand coalition of CDU and of Christian-Democratic Students (RCDS) as by the long adherence to denominational SPD was elected to power. The CDU has gov- well as the Schoolchildren’s Union as a special schools. erned Baden-Württemberg in an alliance with organisation of the Young Union. Six expert the FDP/DVP since 1996. committees at a state level do the preliminary The four independent CDU regional associa- work for the regional association. There are tions only merged to form the Baden-Würt- Organisational structure also various study groups, advisory commit- temberg regional association in January 1971. The CDU regional association is split into four tees and special organisations. The CDU in The organisational structure at the top of the district associations. These in turn comprise Baden-Württemberg has over 80,000 mem- bers. Their average age is around 55; almost RESULTS OF EUROPEAN ELECTIONS IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG SINCE 1979 forty percent of the members are over sixty. The share of women in the party is just over

66.4 % twenty percent.

Turnout 59.2 % German Social Democratic Party 53.1 % (SPD)

The SPD has the longest tradition of all po- 40.6 % litical parties in Germany. In the course of its almost 150 year history, it has evolved from CDU 52.3 % a class-conscious labour party to a modern 47.4 % popular party. The Social Democrats in the 39.3 % southwest of Germany have been instrumen- tal in this development. SPD 34.3 % Early reorganisation construction The reorganisation of the SPD began on a local 19.6 % level in the summer of 1945. The foundation 14.5 % 13.2 % 14.4 % of the SPD regional association Württemberg- 11.8 % Baden was resolved in on Novem- FDP 8.1 % 6.8 % ber 1945. The regional associations for (South) GRÜNE 4.5 % 4.9 % Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern were Other parties 0.7 % founded in 1946 – following fierce disputes 1979 1894 1989 1994 1999 2004 with the French occupation authorities. On Source: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg © 8421medien.de 31 December, 1946 the SPD already had over 41,000 members in the three states – only party was amended by the new association. 41 county associations and more than 800 around ten percent less than before the col- The four former regional associations became urban, municipal and local associations. There lapse of the in Baden and district associations whose borders were are ten independent unions within the CDU Württemberg together. The SPD was an un- adapted to the newly created Administrative that are closely related to the party: the Young avoidable power factor in all three southwest Districts of Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Stuttgart and Union (JU) with over 11,000 members, the German states, above all in Württemberg- Tübingen. CDU Social Committees (CDA), The Wom- Baden, from the very outset. While it cooper- en’s Union (FU), the “Mittelstandsvereini- ated in coalition governments in Württemberg-

39 in a grand coalition with the CDU between 1992 and 1996, the SPD is once again the opposition party in the state.

Structure and organisation The SPD regional association is split into 43 district associations, ten urban associations and Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern up to 900 local associations. The party has around was founded on 18 September, 1945, in the 1952 under the leaderships of the FDP/DVP 42,000 members in Baden-Württemberg. The home of the democratic family Haußmann in and CDU respectively, it left the government share of women is just over 31 percent. The Stuttgart. The name for the new party chosen of Baden under Leo Wohleb on 4 February, over sixties are dominant amongst party mem- by the founders paid homage to the “Demo- 1948, and joined the opposition as a proponent bers with almost forty percent; the average age cratic People’s Party” in Württemberg that of the merger of the three states. of members is 57. Over 4,600 members are be- had been founded by Julius Haußmann, Carl tween the ages of 14 and 35 and thus members Mayer and Ludwig Pfau in 1864. This estab- Foundation of the party district of the Young Socialists (Jusos), the party’s youth lished a tradition to the liberal movement of “Southwest” association. The SPD regional association has the 1848/49 revolution. The occupying pow- A unified party district “Southwest” was ten working committees: for employee matters ers did not approve the foundation of the DVP founded at the unification party congress on (AfA), the working committee of the Jusos, for regional association Württemberg-Baden until 7/8 June, 1952, in Stuttgart. Since the parties senior citizens (60 plus), women (ASF), health 14 December, 1945. in South Baden and South Württemberg-Ho- care (ASG), the self-employed (AGS) as well as henzollern had a relatively weak organisation, lawyers and solicitors (AsJ). These are joined by In the French zone of occupation, the founda- the SPD Württemberg-Baden assumed the the discussion group “Christians and the SPD”, tion of a liberal party met with the overt oppo- role of leader. Erwin Schoettle became the the advisory committee for the police force in sition of the military governor, who favoured chairman of the new “Southwest” district. Al- the SPD Baden-Württemberg (“Blaulicht”) and a three-party system in which he saw no room though the state SPD was only given the name the “Schwusos”, Lesbians and Homosexuals in for the liberals. The driving forces in (South) “regional association” at the Mannheim party the SPD. The ground work for the party is car- Baden were Wilhelm Stahl and Paul Waeldin. congress in 1962, the “Southwest” district ried out by commissions, advisory committees On 20 January, 1946, they submitted a re- was de facto the first regional association of and project groups appointed by the party ex- quest for the approval of a “Democratic Party” social democrats in a German state (except for ecutive committee. though this was not approved by the French Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg) since the bor- until the end of May 1946. The French - ders of the party organisation corresponded to Free Democratic Party / Demo- thorities in Württemberg-Hohenzollern were those of the new state of Baden-Württemberg. cratic People’s Party (FDP/DVP) even more reticent. The DVP was not founded Despite a relatively low membership and elec- until 17 August, 1946 here. tion results below the national average, the Liberal traditions have shaped the history of Baden-Württemberg SPD has always had a sig- Baden and Württemberg since the 19th cen- The party appealed to three different but nificant influence over the national party and tury. Their contribution to the development of closely related social classes: it was repre- its politics. The great movement of personnel liberal and democratic ideas in Germany have sented almost exclusively in Protestant parts between the two levels of state and federation been considerable. The region was the birth- of the state; it continued to be successful in in- is also very striking. place of the “Liberal Southwest”. After 1945, dustrially developed regions, and it was most the liberal ideal was rekindled and followed on successful in regions with the highest share of The Social Democrats formed a coalition the great tradition of liberalism and democracy self-employed persons, middle-class business- with the FDP/DVP and GB/BHE in the first in the Southwest. men and civil servants. provisional state government (1952–1953) under Reinhold Maier (FDP/DVP). The SPD Foundation history In favour of the Southwest State was also involved in the governments of Geb- Liberalism was relatively late in becoming po- The party had been in favour of the unifica- hard Müller (CDU) and Kurt Georg Kiesinger litically active after the war compared to the tion of the three states into one Southwest (CDU). Between 1960 and 1966, it formed other parties. The political and administrative State from the very outset through the politics the opposition. From 1966 until 1972, it en- separation of the old states and the licensing of Reinhold Maier. The FDP/DVP also pro- tered into a coalition with the CDU, and from policies of the occupying powers hindered the vided the first Minister President of the new 1972 until 1992, the Social Democrats spent refoundation of a liberal party, which tradition- state of Baden-Württemberg in 1952 with twenty years on the opposition bench in the ally had quite a loose organisational structure. Reinhold Maier. “Ländle”. After being part of the government The “Democratic People’s Party” Stuttgart

40 The “Free Democratic Party” (FDP) of the Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen three Western zones of occupation and Berlin was founded in Heppenheim in December A new element appeared on the party-political 1948. The party has borne the double-barrel- scene in Baden-Württemberg in 1979: “Die led name FDP/DVP since this time in Würt- Grünen”. The first state convention, which temberg-Baden and then in Baden-Württem- was simultaneously the founding party con- berg. At the first elections to the Landtag in gress for “Die Grünen”, was held in Sindel- 1952, the FDP/DVP won 18 percent of the fingen on 30 September, 1979. “Not left or is green”, a change that has been in the offing votes. In 1972, it slid below the ten percent right, but ahead” was the slogan of the ecology since they were part of the national coalition mark (8.9 %) and was the weakest force in party. The founders were a colourful and di- government from 1998 to 2005. The focus is the Landtag in terms of numbers. In 1988 and verse group of people, as was the case in other on the combination of ecology and economy. 1992, it only just managed to get into parlia- states, too, later on. They included members In view of the grand coalition in Berlin, the ment with 5.9 % of the votes in each case. of citizen’s action committees, “mueslis”, Greens are once again confronted with the teachers and students as well as lone wolves, task of making their mark on a national level Following a slight improvement over 1996, lateral thinkers and former members of the as an opposition party. the FDP won 8.1 percent of the votes in the SPD. “Die Grünen” were a reservoir for very 2001 elections to the Landtag making it the different and in some cases contradictory cur- “Die Grünen” have had seventeen seats in third-strongest party in the state. Despite the rents of oppositional and alternative groups the Baden-Württemberg Landtag since March very good result of 10.7 percent in the 2006 and people. 2006, an improvement over their result in the elections to the Landtag, it had to surrender 2001 elections. By winning 11.7 percent of this “third place” in parliament to the Bündnis “Ecological, social, grass-roots and nonvio- the votes in the entire state, they were able 90 / Die Grünen again. The FDP still shares ” were the crucial points of the founding to regain their position as the third-strongest responsibility for forming the government to- statutes of the Greens. The guiding principle political power ahead of the FDP. gether with the CDU. of the movement was “ecological humanism”. Five months after the founding party congress Members and organisation the party already had 3,500 members. In “Die Grünen” have around 6,500 mem- §1 PARTY LAW March 1980, they also succeeded in having bers in the state. With a 38-percent share of six members elected to the Baden-Württem- women, the Greens top the list amongst the berg Landtag. This was the first time that the state parties. They also have the youngest Constitutional Status and Functions party was represented in the parliament of a members with an average age of around 46. of Parties German state (except for Berlin, Bremen and The regional association is split into 46 dis- “Political parties are a component of the free Hamburg). The election success of the Greens trict associations and 270 local associations. democratic basic order required under the Constitution. Due to their free and continuous was something of a sensation at the time The Green Youth is a suborganisation in the participation in the formation of the political will though many people believed it to be nothing party for interested persons up to the age of of the people, they perform a public function more than a flash in the pan. But the Greens 28, though party membership is not compul- which is incumbent on them under the Basic Law in Baden-Württemberg were successful: in sory. The “Kommunalpolitische Vereinigung” and which they undertake to fulfil to the best of nationwide comparisons they always achieved (KPV) advises the “Green” urban, municipal their ability.” top results in elections. They have a tradition- and district councils in the state. ally solid basis in university towns and cities in Organisational structure Baden-Württemberg. They have provided the Key political topics are dealt with in a total of The regional association of the FDP/DVP is first “Green” mayor of a large German city in ten state working groups (LAGs) in the party. split into nine regions, 42 district associations Freiburg since 2002. Constance already had LAGs exist for Christians in the party, on the and 320 local associations. Legally independ- a “Green” mayor in 1996, and Tübingen has topic of democracy, law and internal security ent unions are the with over also had one since 2006. as well as Europe, women’s politics, health, 1,000 members, Liberal Women, Liberal Initi- universities, international affairs, ecology, ative Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the Following the fusion of “Die Grünen” with the schools as well as the economy and society. Liberal Senior Citizens as well as the Union of civil rights movement “Bündnis 90” from the What is more, there are several project groups Liberal Local Politicians. The party numbered states of the former GDR, the Greens in Baden- and forums assigned to the state working 7,365 members at the end of 2006. Over 23 Württemberg have also changed their name to groups. percent of these were women. The average age Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen. The change from a of party members was 51.2. Almost forty per- protest party to a reform party was completed cent of members were under the age of 45. in 2002 with a new party platform “The future

41 THE BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG LANDTAG

Transparency and frankness made visible in architecture: the Baden-Württemberg Landtag is the first new parliament in Europe after the Second World War and was inaugurated in 1961. In the background on the right you can see the “House of Representatives”, which is connected to the Parliament building by a tunnel.

Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag

The Baden-Württemberg Landtag has its seat have to be taken for the purpose and in the A loss of competence for state in the state capital Stuttgart. The members are interests of the general public through laws parliaments and their re-identi- elected for a period of five years. According to and state services that regulate large areas of fication the state constitution, they are the “represent- the citizens’ lives. This is carried out accord- atives of the entire people” (Art. 27,3 State ing to the principles of majority and minority, The falling turnout for elections to the Landtag Constitution). Representing the will of the of conviction and compromise. Parliamentary indicates a certain loss of significance of the people in a modern, pluralistic society (repre- majorities legitimise the political decisions and state parliament. Public opinion also pays less sentative democracy) calls for democratically the exercise of state power. They create a basis attention to state politics than to federal politics. legitimised procedures. Actions and decisions for stable governments. State parliaments have had to concede more

42 Its existence is inviolable. Even a two-thirds vidual states to resolve their own laws which majority in the German Bundestag, the ma- may differ from federal regulations. jority that is otherwise necessary for a change of the constitution, cannot abolish the federal The significance of the Landtag as a legislative system. body can in principle be regarded as having been strengthened. Nevertheless, the main Legislative function initiative for new laws will continue to come State legislation is the most important task from the state government. Although a parlia- and more scope for their own policy-making LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE IN THE BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG LANDTAG powers and legislative competence to political entities on a federal and also increasingly Eu- ropean level. Although representatives of the STATE GOVERNMENT LANDTAG state parliaments can use the Bundesrat as a Executive Legislative constitutional body to bring the political goals of their states into legislation, state politics has nevertheless become less transparent and Introduction of a bill Introduction of a bill vaguer in view of the increasing complexity of federal, European and state policy compe- tences. It is hard for citizens to identify which FIRST READING institutions, which political decision-making Discussion of the fundamentals of the bill levels or which party have had their fingers in the pie and who bears responsibility. Referral Committees One of the goals of the reform of the federal Recommen- dation system in Germany, which has been developed since 2003 by the “Commission for the mod- SECOND READING ernisation of the German federal organisation”, Consultation on individual clauses was to simplify and accelerate the federal legis- and amendments lative process by reducing the number of laws that had to be ratified by the states. It was also a reaction to the dwindling importance of the THIRD READING Above all budget laws and laws state parliaments, whose primary motive is to changing the constitution strengthen the ways in which they can help shape the future of the states. This opens up the chance to put a sharper focus on state-poli- EXECUTION At the end of the final reading: tics and make the decisions taken on a state- by the Minister President VOTE on the bill as a whole policy level more transparent for citizens.

Petition for a referendum: special rulings apply in this case Rights and functions PROMULGATION in the Official Gazette of the Landtag

The Landtag is by no means simply a “mini- ature Bundestag” in which the federal speci- of the Landtag. Through the budget law, the mentary party or at least eight members of par- fications or resolutions of the conferences of so-called “Royal law”, the Landtag resolves liament can introduce a bill into the Landtag, European ministers are transferred to state the state budget and thus how public funds it is normally the state government itself that law. The Basic Law of Germany guarantees are to be spent. In the course of the reform submits bills to the Landtag for discussion and state parliaments duties which grant them an of the federal system, the states were granted resolution. It has the necessary infrastructure independent profile with special rights and an extended legislative competence and the and corresponding administrative know-how functions. The federal organisation of the exclusive decision-making competence for in- with its ministerial administration structures. Federal Republic of Germany is an impera- dividual areas such as education policy. The The initiatives also include the results of con- tive provision in Art. 20 of the Basic Law. reform also includes the possibility for indi- sultations with associations, institutions and

43 experts. Through their representation in the Bundesrat the state governments already have additional decision-making competences. All of these factors prompt critics to repeatedly warn against weakening the parliaments.

According to the constitution, a bill can also be introduced into the Landtag through a pe- tition for a referendum. In political practice, however, the direct democratic procedures of participation that should emphasise the grass- roots character of the state constitution, have as yet been irrelevant.

Control function Parliamentary democracies are based on the principle of the division of powers. The gov- ernment (executive) is in principle subject to the control of the overall parliament (legis-

THE COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY Günther H. Oettinger was elected the new Minister President of Baden- Election function Württemberg on 21 April, 2005. The parliament’s sharpest instrument The Minister President is elected in secret of control The head of the government was sworn ballot by the Landtag with the majority of its in before the Landtag by its President A quarter of the members of parliament or two members. Unlike the German Bundestag, the parliamentary parties can force the Landtag to set Peter Straub. Landtag also has an extended right when it up a committee of enquiry to investigate a possible Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag misconduct of the state government or the fields comes to the formation of the state govern- of responsibility which it is assigned. A commit- ment: it ratifies the complete cabinet and in- tee of enquiry has powers of investigation similar dividual ministers who are appointed during a nents through arguments – unlike work in to that of a court. These include access to all of legislative period with its majority. the committees. Rather, pending political de- the state‘s organisations and the right to demand cisions and the existing different political posi- the surrender of files and information from state authorities. Search and seizure warranty can be The Landtag also elects the members and pres- tions should be presented in public. There is a obtained from courts. Witnesses and experts are ident of the State Court of Justice. The Land- great difference between the public exchange under legal obligation to appear; false testimony tag also has to ratify the appointment of the of blows in debates and the businesslike politi- is liable to prosecution – the same as before a President of the State Accounting Office and cal work in committees. court. However, the persons involved also enjoy the State Appointee for Data Protection. special protection through extended rights of re- Dialogue with the general public fusal to give evidence. The most recent committees of enquiry dealt with “Flowtex”, the Atomic Energy Representation and articulation function The media are often described as the “fourth Authority and the role of the state government in The members of the Landtag represent the power”. They should inform the population, the relocation of the Messe Sinsheim. entire people according to the constitution. shed a critical light on political decisions and The parliament thus has an articulation and decision-makers and thus assume a social con- representation function by expressing the will trol function. Politicians have a duty to public- lative). On the other hand, a successful and of the people as well as their various opinions ly substantiate their decisions and obtain the stable government relies on the parliamentary and interests. Parliament’s job is to balance public’s consent for these. Under the auspices majority of the majority or ruling party or par- and regulate the clashes of interests and con- of a media democracy, political success thus ties. The necessity of a control system has be- flicts. depends largely on a presence in the media. come even more important on account of the Anyone who wants to exert political power increase in the significance of the government Public relations and debate function needs media publicity. This has led to a mu- and administration in legislation. The parlia- The plenum is the forum for public political tual exchange relationship: politics needs the mentary control is exercised in particular by debates and legitimisation. Plenary sessions media as a public platform. The media in turn the opposition. should not serve to convince political oppo- rely on information from the centres of po-

44 litical power to attract the necessary attention taining order in these meetings – the symbol of an interested public. The Landtag plenum for this being a bell. Peter Straub (CDU) has meets in public and is open to media reports. been the President of the Baden-Württemberg This is its way of contributing to the formation Landtag since 1996. The Vice-Presidents of of public opinion. the Landtag are Wolfgang Drexler (SPD) and Christa Vossschulte (CDU). The President of the Landtag The Executive Committee – The President of the Landtag and his two the political governing body deputies are elected in a secret ballot by the of the parliament Landtag for the duration of a legislative period. The President is traditionally a member of the The Executive Committee of the Landtag has strongest parliamentary party. He manages the 18 members. These are initially the President business of the Landtag and represents this in and his or her two deputies. It also contains The President of the Landtag, external relations. He must exercise his of- the chairpersons and some of the executive Peter Straub. fice neutrally, since he represents the entire board members of the parliamentary parties Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag Landtag. The most important public task of the in the Landtag. The state government is also President is to preside over the meetings of the represented by a Minister. The executive com- Landtag. The President is responsible for main- mittee is the political governing body of the

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

EXECUTIVE JUDICIARY

Minister Minister appoints Secretaries STATE COURT OF JUSTICE President of State President and members

State General Appointee Accounting for elects ratifies elects Office Data Protection (President)

approves approves

LEGISLATIVE

Landtag (members)

elects for 5 years

Population entitled to vote

© 84218421medien.de di d

45 parliament. It plans and coordinates the en- tire work of the Landtag. This is where the plans are made for the parliament’s work. Its tasks include drawing up the timetable for the parliament, preparing the plenary meetings, determining the agenda with main topics in the meeting, the order of the topics to be dealt with and the debating times. All fundamental questions of relations between the parliament and state government are discussed in the executive committee. The executive commit- tee sometimes has to act as a go-between in controversies within the Landtag and settle disputes on the interpretation of the rules of procedure.

The parliamentary parties – the centres of political initiatives

Members of parliament who belong to the same party join together to form a parliamen- tary party. The minimum number of persons View of the full chamber. for a parliamentary party in the Landtag is de- Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag fined in the rules of procedure for the Baden- members often calls for some “gentle persua- Württemberg Landtag as six members of par- sion”. The chairpersons of the parliamentary liament. The grouping of the parliamentary fields are hammered out in the parliamentary parties also represent the interests of their par- parties is reflected by the seating arrangements party study groups (e. g. the economy, educa- ties towards the President of the Landtag, the in the plenum. The parliamentary parties tra- tional policy, agriculture or finances). other parliamentary parties and the govern- ditionally sit to the “right” and “left” of the ment. They are thus often referred to as the President‘s chair. The parliamentary parties try to demonstrate real “directors” of the Landtag. political unity in the chamber. The members The political position of the members of a have to stick and act together if they want to The committees – workshops in party to the pending decisions and debates achieve their political goals in parliament. The the parliament in the plenum and the various committees government relies on the support of the major- is drawn up in the parliamentary parties. A ity parliamentary parties in the Landtag. Par- Resolutions for the plenum are prepared in the large number of the political initiatives for the liamentary party discipline is a voluntary duty. committees. The results of deliberations are work of the parliament originates in the par- The state constitution guarantees members the submitted to the plenum as proposed resolu- liamentary parties. The planning and control right to an opinion which may differ from that tions. The committees are the place for de- of parliamentary work is normally based on of the parliamentary party (“free mandate”) tailed consultations by the parliamentary party agreements between the parliamentary par- and thus in principle offers protection against experts. A committee is a sort of scaled-down ties. Furthermore, the parliamentary parties an obligation to toe the party line. But mem- Landtag. Each parliamentary party appoints a have the right to suggest or appoint person- bers are well-advised to think long and hard certain number of members depending on its nel in a number of matters, for example the before they exercise their right to a different strength in parliament, i.e. the majority parties composition of Landtag committees, who is to opinion, since external dissension can do great also have a majority in each committee. be the chairperson of these committees and harm to the government in the case of the ma- who is to be elected President and his or her jority parties, though also to the parliamentary The Landtag committees only deal with mat- deputies. The chairmen of the parliamentary party itself and its chairperson. A key job and ters which have been assigned to them in parties pull the political strings in the Stuttgart great challenge for the chairpersons of the individual cases – normally by the plenum. Landtag. parliamentary parties is to create parliamen- Committees can arrange hearings for their tary party discipline. They have to ensure that information. Experts, lobbyists or persons The members share the work within the parlia- the parliamentary party expresses a consistent concerned can be questioned in these hear- mentary parties. Details of the various political opinion in votes. This work to convince their ings. The focus of committee work is on facts.

46 Experts meet in a smaller group for discussions bers, and the petitions committee with 23 THE RIGHT OF PETITION that transcend party lines. Up to now the com- members. There are also committees and pan- mittee meetings, like those of the study groups els with special tasks, for example the com- within the parliamentary parties, have been mittees of enquiry or the so-called emergency Every person in the state shall have the right behind closed doors, primarily to facilitate ob- parliament. The Landtag can also convene a individually or jointly with others to address written requests or complaints (petitions) to the jective discussions. survey committee for important questions and representatives of the people regardless of their request its advice. In 2006, for example, the domicile, nationality and age of consent (Art. The committees are structured to correspond survey committee on “Demographic change” 17 GG). Also prisoners and persons who are to the individual ministries of the state govern- completed its work with a report. Apart from forcibly housed in institutions have the right of ment. There are currently ten committees in the specialist committees there is also a pe- petition. The Landtag is responsible for the peti- the Landtag: the standing committee, finance titions committee in which the plenum deci- tion, provided the request or complaint relates to the scope of work of the state. The Landtag committee, economic committee, commit- sions on petitions are prepared. plenum decides on every petition. The Landtag tee on internal affairs, committee for schools, has created the petitions committee to prepare youth and sport, environment committee, its decisions on petition matters. Numerous citi- committee on social questions, committee for zens continue to exercise their right of petition. th rural areas and agriculture, committee for sci- During the last, 13 , legislative period, around 6,200 petitions were filed, slightly less than the ence, research and art as well a the European 8,000 in the previous period. The petitions com- committee. Each committee has 18 members, mittee has a direct mediatory function between apart from the finance committee and commit- the citizen and state – it is also referred to as the tee on internal affairs, which have 20 mem- “SOS telephone for citizens“.

The members of parliament

The 14th Landtag (2006–2011) in Baden-Würt- temberg has 139 members. The governing par- is head of the biggest Claus Schmiedel leads the SPD, liamentary parties of the CDU (69 members) parliamentary party in the Landtag, the the biggest opposition party in parlia- and FDP/DVP (15 members) have a parlia- CDU. ment. mentary majority of 84 members. On the op- Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag position side, the SPD has 38 and the Greens have 17 members.

The members have a free mandate. As rep- resentatives of the entire population they are not bound by orders and instructions and only submit to their conscience (Art 27,3 State Constitution). Through their acceptance of the vote, they acquire rights of protection, par- ticipation and collaboration, all of which are fixed in the state constitution. For example, each member of parliament is entitled to pose questions to the state government: verbally in is the leader Dr. Ulrich Noll is the leader of the the question time or in writing as a “small in- of the Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen party. FDP/DVP parliamentary party in the terpellation”. Other rights of participation can Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag Stuttgart Landtag. only be exercised together with other mem- Photo: Baden-Württemberg Landtag bers of parliament.

47 PARTNERSHIPS OF THE LANDTAG The most important of these are: These extensive rights are of course offset by • Five members of parliament or a parlia- a number of obligations, such as the obligation mentary party can submit an independent to participate in the work of the Landtag, to The Baden-Württemberg Landtag maintains application (that does not contain a bill) to maintain order, to observe the code of conduct a number of independent relationships and the Landtag. The government’s statements and to disclose professional relationships. Nor partnerships with foreign regional parliaments. are normally discussed in the Landtag de- may members of parliament abuse their posi- Partnerships exist with Vorarlberg in Austria, with the cantons Basel-Country and St. Gallen bates. tion in “mercenary intent”. This could other- in Switzerland, the French regions of Alsace • Eight members of parliament or a parlia- wise lead to legal action before the State Court and Languedoc-Roussillon, with in Great mentary party can submit an application of Justice (Art. 42 State Constitution). Britain and a whole number of Italian regions that contains a bill to the Landtag. and provinces (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, South Ty- • 15 members of parliament or a parliamen- A glance in the diary of many members of par- rol, Trento). tary party can submit “major interpella- liament shows that their work in the Landtag Intensive contacts also exist with the partner re- tions” to the state government. and in the parliamentary parties only accounts gions of the “Four motors” of Europe: , • Two parliamentary parties or a quarter of for a part of their overall work. Members often , Rhône-Alpes. Partnership contacts the members can enforce a committee of spend more of their time in their constituencies, are also maintained with Connecticut (USA), enquiry. helping and advising people. They are exposed Ontario in Canada and the North-Finnish region • The majority of members present can re- to stress resulting from the expectations of the of Oulu. solve laws. population and officeholders in their constitu- • The Minister President is elected by the ency. The wealth of appointments leads to a Landtag with the majority of its members. pressure of time that puts paid to any hopes of • Two thirds of the members of parliament normal working hours or a normal weekend. can amend the constitution. Members of the Baden-Württemberg Landtag • A quarter of the members of the Landtag are often confronted by an exhausting triple can apply for a vote of no confidence in the existence: work in parliament, in their constit- Minister President, though only if a candi- uency and in their profession. They have very date for election as his or her successor is little time for their families or private life. submitted to the Landtag. • A quarter of the members of parliament can apply for the dismissal of a Minister.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM

The parliamentary parties in the Landtag drew Independent pension and compensation ants, e. g. mayors, county councillors or teach- up some milestones for a parliamentary reform benefits ers, can then no longer become a member of in July 2007: As of 2011, the members themselves are respon- parliament. sible for their retirement provisions. They receive Internal parliamentary reform 1,500 euros each month as financial aid (as per Constituency reform In order to make work in the parliament livelier, 2007). The abolition of the state pension scheme A constituency reform should assimilate the up the rights of the members and the possibilities of is to be compensated by raising taxable indemni- to now very different sizes of the constituencies. the opposition in the plenum should be strength- fications (diets). The general lump sums for costs The range of fluctuation should not exceed nor ened. These also include new instruments for the and per diem allowances will be combined in a fall below 10 to 15 percent. A change in the speakers‘ order: for example, questions can be monthly lump sum for expenses (approx. 1,350 system for distribution of the second seats is addressed directly to the government, speakers euros, as per 2007). In future, the members will also planned. The former assignment of seats can be interrupted briefly and are then allowed to only be allowed to claim their actual travelling according to the absolute number of votes will respond immediately to the question. Current top- expenses. be replaced in 2011 by a procedure whereby ics “of fundamental political significance” should the seats are assigned on the basis of the per- take up more time in the Landtag and be able to be Irreconcilability of office and mandate centage of votes won throughout the state. discussed at short notice. In addition, debates on a (incompatibility) government policy statement should be held imme- A strict irreconcilability of office and mandate diately following these in future and should always will be introduced at the beginning of the 16th be opened by a speaker from the opposition. legislative period (from 2016). Active civil serv-

48 THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATE PARLIAMENT SINCE 1952

CDU SPD FDP/DVP KPD GB/BHE (GDP) Total 1st Landtag 1952–1956 50 38 23 4 6 121 CDU SPD FDP/DVP GB/BHE (GDP) 2nd Landtag 1956–1960 56 36 21 7 120 CDU SPD FDP/DVP GB/BHE (GDP) 3rd Landtag 1960–1964 52 44 18 7 121 CDU SPD FDP/DVP 4th Landtag 1964–1968 59 47 14 120

CDU SPD FDP/DVP NPD 5th Landtag 1968–1972 60 37 18 12 127 CDU SPD FDP/DVP 6th Landtag 1972–1976 65 45 10 120 CDU SPD FDP/DVP 7th Landtag 1976–1980 71 41 9 121 CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne 8th Landtag 1980–1984 68 40 10 6 124

CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne 9th Landtag 1984–1988 68 41 8 9 126 CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne 10th Landtag 1988–1992 66 42 7 10 125

CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne Republikaner 11th Landtag 1992–1996 64 46 8 13 15 146 CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne Republikaner 12th Landtag 1996–2001 69 39 14 19 14 155 CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne 13th Landtag 2001–2006 63 45 10 10 128 CDU SPD FDP/DVP Grüne 14th Landtag 2006–2011 69 38 15 17 139

Still a male-dominated field Age structure administrative districts, twelve civil servants The share of female members of parliament The average age of the members of parliament on a state level and 16 teachers. The majority has risen slightly compared to the previous is 52.6 years and is the same in all parliamen- of these 58 civil servants are members of the legislative period from 22.6 to 23.7 percent tary parties in the Landtag with only very slight CDU parliamentary party (33 members). The (as per October 2007). Nevertheless, there are differences. The relatively high average age is CDU also has 14 members of the government still only 33 women amongst the 139 mem- not surprising if one considers the long “trial who are represented in the Landtag as mem- bers of the 14th Landtag. This is visibly more phase” at a municipal level, which is typical bers of parliament. 33 percent of the members than thirty years ago – when there were only for a large number of members. They spend of parliament are self-employed. two women in the Landtag – but the share of many years gaining experience in the offices female members has stagnated over the past and executive committees at lower party lev- Reservations are sometimes expressed about decade. If we look at the individual parliamen- els or in municipal parliaments. the high share of civil servants. Every now and tary parties, however, we see some very strik- then a discussion will flare up as to whether ing differences: the highest share of women Professional background this hampers parliament’s critical and regu- can be found amongst “Die Grünen”, namely The 14th Landtag contains a clear majority of latory abilities. On the other hand, it can be 41.2 percent. 28.9 percent of SPD members civil servants, namely 41.7 percent (as per argued that parliamentary work profits from are women, in the FDP/DVP they account for October 2007). Amongst these 58 members the specialist knowledge that these members 26.7 percent. The share in the CDU is 15.9 we find 13 mayors and deputy mayors, two contribute to the Landtag, e. g. in administra- percent. county councillors as well as twelve civil serv- tion or the education sector. ants or employees of the municipalities and

49 PARLIAMENTARY AND DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST OF GERMANY

tion amongst the self-confident citizens. Further signs of modernisation also appeared at the be- ginning of the 20th century. Large-scale constitu- tional reforms in 1904 in Baden and 1906 in Württemberg kept them abreast of national de- velopments. The chambers of deputies became purely “People’s Chambers”, which were now elected at least in part according to the modern system of proportional representation.

The revolution in swept away the monarchic governments and saw the radical development of the parliamentary and demo- cratic systems. The principle of the government‘s full responsibility to the parliament was now in- troduced. In January 1919, elections were held to the constitutional meetings of the Free Peo- ple‘s Republic of Baden and the Free People‘s State of Württemberg. This was also the first time that women could vote and be elected.

The “Ständehaus” (house of the estates of the realm) in Karlsruhe was completed era in the history of the parliament only began in 1882: important stimuli for the develop- after Napoleon had been overthrown. ment of the democratic and parliamentary system in Germany had been sent out The history of the southwest German states is also from Landtag in Baden in the “Vormärz”. very interesting, since liberal and democratic al- (The Pre-March Era, or Vormärz, ternatives to the establishmentarian-authoritarian is the time period leading up to the failed Prussian model were already practised here in the 19th century. The constitution of the Grand March 1848 revolution in Germany. Duchy of Baden from 1818 was regarded as the Also known as the Age of Metternich, most progressive of its age. With its liberal-con- it was a period of a police state and vast stitutional character, accompanied by an exem- The crescent room in Stuttgart around censorship.) plary local government code, it was one of the 1920: the chamber of the Landtag Illustration: Generallandesarchiv Karlsruhe main stimuli in creating the identity of the state of of Württemberg in the kingdom and in Baden. Württemberg followed this lead in 1819 the Weimar Republic from 1820 to with its own constitution, which was not imposed the dissolution of the parliament under The southwest of Germany can look back over but negotiated between the monarch and repre- the Nazi dictatorship. a long tradition of estate and parliamentary life. sentatives of the estates, as was typical for old Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg One of the outstanding documents in the par- Württemberg. Both middle powers were thus on liamentary history of Southwest Germany is the the way to a constitutional monarchy. The parlia- “Tübinger Vertrag” (Contract of Tübingen) from ments in Karlsruhe and Stuttgart served as role 1514. From this time on, no Duke could reign models for the first pan-German parliament, the Both southwest German states adopted demo- without confirming this “Magna Charta” for Old Frankfurt National Assembly of 1848/49. They cratic constitutions at a very early stage. The Württemberg, and thus assuring the “estates” represented the democratic and federal element new constitution for Baden came into force on their rights. just as much as the goal of German unity: in the 13 April, 1919, legitimised by one of the first July revolution of 1830, in the “Vormärz” and in referendums in German history. It was followed Baden, Württemberg and Hohen- the 1860ies. by the constitution for Württemberg on 25 Sep- zollern tember, 1919, exactly one hundred years after Radical development of the parliamen- The fall of the Holy Roman Empire of the Ger- the first constitution had been adopted for the tary system man Nation in 1806 also saw the demise of kingdom in 1819. all estate constitutions in Southwest Germany. The contours of the modern world became clear There now only were four states, which were in the two southwest German states back in the Both southwest German states had experienced initially ruled with absolute power: the Grand 19th century: with early constitutions, a virtually stable political relationships for longer than the Duchy of Baden, the Kingdom of Württemberg functioning parliamentary system, modern politi- other German states in the first German democ- and the two Hohenzollern Principalities. A new cal parties and a distinctive culture of participa- racy. The Centre Party and the SPD ruled in

50

Baden up to the end of 1932, supplemented by the DDP and at times by the DVP. A “black- blue” coalition of the Catholic Centre and the right-wing conservative Citizen‘s Party and Farming Union had governed in Württemberg since 1924, which was extended in 1930 by the liberal parties into an overall civil coalition. Following the elections to the Landtag in April 1932 and a landslide win for the NSDAP, how- ever, the government only held office as a care- taker government. The end of the parliaments in 1933 After the Nazis seized power in the Reich, the state constitutions were gradually whittled away by Third Reich laws. One of the first goals of the totalitarian Hitler dictatorship was to destroy the federal system that distributed power. The existing state parliaments were dissolved by

The advisory state assembly and the Landtag of (South) Baden met in the his- toric department store on Münsterplatz in Democratic reconstruction after 1945 Freiburg from 1946 until 1952. The democratic traditions could only be taken Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg up again after the end of the Second World War. Elections to the constitutive state assembly in Württemberg-Baden were held in June 1946. (Württemberg on 8 June, 1933, Baden on 9 June, Württemberg-Baden was the first German state 1933), as were other parliaments throughout the after the war to be given a constitution on 28 No- Reich, and finally dissolved in October 1933. vember, 1946. “Reichsstatthalter” (governors) who were directly subordinate to now ruled the states. The parliamentary committees initially had to The main principles of democracy and the federal make do with emergency accommodation. The system had been suspended. The fundamental citi- first meeting of the provisional parliament for zens‘ and human rights were also trampled under Württemberg-Baden was convened in the op- within a very short space of time. era house of the Württemberg State Theatre. A former theatre in Heusteigstraße 45 was the meeting place in Stuttgart from 1947 onwards. The two other forerunners of today’s Landtag, The Landtag of Württemberg-Baden the Landtag of Württemberg-Hohenzollern and and that of Baden-Württemberg met (South) Baden, had both been elected in May in Heusteigstraße 45 in Stuttgart from 1947 and met in the former convent in Beben- 1947 until 1961. The state of Baden- hausen and the historical department store in Württemberg was founded here on Freiburg. 25 April, 1952, and the state constitution resolved on 11 November, 1953.

Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg the “Provisional law on the equalisation of the states with the Reich” from 31 March, 1933, Parliament in a convent: the Landtag and reappointed according to the results of of Württemberg-Hohenzollern met the “semi-free” elections to the Reichstag on in the former convent in Bebenhausen 5 March, 1933. The parliaments were then de- near Tübingen. prived of their powers through “Enabling laws” Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

51 THE BUDGET LAW – THE “ROYAL PREROGATIVE” OF PARLIAMENT

The Landtag, the parliament, decides on how public funds, the majority of which are taxes and rates from the citizens are to be used.

Photo: Christoph Lang

All of the state’s revenue and expenditure rest, in other words around 98 percent, the has to disclose its expenditure down to the have to be shown in the budget in accord- state spends this money to meet its legal ob- last cent in the budget, which is why this is ance with Art. 79 of the state constitution. ligations and guarantee the operability of the sometimes also referred to as a government The Landtag decides on this budget and thus administrative apparatus. programme cast in figures. This is because how the “public funds”, the majority of which decisions on bare figures are often associated are taxes and rates from the citizens, are to High share of personnel expenses with fundamental political discussions. Never- be used. This is the budget law accorded to theless, requests for changes to the budget the Landtag. Since 1981, the Landtag has re- Personnel in particular account for a large from individual members of parliament or solved biennial budgets. Through the change part of the costs. The state employs around a parliamentary party only have a chance of in the legislative period from four to five years 267,000 people. These include teachers – by success if they have a majority in the finance in 1996, budgets were resolved for one year far the biggest group – professors, judges, po- committee and finally in the plenum of the periods in 1997 and 2004. lice officers, civil servants in the tax offices and Landtag. It is a fact, however, that no budget employees in the administrations of the vari- has been resolved in the original version as The Landtag’s right to decide on the budget is ous state authorities. The states have the most submitted by the government. also referred to as the “Royal prerogative” of personnel-intensive scope of duties amongst the parliament. In practise, however, the Land- the federal division of functions with schools Once the Landtag has exercised its “Royal pre- tag only has limited influence over the scope and universities, the judiciary, internal securi- rogative” by passing the budget, it no longer has and form of the relevant budget. A large part ty and tax administration. This is why around any real influence over this. If circumstances of the total expenditure for a budget year has forty percent of the total expenses in the state change and expenditure becomes necessary already been appropriated in advance through budget for Baden-Württemberg is taken up by that is not set aside in the budget, or not in the federal and, in the short to medium-term, too, personnel costs. necessary amounts, the Minister of Finance can state regulations or other legal obligations be- approve this himself or herself under certain cir- fore the members of parliament even get to see But despite the low share of expenses on cumstances and within certain financial limits. the draft budget. A total of only around two which it can exert a direct influence, parlia- However, if the limits set by the Landtag itself percent of the budget volume or around 600 ment’s strongest control tool over the gov- are exceeded, the Minister of Finance has to million euros are freely available. As for the ernment is the budget law. The government submit a supplementary budget to parliament.

52 FINANCIAL EQUALISATION

Through the financial equalisation scheme be- June 2001 through an agreement between the tween the Federal Government and the states, Bund and states on the key points. The incentive the Basic Law outlines the financial relation- equity was improved by new elements in the ships between the states and the Bund as well equalisation system. Nevertheless, this compli- as between the states themselves. The vertical cated system still gives rise to discussions. financial equalisation between the Bund and the totality of states helps finance those tasks In the course of the reform of the federal sys- that have to be fulfilled at various levels. The tem, the Bundestag and Bundesrat resolved the financial equalisation between states in a stric- appointment of a joint commission on the mod- ter sense – the so-called horizontal financial ernisation of the financial relationships between equalisation – consists primarily of compensa- the Bund and states at the end of 2006 – or The structure of the state budget tory payments from richer states (giver states) Federalism Commission II for short. One of the to poorer states (taker states). The principle up two chairmen of the commission is the Minister The budget for the state of Baden-Württemberg to now was simple: the “rich states” with an President of Baden-Württemberg, Günther H. is split into individual budgets: one each for the above-average financial power pay into a pot Oettinger, as representative of the Bundesrat – Ministry of State, the specialist ministries, the from which the “poorer” states who are entitled in other words the states. The commission has to compensation receive their money. Baden- been charged to prepare suggestions on the Landtag and the State Accounting Office. The Württemberg has always been a “payer state” modernisation of the financial relationships be- individual budgets are divided up into chapters, since the 1950ies and one of the main financers tween the Bund and states so that these can be and these in turn into so-called individual titles of the equalisation pot. adapted to the altered basic conditions inside for all income and expenditure. and outside Germany for the growth and em- The dispute as to what is meant by a “reasonable ployment policies. The recommendations should Around 15,000 of these titles are audited not equalization of the disparate financial capaci- strengthen the individual responsibility of the lo- ties of the Länder” (Art. 107 Basic Law) is almost cal authorities and their funding appropriate for only by the Landtag as the parliamentary con- as old as the Basic Law itself. The tug-of-war their work. trolling body but also by the State Accounting over its future embodiment was put to an end in Office. Its members have the same autonomy as judges. The State Accounting Office, which has its registered offices in Karlsruhe, controls lottery tax, beer tax, fire brigade tax, property rule. The state government has set itself the the proper appropriation of the budget funds transfer tax. Other important sources of income goal of achieving this by the year 2011. This and reports directly to the Landtag on an an- for the state are payments made by the Bund was originally planned for 2006. As a result nual basis. Its report is also sent to the state for the fulfilment of certain duties as well as ad- of rising tax revenues, a state budget with no government at the same time. ministrative revenue, rents and leases, interest new debts could once again be presented for on delinquent taxes and defaulted payments, the first time in 2008. The goal of a balanced Taxes are the most important profits from state companies, revenue from the budget also results from the European Stabil- source of income state lotteries and from the public charges on ity and Growth Pact, which the EU member gambling houses as well as fines and penalties. states – and thus the Federal Republic as the The most important source of income for the overall state – have agreed on. state are taxes. The most profitable of these A balanced budget as the goal are the so-called shared taxes, which are ap- Education, research and culture portioned between the Bund (Federal Gov- Despite these revenues, which amounted to as cornerstones of the budget ernment) and the states, and in some cases around 32 billion euros in 2007, the state has the municipalities, too. These taxes include: to contract new debts each year in order to Education, research and culture constitute income tax on wages and salaries, value-added accomplish its tasks. At the end of 2006, the the cornerstones of the state budget and ac- tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax. debts amounted to around 41 billion euros, count for a total of 35 percent of total ex- corresponding to a debt of 3,824 euros for penditure or around 11.5 billion euros. The Furthermore, the Bund and states also receive each citizen. This puts Baden-Württemberg judiciary and internal security together ac- a part of the trade tax collected by the munici- alongside Bavaria and Saxony as one of the count for eight percent. Almost seven per- palities by way of allocation. The income from states with the lowest per capita debt. cent of the expenditure goes on payments to the taxes named here accounts for more than other states within the scope of the financial seventy percent of the state’s total revenue. Its The consolidation of the budget is and remains equalisation scheme between the Federal financial strength thus relies heavily on the eco- one of the most important tasks of financial Government and the states (“Länderfinanz- nomic situation and the level of employment. policy so as to safeguard the financial scope ausgleich”) and almost 17 percent are budget for coming generations. The goal is not to in- appropriations from the state to the munici- The state is also entitled to other state taxes crease the state debt any further, but to sub- palities. The interest payments make up more such as: motor vehicle tax, inheritance tax, mit budgets with no new indebtedness as a than six percent.

53 THE STATE GOVERNMENT

The state government of Baden-Württemberg in June 2008 in front of Villa Reitzenstein in Stuttgart.

First row (left to right): Helmut Rau, Dr. Monika Stolz, Günther H. Oettinger, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Goll, Tanja Gönner, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reinhart. Second row (left to right): Ernst Pfister, Heribert Rech, Prof. Dr. Claudia Hübner, Peter Hauk, Willi Stächele, Prof. Dr. Peter Frankenberg. Third row (left to right): Georg Wacker, Friedlinde Gurr-Hirsch, Richard Drautz, Rudolf Köberle, Gundolf Fleischer. Fourth row (left to right): Hubert Wicker, Dr. Dietrich Birk, Dieter Hillebrand.

Photo: Baden-Württemberg Ministry of State

54 Landtag in turn is often unable to make up for Creation of the state government the preponderance of the executive. The Minister President is elected by the major- With the ministries and state administration, ity of the members of the Landtag in a secret the state government has an infrastructure ballot (Art. 46 para. 1 state constitution). The whose expertise and administrative know- Minister President then appoints the state gov- ledge have depleted the significance of the ernment: the ministers, secretaries of state and Landtag in constitutional reality and political state councillors. He also appoints his deputy

THE GOVERNMENT OF BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG ( JUNE 2008)

The elections to the Landtag on began its work on 14 June, 2006 with Landtag. A cabinet reshuffle took place 26 March, 2006 led to a continuation the election of the Minister President in June 2008. of the governing coalition of CDU and and the confirmation of his appointed FDP/DVP. The new state government members of the government by the

The government consists of the following Minister of Economics Secretary of State in the Ministry members with the right to vote in the cabinet: Ernst Pfister MdL (FDP/DVP) of Education, Youth and Sport Georg Wacker MdL (CDU) Minister President Minister of Food and Rural Areas Günther H. Oettinger MdL (MdL = Mitglied des Peter Hauk MdL (CDU) Secretary of State in the Ministry , member of the Landtag) (CDU) of Science, Research and Art Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Dr. Dietrich Birk MdL (CDU) Minister of Justice Dr. Monika Stolz MdL (CDU) and Deputy Minister President Secretary of State in the Ministry Prof. Dr. Ulrich Goll MdL (FDP/DVP) Minister of the Environment of Finance Tanja Gönner (CDU) Gundolf Fleischer MdL (CDU) Minister of Federal and European Affairs and in the Ministry of State Secretary of State in the Ministry Secretary of State in the Ministry Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reinhart MdL (CDU) of Economics of Food and Rural Areas Richard Drautz (FDP/DVP) Friedlinde Gurr-Hirsch MdL (CDU) Minister of the Interior Heribert Rech MdL (CDU) State Councillor for Demographic Secretary of State in the Ministry Change and Senior Citizens in of Labour and Social Affairs Minister of Education, Youth the Ministry of State Dieter Hillebrand MdL (CDU) and Sport Prof. Dr. Claudia Hübner (CDU) Helmut Rau MdL (CDU) Permanent Secretary of State: Minister of Science, Research and Art Political Secretaries of State with no right Prof. Dr. Peter Frankenberg (CDU) to vote in the cabinet: Secretary of State in the Ministry of State Minister of Finance Secretary of State in the Ministry Hubert Wicker Willi Stächele MdL (CDU) of the Interior Rudolf Köberle MdL (CDU)

According to Art. 45, para. 2 of the state con- practice. The strong position of the state gov- (Art. 46 para. 2 state constitution). The distri- stitution, the state government consists of the ernment harbours the risk of a precarious situ- bution of the ministries between the relevant Minister President and ministers. Secretaries ation in the distribution of power in favour of coalition parties is determined in the coalition of state and state councillors may also be ap- the executive. negotiations. In addition, the Minister Presi- pointed. Even though the Landtag assumes dent will take the proportional representation the pivotal legislative role in the state consti- circumstances within his party into account tution as the parliament, the state government and try to balance the power structures within has a decisive influence over the political or- the party. ganisation and management of the state. The

55 Furthermore, the strong position of the Minis- ter President in state politics can be attributed to Landtag elections, which have increasingly assumed the character of an election of an indi- vidual and can also be seen as referendums on the Minister President’s person and policies.

The Villa Reitzenstein in Stuttgart is the official residence of the Minister President and at the same time the seat of the state government. It is also home to the Ministry of State, the Minister President’s instrument of planning and coordination. With the help of this “think tank” he can develop planning guidelines and introduce these into the various departments. At the same time the Ministry of State moni- The Minister President of Baden- tors the compliance with guidelines as speci- Württemberg, Günther H. Oettinger The Landtag must confirm the government fied by the Minister President. (left), and his three predecessors (left with more than half of the votes cast (Art. 46,3 to right) Erwin Teufel, state constitution). If the government is not (died 2007) and Lothar Späth The Minister of Federal and European Affairs formed and confirmed within three months in 2006. and in the Ministry of State and the Secretary of the assembly of the newly elected Landtag, Photo: Carmen Klinkert of State as Head of State Chancellery head this will be dissolved – though this has never the five main departments in the Ministry of been the case in the history of the state up to State: now. The government and each of its mem- • he is the leader of the government and bers can declare their resignation at any time manages its business; The Villa Reitzenstein: the magnificent (Art. 47 and Art. 55,1 state constitution). If • he represents the state in external relation- building overlooking Stuttgart is the Minister President wishes to appoint fur- ships; the official residence of the Minister ther ministers after confirmation of the state • he appoints the judges and civil servants of President and at the same time the seat government, he requires the consent of the the state; of the state government and the Minis- Landtag (Art. 46,4 state constitution). The • he can exercise the prerogative of pardon. try of State of Baden-Württemberg.

Landtag can also force the Minister President Photo: Ministry of State Baden-Württemberg to dismiss a member of his government with a two-thirds majority (Art. 56 state constitution). The Landtag can only withdraw its confidence in the Minister President if it elects a successor with the majority of its members (Art. 54 state constitution). However, the motion to dismiss a minister or a vote of no confidence in the Minister President only requires the support of one quarter of the members of the Landtag or two parliamentary parties.

The Minister President

The strong position of the Minister President as head of the government is based on the competences vested in him through the con- stitution: • the Minister President determines the po- litical guidelines and bears the responsibil- ity for this;

56 Department 1: budget and fiscal policy, per- State government and ministers CHRISTIAN-LIBERAL COALITION sonnel, justice, organisation, internal af- fairs, traffic as well as the reduction of bu- The cabinet decides on bills and fundamental reaucracy and administrative reforms; policy matters as well as major projects that af- The Landtag elections in April 2006 not only Department 2: press office and spokesperson fect state politics and important administrative confirmed Minister President Günther H. Oet- tinger as the head of the government but also of the state government, also responsible and personnel affairs. The Minister President brought the CDU as the ruling party a healthy for events, state marketing and state visits; Günther H. Oettinger has been the head of majority in the Baden-Württemberg Landtag. Department 3: economics, science, educa- government since 21 April 2005, having been It only needed one more seat for an absolute tion, art and culture, sport, food and rural reelected on 14 June 2006 by the Landtag af- majority. This result did not really provide the areas as well as environmental and media ter the Landtag election in April 2006. The traditional coalition partner FDP/DVP with a policy; state government consists of the Minister Pres- strong negotiating position, particularly since a “black-green” coalition also appeared to be Department 4: policies and planning, welfare ident, eleven ministers, one secretary of state a conceivable option. In the end, however, the and social policy as well as federal affairs; with the right to vote in the cabinet (Secretary Christian-Liberal coalition, which has ruled the Department 5: European policy, international of State in the Ministry of Economics) and a state since 1996, was continued. affairs and protocol. state councillor. These are joined by six ad- visory political secretaries of state. The FDP/ The coalition agreement between the CDU and FDP sets out the political goals of the coalition for The Minister and Representative in the Bund, DVP is in charge of two ministries, economics the 14th legislative period on more than eighty who has his offices in the state representa- and justice, and provides the Deputy Minister pages. The further development of Baden-Würt- tion in Berlin, is a further Minister within the President. Along with the Minister of the Min- temberg as an economic growth state and the portfolio of the Ministry of State. The State istry of State, the remaining seven functional encouragement of innovations are high on the Councillor for Demographic Change and Sen- departments (interior; education, youth and list of priorities. In addition, Baden-Württemberg ior Citizens is also affiliated to the Ministry sport; science, research and art; finances; food is to be promoted as a “children’s state” through a better educational landscape and preschool of State. and rural areas; labour and social affairs; envi- learning as well as support for families. Demo- ronment) are led by the CDU. There are two graphic change and the integration of migrants women in the cabinet, the Minister of Social are other topics for the future that are addressed Affairs and Minister of the Environment. The in the coalition agreement and which have been The “Neues Schloss” in the state Minister of Justice also is the commissioner for placed on the political agenda under the goal capital Stuttgart, where the kings of the social cohesion of society. The coalition integration of the state government, the Min- of Württemberg reigned until 1918. agreement also contains a reform of parliament Today this representative building ister of the Interior simultaneously the state and the constituencies. Further key objectives is home to the Ministries of Finance appointee for displaced persons, refugees and are the budget consolidation, no new debts and Education. “Aussiedler” (Returned settlers from former before 2011 and savings in personnel costs.

Photo: Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH Against the background of climate change and the necessity to protect the climate, an extensive sustainability strategy and a model for sustain- able development are to be formulated and im- plemented. The “Bundesrat clause” in the coali- tion agreement deals with a conflict situation: if the two parties cannot agree on questions of fundamental significance the state will abstain from voting in the Bundesrat.

German settlements and ethnic Germans). The Minister of Social Affairs also is the state government’s commissioner for children and commissioner for equal opportunities for men and women. The majority of the members of the state government are also members of the Landtag. However, administrative specialists, local politicians or experts are frequently en- listed as so-called “career changers”.

57 Regional development, regional Below the European level it is initially the Fed- this sense. The ecological sustainability of the policy and regional planning eral Regional Policy Act (ROG) that specifies state is being further developed with concrete corresponding targets for the state’s regional projects under the motto “Planning tomorrow The drastic political, social and economic planning laws. Allowing for ROG, Baden- today”. changes of the past years, the increasing glo- Württemberg has the planning authority for balisation and the growing pressure of eco- its territory. The most important planning in- The regional development plan specifies settle- logical duties, in particular climate protection, struments in regional planning are the regional ment and open space structures as well as the have led to a lasting change in the general con- development plan and the regional plans. The infrastructure. It identifies, amongst others, ditions for the development of Baden-Würt- temberg and, above all, its planning. One key and fundamental task of state politics is thus regional planning – a field that appears just as complicated to the general public as the tasks that have to be overcome. Planning and re- gional policy are implemented not just on the relevant state levels but on all levels in the political system.

The spatial development of the state has to be planned and designed in a European context. With the European metropolitan regions of Stuttgart and Rhine-Neckar as well as the Eu- ropean agglomeration area of the Upper Rhine, Baden-Württemberg contains several key Eu- ropean areas and thus has a driving function. These are joined by the Lake Constance region as a further up-and-coming region, particularly in cooperation with Austria and Switzerland. Baden-Württemberg is one of Europe’s front- runners: its economic power is far above the European average and it continues to have a The infrastructure of the state is strong industrial presence, above all in high- an important factor for the competitive tech industries. The Baden-Württemberg spatial categories (agglomeration areas, fringe strength of Baden-Württemberg. economy is very export-oriented. The integra- areas around the agglomeration areas, rural The photo shows the Kochertal bridge tion of Baden-Württemberg in the European at -Geislingen near areas and densely populated areas in rural space and coordination of a common Europe- Schwäbisch Hall, Germany’s highest areas), regional centres (“Oberzentren”), lo- an regional policy are key development policy motorway bridge. cal centres (“Mittelzentren”) and local areas objectives against this background. Photo: Siegfried Geyer (“Mittelbereiche”), development axes and ar- eas with special development tasks. However, The political responsibilities and decisions of it also regulates the utilisation and protection the EU are already having a great effect on the principles and goals of regional policy and of open spaces. European subregion of Baden-Württemberg. regional planning are set out in the regional These first and foremost include the EU com- development plan (LEP) of 2002. The general Regional planning is organised on two levels petence for the fields of agriculture, transport, principle of the LEP is a sustainable develop- in Baden-Württemberg: the superior regional research and technology as well as the environ- ment of settlement and open spaces based on policy and planning authority is the Ministry ment. The EU regional policy pursues the goal of social justice, economic efficiency and the fru- of Economics. One of its most important tasks reducing the economic and social gap between gal use of natural resources that reconciles so- is to draft and update the regional develop- the various regions in the common space. The cial and economic aspects of the area with its ment plan. The four Regional Governing Of- state of Baden-Württemberg will be receiving ecological function and strengthens the region fices in Stuttgart, Tübingen, Karlsruhe and around 140 million euros in subsidies from the as a European habitat as well as cultural and Freiburg come below this as higher regional European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) economic region. The sustainability strategy of planning authorities. The twelve regional as- for the funding period 2007 to 2013. Baden-Württemberg can also be understood in sociations created in 1973 are responsible for

58 implementing the regional plans. Their most the state. The state of Baden-Württemberg has ate the necessary conditions for business and important task is to draft and update the re- upheld a regional policy plan that has encour- industrial development. But the driving func- gional plan for the relevant region. aged decentralisation ever since its founda- tion of central locations will at the same time tion. Focal regions have, however, developed be strengthened, and networks of areas and The lowest level are the municipalities in in the sense of a European spatial development thus concomitant synergy effects will be en- Baden-Württemberg, which are responsible whose effects are also felt on the other side couraged. Furthermore, the further develop- for building plans with land utilisation and de- of the borders. Furthermore, the pressure of ment of settlements should ease the unilateral velopment plans. Local planning is no longer globalisation is leading to increased competi- burden on densely populated areas and orient itself more on the local spatial structure of the state so as to improve the development chances for rural areas.

The advantage in Baden-Württemberg is that the settlement and economic structure has evolved in such a way that there are larger set- tlements or towns which already play a key role for their surrounding areas or which are capable of development in every part of the state. These location factors have to be secured in the regional development policy. The eco- nomically underdeveloped areas, areas whose economic power ist clearly below that of the general trend, remain a problem for regional planning. Various programmes and plans of the state of Baden-Württemberg – some of which are especially for economically underdevel- oped areas – are intended to help create and ensure equal living conditions.

The new exhibition centre was opened in 2007 on the “Fildern” near considered a part of regional planning. The Stuttgart – right alongside the airport. planning authority here lies with the munici- This had been the biggest building palities (Art. 28, para. 2 Basic Law). Neverthe- project in Germany over the past years less, the leeway open to a municipality is lim- and increased the appeal of both ited by the goals defined in regional planning. Stuttgart and the whole of Baden- Württemberg as a trade fair Goals of regional planning and business location.

Photo: Projektgesellschaft Neue Messe GmbH The overall concept of spatial development puts into words the aims for the development of an area, namely to reconcile the social tion between locations, so that the strategy and economic demands on the area with its of decentralisation is being put to the test. In ecological function. Environmental protec- the field of information and communication tion plays an important role in the goals of re- services in particular we find concentrations gional planning: lasting effects on the natural of companies right through to training and fur- resources soil, water and air should be kept ther education facilities at one location. as low as possible. The basic goal of regional planning is to cope with demographic, social Nevertheless, the regional development policy and macroeconomic change and to attempt to of Baden-Württemberg will continue to be create equal living conditions for all parts of dominated by a local approach so as to cre-

59 Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

Minister Presidents Reinhold Maier Gebhard Müller Kurt Georg Kiesinger and governments 1889–1971, FDP/DVP 1900–1990, CDU 1904–1988, CDU of the state of was the Minister President of the was Minister President of an all-party was the Minister President of a coalition Baden-Württemberg provisional government of SPD, FDP/ government of CDU, SPD, FDP/DVP of CDU, SPD, FDP/DVP and BHE from since 1952 DVP and BHE from April 1952 until and BHE from 1953 until 1958. 1958 until 1960. Between 1960 and October 1953. 1966, he was the head of a govern- ment made up of CDU and FDP/DVP.

Born in in the val- Frugality, piety and a down-to-earth Kurt Georg Kiesinger is to date the ley, this lawyer is regarded as one attitude, duteousness, thoroughness only Minister President of the state of the greatest liberals in the south- and integrity were the main traits of who came to Stuttgart from federal west of Germany, as a representa- Gebhard Müller, who hailed from politics. Generous and affable as tive of the people in the best sense Upper Swabia. He was succinctly he was, he was also held in high of the word. He had already proven characterised as a Christian, lawyer esteem in state politics. His merits himself as Minister of Economics for and politician. Theodor Eschenburg primarily lie in the integration of the Württemberg in the Weimar Repub- aptly called him the “state’s first young state. The work of his govern- lic. Maier was assigned the office civil servant” and thus characterised ment also concentrated on preserving of Minister President of Baden-Würt- Müller’s sense of duty. Müller shaped natural resources as well as economic temberg by the US military govern- the establishment of the constitutional, and financial policy questions. He be- ment immediately after the war. The economic and cultural principles of lieved that one of the main jobs of the staunch democrat was one of the pio- the young state. He saw his job as states in the federal system was the neers of the Southwest State. Maier an “honest broker” in the integration formulation of ambitious education enjoyed great trust and popularity in of the different parts of the state. The policy goals. He made the expansion the state. He can also take the credit state assembly resolved the constitu- of universities in Baden-Württemberg for ensuring that the members of the tion for Baden-Württemberg on 11 a personal matter that had to be dealt constitutive state assembly quickly November, 1953 during his term with by the “boss”. Unlike his pred- got down to work despite numerous in office and thus completed its con- ecessor, Kiesinger placed great store differing positions. The law on the stituent work. Important questions of in representation and an elegant im- provisional exercise of authority in cultural policy were also solved by age. His style of government matched the southwest German state – the so- the regulation on teacher training. the altered social conditions in the called “bridging law” (Überleitungs- Under Müller, the all-party coalition 1960ies. The economic and financial gesetz) – was resolved in May 1952. succeeded in creating a basic feeling crisis in 1966/67 finally put paid to In 1953, Maier made the elections to of identity in the new state through his dynamic politics. Ludwig Erhard’s the Bundestag a plebiscite on his re- compromises, the majority of which resignation broke in the middle of this gional policy. Following the election were seen as fair. When Müller finally phase. Kiesinger was appointed as victory for the CDU, he vacated his believed that the young federal state candidate for chancellor by the CDU official residence. His commitment to was well on its way, he succumbed to and led the first grand coalition in the creation of the new state is un- the repeated calls from Karlsruhe in Bonn between 1966 and 1969. contested. 1958, where he became the President of the Federal Constitutional Court.

60 Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg Photo: Baden-Württemberg Ministry of State Photo: Baden-Württemberg Ministry of State

Hans Filbinger Lothar Späth Erwin Teufel Günther H. Oettinger 1913–2007, CDU born 1937, CDU born 1939, CDU born 1953, CDU led a grand coalition in the state from was the Minister President of a sole- was Minister President from 1991 un- has led a CDU and FDP/DVP coali- 1966 until 1972. Between 1972 and party CDU government between til 2005. Between 1992 and 1996 he tion as Minister President since April 1978, he was the Minister President 1978 and 1991. was the leader of a grand coalition, 2005. of a sole-party CDU government. and from 1996 until 2005 he led a coalition of CDU and FDP/DVP.

Born in Mannheim, this lawyer was Lothar Späth was born in Sigmaringen The business administrator was born By the time a successor had to be the first and to date only person from and was regarded as being restless, in Rottweil and was forced to enter picked for Erwin Teufel, the head of Baden to lead the state. The CDU won creative and pragmatic. He quickly into an unpopular grand coalition in the parliamentary party and “Crown an absolute majority in the state for the earned the nickname “Cleverle” as a 1992. He attempted to reduce new Prince” Günther H. Oettinger had first time in 1972 under Filbinger. The visionary and moderniser of politics debts through great savings and to re- already been knocking loudly at Kiesinger era, which was character- and the economy. The final balance align the state in the face of increasing the door for some time. He had led ised by very dynamic developments, of the numerous projects he initiated globalisation. This included extensive the CDU parliamentary party in the was followed by years of consolidation in the state is by all means positive work on the infrastructure such as the Landtag for 14 years. In November under Filbinger. The biggest reforms despite certain ideas that failed and extension of . Other 2004, he defeated his rival candi- between 1971 and 1976, above all certain plans that fell by the wayside. projects were begun to create com- date, the Minister of Education An- the local government and administra- By the end of his term of office, he was petitive structures and concentrate the nette Schavan, in the first ever poll tive reform under the management of seen as the “motor of cultural life” who state’s strengths. During Teufel’s term amongst members of the CDU. On the SPD Minister of the Interior Wal- repeatedly emphasised the state’s in office, the former regional energy 21 April, 2005, Günther H. Oetting- ter , stood for the initiatives of responsibility as a patron and as a suppliers fused to form EnBW and er was elected Minister President by these very rational politics. During Fil- promoter of the economy as well as the two services the Landtag. A native of Stuttgart and binger’s term of office, the question of research and technology policy. One SDR and SWF also merged to form a Protestant, he is seen as modern the denominational schools could be of the benchmarks in Späth’s govern- Südwestrundfunk (SWR). Teufel also and urban compared to his predeces- solved. The referendum in June 1970 ment was the state media act that was left his mark with the administrative re- sor. Oettinger was also elected the marked a milestone in his term of of- passed in 1985 and the concomitant form that came into force in January State Party CDU Chairman in April fice, with the population of Baden sub- privatisation and liberalisation of 2005 and with structural measures 2005. Günther H. Oettinger had to sequently approving the formation of the radio landscape. The politician in economic and education policies. face up to a public election for the the Southwest State with a large major- was unable to complete another big He was very committed to European first time in March 2006 and only ity. Disputes about university constitu- project – the fusion of Süddeutscher politics and represented the German narrowly missed out on an absolute tions and energy policies, where Rundfunk and Südwestfunk. Späth states in the EU Constitutional Coun- majority in the Landtag with his party. was planned as the site of a nuclear also adopted new approaches in “ex- cil. Consistency, perseverance and The governing coalition of CDU and power plant, on the other hand, gave ternal” relations and left his mark on an adherence to principles, a high FDP/DVP was continued under Oet- rise to some heated controversies. Fil- European politics. He was forced to re- workload, detailed knowledge and tinger. The work of his government binger was forced to resign in1978 sign in 1991 following allegations that direct contact with the people are typi- concentrates on the economy and on account of his activities as a marine he had mixed his office with private cal features of Erwin Teufel’s work in the labour market, education and judge during the final phases of the and party interests (“Traumschiff-Af- government. He is to date the longest- families (“children’s state“), energy Second World War. He remained a färe”). When his political career came serving Minister President of the state policy and, not least, the reduction controversial politician even after his to an end, Lothar Späth spent some of Baden-Württemberg. of the public debt in the state as an time as Minister President and died in time with Jenoptik. Now he works for important goal. April 2007 at the age of 93. an investment bank.

61 BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG IN THE FEDERATION AND IN EUROPE

Baden-Württemberg acts as an independent state on the level of the German Federation (“Bund”) and the European Union.

Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg acts independently as a Ger- pean Union. Baden-Württemberg is involved in Baden-Württemberg man state. Within the scope of the constitutional the EU both indirectly, in other words through in the Federation order in the Federal Republic of Germany it has the Federal Republic as a member country, and the legal status and political quality of a member directly, whereby the state acts as an independent According to Art. 20 para. 1 of the Basic Law, state with the right to organise its own politics. protagonist in the EU decision-making system. the Federal Republic of Germany is a federal Nevertheless, state politics are greatly influenced This double involvement on the one hand places state. The state constitution defines the state of by a double involvement: firstly through the inte- restrictions on the “freedom” Baden-Württem- Baden-Württemberg as a member state of this gration in the federal order of the Federal Repub- berg has in shaping its own politics; then again, federal state. The basic principle of existence lic and then through the integration in the Euro- it also opens up scope for action. for the federal state is federalism (lat. foedus =

62 The exclusive legislative power of the Federa- the Federation and states often disagreed on tion covers areas such as foreign affairs and the depth of detail in this framework legislation defence policy, questions of nationality, the and to what extent the states had to be left currency system, the exchange of goods and their own substantial regulation possibilities. payments with foreign countries, border pro- The reform of the federal system cancelled Art. tection, etc. In the case of concurrent legis- 75 of the Basic Law and transferred the regula- lative power, the Federation can enact laws tory matters to both the exclusive and concur- wherever there is a need for a federal regu- rent legislative powers of the Federation. lation. The states, however, have the power the federation). Baden-Württemberg acts and to legislate so long as and to the extent that REFORM OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM reacts on four different levels within the frame- the Federation has not exercised its legislative work of the federal system: the state level, the power. Over the years, however, the Federa- The parents of the Basic Law clearly favoured federal level (Bundesrat), the inter-state level tion has made very extensive use of its concur- a federal principle for the Federal Republic. But and the Federation-States level. rent legislative power. federalism has not always developed to its ad- vantage. Complaints became louder and louder: Power-distributing federalism Up until the reform of the federal system in about a system of mixed financing that is almost In a federal country, the implementation of 2006, the Federation could specify a legal impossible to keep track of and offers false incen- state tasks and authority is divided between framework through the framework legislation tives; about the blurring of responsibilities; about absurd consequences of the financial compensa- the federation and the member states. A prin- wherever there was a need for a federal regula- tion between the Federation and states. A debate ciple applies in the Federal Republic of Ger- tion. This framework legislation, however, had on the future of federalism in Germany and the many stating the states are responsible unless to leave room for filling in by the legislative reorganisation of the responsibilities of the states, the federation is accorded powers and duties bodies in the states (Art. 75 Basic Law). But the federation and the EU was overdue. One goal in the Basic Law (Art. 30 Basic Law). This idea is also to restrengthen the decision-making com- petences of the states – not least in the field of is substantiated for the field of legislation in POLITICAL INTERLACING financial autonomy and fiscal legislation. Art. 70 para. 1 Basic Law, where we can read: “The Länder shall have the right to legislate The states thus have only a limited legislative lee- Political interlacing between way. The most important is the so-called cultural insofar as this Basic Law does not confer legis- the Federation and the states and on sovereignty, covering schools and universities, lative power on the Federation.” the inter-state level the support for art and the sciences as well as the The aspiration to “equal living conditions” (Art. statutory regulation of press, radio and television. In fact, the authorities in the fields of legislative 72,2 Basic Law) throughout Germany has led Municipal law, the state planning law, police power (legislature), government and adminis- to a growing cooperation and coordination be- law, building law as well as the laws pertaining tration (executive) and jurisdiction (judiciary) tween the Federation and the states. There are to roads, water and waterways are examples of are distributed very differently. The biggest large numbers of links between the Federation exclusive state responsibility. The reform of the part of legislation is carried out by the Federa- and states in the performance of tasks and their federal system in 2006 strengthened the respon- financing. These are expressed in common ex- sibilities of the state, above all in the fields of edu- tion whereas the states (Art. 83 Basic Law) penses and fiscal alliances, which now account cational policy and civil service law, though also are responsible for implementing the laws. for around two thirds of all tax receipts. There environmental law. Jurisdiction is split between the Federation are hundreds of Federation-State committees be- (last instance) and the states (first and second low the minister level as well as planning coun- instance). This distribution of competences cils. The most familiar are the conferences of the A first step towards the reorganisation is the re- heads of the state governments and the confer- leads to the necessity of a close cooperation form of the federal system resolved in 2006 by ences of the departmental ministers of the Fed- between the Federation and states. The items eration and states (Conference of the Ministers the Bundesrat and Bundestag with the neces- that fall under the legislative power of the Fed- of Education, Standing Conference of the Min- sary two-thirds majority. This is the most exten- eration are listed individually in catalogues in isters of the Interior, etc.). The consequence: the sive change to the Basic Law in the history of the Basic Law (incl. Art. 72-74 and Art. 105 German federal system has developed its own the Federal Republic of Germany and regulates Basic Law). special character over the years. There has been in particular the relations between the Federa- a continuous unitarisation and an increasingly tion and states with respect to legislation. Its denser network, for which the term “political Exclusive and concurrent legislative interlacing” has been coined. The governments aim was to accelerate the legislative procedure power and their bureaucracies dominate in this inter- and make this more transparent by drastically The Federation has the following legislative locking system – at the cost of the parliaments. reducing the number of laws that have to be powers: Which is why this is sometimes called “executive approved by the Bundesrat. Nevertheless, the federalism.” • an exclusive legislative power and Bundesrat still has to ratify laws that cause sig- • a concurrent legislative power. nificant expenses in the states. In return for the

63 states foregoing this cooperation in the national as representative of the Bundesrat is the Minis- legislative process, they will in future receive ter President of Baden-Württemberg, Günther exclusive legislative competence for the pay, H. Oettinger. The recommendations of the pensions and allowances of the state and mu- commission are intended to adapt the financial nicipal civil servants, for the penal system law, relations between the Federation and states to for the law on shop opening-hours and the law the altered basic conditions inside and out- pertaining to restaurants and public houses. In side Germany and strengthen the individual the field of education and environmental law, responsibility of the local authorities and their the states have received a so-called “deviation funding in accordance with the tasks. right” through which they can resolve their Minister President Günther H. Oettinger own, divergent laws from the federal regula- of Federal and European Affairs and in tions. Educational policy is also largely a matter the Ministry of State, Prof. Dr. Wolf- exclusively for the states. In addition, a joint gang Reinhart, in the Bundesrat. obligation of the Federation and states to budg- Photo: Ministry of State Baden-Württemberg etary discipline was also resolved.

The financial relations between the Federation and the states, however, will only be reorgan-

BUNDESRAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FISCAL REVENUES

Duties and rights of the Bundesrat The states The Federation (Federal Council) receive, receives, amongst others: amongst others: • The Bundesrat shares in the legislative power of the Federation. No federal law is passed • inheritance tax • customs without it being discussed by the Bundesrat. • motor vehicle tax • the majority of consumption Many laws, in fact, can only come into force • beer tax taxes (e. g.: mineral oil tax, if they are expressly approved by the Bun- • property transfer tax tobacco tax) desrat. Art. 106 para. 2 Basic Law • insurance tax • The Bundesrat participates in the administra- • special levies on income tax States Federation tion of the Federation. Certain statutory ordi- Art. 106 para. 1 Basic Law nances and administrative regulations require its consent. • The Bundesrat has various rights of instrumen- The states and Federation together receive: tality in the case of external and internal crisis • income tax on wages and salaries situations. It also has a number of different • corporation tax rights of appointment and nomination (e. g. • value added tax in the choice of judges for the State Constitu- Art. 106 para. 3 Basic Law tional Court). • With the increasing European integration, the cooperation of the Bundesrat in EU matters is becoming increasingly important. Its rights The municipalities receive, amongst others: range from a comprehensive right to informa- • land and business tax tion, the possibility to make statements on all • other municipal taxes (e. g. dog licences) EU bills that affect the interests of the state, • shares of income tax and value added tax through to the delegation of representatives Art. 106 para. 5 to 8 Basic Law to the council. © 8421medien.de

The constitutional rules governing public This would correspond to the separate ised in a second phase. In December 2006, the finance are very important in the Federal responsibilities to the electors. Bundestag and Bundesrat resolved the consti- state. They basically assume that the But this principle is often ignored. tution of a joint commission on the moderni- Federation and the states have separate Today, there is a complex system of finan- sation of the financial relations between the revenues, finance their expenditure cial interlacing between the Federation, Federation and the states (in short: Federalism separately and are also “independent of states and municipalities. Reform II). The chairman of this commission each other” in terms of their budgets.

64 Cooperation on a federal level: Ministers and some of the political Secretaries before each decision. The work of the Bundesrat the Bundesrat of State. The Bundesrat is thus an assembly committees is very important. This is normally The states cooperate in the legislative work and of members of the state governments (Art. 51 carried out by the ministerial civil servants dele- administration of the Federation through the para. 1 Basic Law). gated by the states. The draft statutes of the Fed- Bundesrat, the chamber of the state representa- eral government are hereby “enriched” by the tives (Art. 50 Basic Law). Thus, around half of Art. 51 para. 2 of the Basic Law stipulates that expert knowledge of the state administrations. all federal laws can only be enacted with the each state has at least three votes in the Bun- If no agreement can be reached on a legislation express ratification of the Bundesrat (“laws re- desrat. States with more than two million inhab- between the Bundestag as the representative of quiring approval”). In the case of other laws, itants have four, states with more than six mil- the people and the Bundesrat as the chamber the Bundesrat can postpone their enactment lion have five and states with more than seven of the states, an “arbitration committee” can be through objections (“protest laws”) whereby a million have six votes. The four biggest states convened by the Bundestag and Bundesrat. Its Bundestag majority can dismiss this objection. North Rhine-, Bavaria, Baden-Würt- task is to settle and balance the differences of temberg and thus have a block- opinion on draft statutes. A person cannot be elected to the Bundesrat; ing minority, which makes it impossible for he or she is appointed. Members can only be smaller states to change the constitution to the appointed from cabinet members of a state disadvantage of the larger states. Each state can government with the right to vote. In Baden- only cast its votes as a unit. An agreement thus Württemberg this is the Minister President, the has to be reached within the state government

THE GERMAN STATES AND THEIR VOTING POWER IN THE BUNDESRAT

Hamburg Schleswig- 1.8 mn. inhabitants 2.8 mn. inhabitants 3 votes 4 votes

Mecklenburg- Bremen 4 Western Pommerania 0.7 mn. inhabitants 3 1.7 mn. inhabitants 3 votes 3 votes 3 Lower Saxony 3 Berlin 8 mn. inhabitants 4 3.4 mn. inhabitants 6 votes 6 4 4 votes

North Rhine-Westphalia 4 18 mn. inhabitants 2.6 mn. inhabitants 6 6 votes 4 votes 4 4 Hesse 5 Saxony-Anhalt 6.1 mn. inhabitants 2.4 mn. inhabitants 5 votes 4 votes 4

Rhineland-Palatinate Saxony 3 4.1 mn. inhabitants 4.3 mn. inhabitants 4 votes 4 votes 6 6 Saarland 1.0 mn. inhabitants 2.3 mn. inhabitants 3 votes 4 votes

Baden-Württemberg Bavaria 10.7 mn. inhabitants 12.5 mn. inhabitants 6 votes 6 votes © 8421medien.de

65 Baden-Württemberg in the European Union

Baden-Württemberg has always felt a special obligation to the concerns of European inte- gration. This is reflected in particular in the preamble to the state constitution, where since 1995 we read “[resolved] … to organise this democratic state as a vital part of the Fed- eral Republic of Germany in a unified Europe whose structure corresponds to federal prin- ciples and the principle of subsidiarity and to actively cooperate in the creation of a Europe of regions and encourage cross-border cooper- ation …”. This programmatic approach is ex- pressed in various concrete forms and through a consensus across all parties in state politics.

The consolidation of European integration has been strongly upheld by Baden-Württemberg. It was a particular concern of the state that the principle of subsidiarity be anchored in the An architecturally attractive and contractual foundations of the EU and it insist- unmistakeable building: the represen- ed on its implementation and enforceability. tation of the state of Baden-Würt- Since a united Europe would be inconceivable temberg in the Federation in Berlin. without the history of its towns and regions, Photo: Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg word applications and coordinate its own sub- in the Federation missions with other states. The political and subsidiarity is a crucial point for a democratic expert work of the state representation also and grass-roots EU, along with municipal and includes maintaining close relationships with regional self-rule and the federal ideal. Sub- The state representation in Berlin: the Bundestag and federal government. The sidiarity means that tasks are only shifted to a Representative of the State in the Bund and the outpost and shop window for employees of the state representation regularly European level if they cannot be better dealt Baden-Württemberg attend important Bundestag plenary and com- with “locally” – in other words in the munici- mittee meetings. This allows the current status palities, states or member countries. The architect Dietrich Bangert produced an un- of new legislations, developments and trends to mistakeable building of high architectural qual- be communicated to Baden-Württemberg at an The former Minister President Erwin Teufel ity in the Embassy district on the south side of early stage. This means that the state representa- pleaded strongly in favour of the treaty es- the Tiergarten in Berlin, only a few minutes from tion can express the state’s wishes in committee the Bundestag, Bundesrat, Office of the Federal meetings and thus have an influence on the leg- tablishing a constitution for Europe as repre- President and Office of the Federal Chancellor. islative procedure. sentative of the Bundesrat in the EU constitu- The modern design presents the state’s “embas- tional council and hereby emphasised federal sy” in the federal capital as a light, clear, open In addition, the state representation acts as a aspects and the principle of subsidiarity. The and inviting building. The Representative of the “shop window” for Baden-Württemberg in the representatives of Baden-Württemberg have State of Baden-Württemberg in the Bund acts federal capital. Talks with representatives of also been heavily involved in the Committee on behalf of the interests of Baden-Württemberg numerous umbrella organisations help affirm from here. the leading position of the state. Cultural and of the Regions (CoR), an EU institution that social events such as the presentation of regions has existed since 1994. The President of the Baden-Württemberg has an important voice in in Baden-Württemberg help to portray the great Landtag, Peter Straub, was President of the federal politics through its position in the Bun- diversity of the state. As the outpost of a very Committee of Regions from 2004 until 2006. desrat. The state representation prepares the export-oriented federal state, the state represen- The state’s commitment to European politics meetings of the Bundesrat for Baden-Württem- tation maintains good and friendly contacts with berg in the federal capital, cooperating closely foreign embassies. At the same time, it is a meet- is also reflected in a whole number of provi- with the Ministry of State and specialist Minis- ing place for federal, state and local politicians, sions that have been made over time. For ex- tries in Stuttgart. It helps prepare documents in for representatives from the economy, unions, ample, one member of the state parliament is the Bundesrat committees, draw up statements, associations and churches. responsible for EU affairs and represents the state in the Conference of European Ministers

66 THE EUROPEAN UNION – MEMBER STATES AND THE EUROZONE

ICELAND Reykjavik

Founding members of the EU 1952/1958 FINLAND Joined in the 1970ies

Joined in the 1980ies NORWAY Helsinki

Joined in the 1990ies RUSSIA Oslo Tallinn Stockholm Joined in 2004 ESTONIA

Joined in 2007 Moscow LATVIA

Accession talks DENMARK LITHUANIA in 2005 Vilnius Copenhagen Minsk

IRELAND POLAND BELARUS GREAT BRITAIN Berlin Warsaw Dublin Amsterdam London GERMANY Kiev UKRAINE BELGIUM Brussels LUXEMBURG SLOVAKIA MOLDAVIA Paris Chisinau SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA FRANCE Bern SLOVENIA Lubljana Zagreb CROATIA Bucharest ITALY Belgrad Sarajevo BOSNIA AND BULGARIA HERZEGOVINA MONTENEGRO Sofia Rome Podgorica Skopje MACEDONIA Tirana ALBANIA Madrid Ankara SPAIN GREECE Lisbon TURKEY Athens

ALGERIA TUNISIA CYPRUS MOROCCO

Map: Michael Rechl of German states that was established in 1993. pointed in every ministry within the state gov- Baden-Württemberg was one of the first Ger- ernment. Employees of the state administra- man states to open an office in Brussels in tion are regularly delegated to EU institutions 1987. The state has considerably strengthened and the state representation in Brussels with its presence in Brussels by moving into the the aim of strengthening the state’s “Europe- new and enlarged representation of the state ability” through the knowledge, experience in the EU in 2004. Special EU officers are ap- and contacts made there.

67 Cross-border cooperation Cross-border cooperation is a key element in the state’s European policy, particularly in view of its 500 km long border to its neigh- bours France and Switzerland. The govern- ments of the riparian states around Lake Constance have been cooperating in the In- ternational Lake Constance Conference (IBK) since 1972. The goal of the IBK is to main- tain and promote the Lake Constance region as an attractive living, natural, cultural and economic area and to strengthen the sense of regional fellowship. Joint projects such as the Lake Constance Model, the Lake Constance Agenda 21, the International Lake Constance University as well as grants for young artists, climate protection studies or the EUREGIO Day Ticket clearly illustrate the wide range of topics in the IBK.

The German-French-Swiss Upper Rhine Con- ference (ORK) has provided the institutional framework for cross-border, regional coop- eration in the Upper Rhine region since 1975 and links the governmental and administrative authorities of the Upper Rhine on a regional level. It involves the states of Baden-Würt- temberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, the can- tons Basel-City, Basel-Country, Aargau, Jura and Solothurn as well as the French state, the

Photo: Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg at the EU Région Alsace and the Alsatian Départements Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. The main task of the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg at the EU ORK is to tackle cross-border questions and to try and find a solution to these. With its The state representation is an interface between The state representation is the hub of a network nine study groups, the ORK provides a per- Baden-Württemberg and Brussels for European of employees from EU institutions, regional manent platform for around 600 experts from politics. It represents the state and protects the representations and other protagonists in Brus- interests of Baden-Württemberg in the EU. The sels. The strengths of the state and its justified the partner administrations and attempts to state representation is seen as a reliable and interests in a European context are advertised, further facilitate the cohabitation of citizens qualified dialogue partner in Brussels. It informs and an awareness is created for the state in from the Southern Palatinate, Baden, Alsace the state government and pertinent offices in Brussels through events and seminars on current and North-West Switzerland – and at the same due time of current developments on a Euro- topics that are related to the state and partici- time develop the Upper Rhine Region into a pean level. Conversely, it brings the state’s con- pants from both the state and EU organisations transnational model for Europe. cerns into the decision-making processes of EU in Brussels. Since the Brussels offices of EnBW institutions at an early stage. The state represen- AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, the Würth Group and tation is simultaneously a dialogue partner for the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum moved into the The Upper Rhine Council (ORR) was founded politics, business, associations and chambers, building, the state representation has gained in1997 to deepen the cooperation. It consists research institutions and universities as well as an even higher profile as a place where busi- of parliamentarians and elected representatives societies and politically interested groups in ness contacts can be made and cultivated. This of the municipalities. The German-Swiss High- Baden-Württemberg who want to learn more also underlines the significance of Baden-Würt- about current developments in Brussels at first temberg in Brussels as a high-tech location, as Rhine Commission (HRK) began its work in hand or who want to present themselves on the a top region for research and development and 1997 and is concerned with the diverse links European stage. an exporting state. and common cultural heritage on the High- Rhine. It was extended in 2006 to include the canton of Schaffhausen on the Swiss side.

68 REPRESENTATION OF THE REGIONS IN THE EU

The internal regionalisation of Europe began to take on an institutional character from the 1980ies. In 1985, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) was founded with offices in Stras- bourg, and today represents around 250 Euro- pean regions. Baden-Württemberg is represent- ed in the AER as one of the founding members.

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) was set up in 1994. This was the first time that an allow- ance was made for the existence and efficacy of a “third level” in Europe on a common legal basis. The CoR sees itself as the “Guardian of Subsidiarity” in the EU. It is an advisory organ consisting of more than 340 representatives of the regional and municipal authorities in Europe. Its aim is to ensure that these can express their opinions on EU policies and that regional and local identities and prerogatives are respected.

Baden-Württemberg is also a founding member of the new group of regions with legislative pow- ers (REGLEG) that was founded in 2000.

Partner regions and study groups Baden-Württemberg maintains a lively coop- eration with the regions Rhône-Alpes, Catalo- nia and Lombardy within the “Four Motors for Europe” study group. The four economically The Danube is a European river that has always served as a bridge strong and research-intensive “motors” regard in the race for competitive advantages on the between cultures. The photo shows themselves as a “pacemaker” within their na- European common market can be traced back Erbach on the Danube, near Ulm on tional states and the EU with a whole range to the structure of its industries, the advan- the edge of the Swabian Alb. of cooperations in the fields of economy, sci- tage of its location in the heart of Europe, the Photo: Manfred Grohe ence, culture, environmental policy and social good education and training of employees as affairs. well as the high share of research institutions. But Baden-Württemberg has also encouraged Baden-Württemberg was and is prepared for Baden-Württemberg: a model of Euro- the further growth of a sense of European to- the EU expansion, too. Traditionally close po- pean possibilities getherness for many years, which is why the litical and cultural ties exist with the PHARE Baden-Württemberg is a core state in an ex- first Federal President, Theodor Heuss, is of- countries in Central and Eastern Europe, tended Europe. The state lies in the heart ten “misquoted” in the state. He described the through which the state has helped them on of Europe and with its around 10.7 million Southwest State as a “model of German pos- their way to democratic and free market econ- inhabitants and one of Europe’s highest per sibilities”, which people nowadays rephrase as omy structures. Very intensive contacts exist capita incomes, it is larger and economically a “model of European possibilities.” with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, stronger than several EU member countries. Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. Baden-Württemberg is also well equipped for the cooperation with and competition be- tween European regions: It has various links to its European neighbouring and partner re- gions. The good starting position of the state

69 BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG’S ADMINISTRATION

The state capital Stuttgart.

Photo: Manfred Grohe

“Administration is control over day-to-day bureaucracy. The administration also provides The administration of a state includes not only business” is how the sociologist Max Weber politics with feedback on just how appropriate those people who are employed directly by the put it. And it is true: if politics is to become a the political resolutions, programmes and in- state but also the civil servants in public corpo- social reality, it needs an administration. This struments are to actually achieve the set goals. rations within the scope of their self-adminis- implements what has been resolved political- Since the states are in principle responsible for tration, especially those of municipalities and ly. But it also prepares the political resolutions implementing federal resolutions within the rural districts. It is thus no coincidence that the with its expert knowledge, experience, con- political system of the Federal Republic, the state administrations have the most personnel: tact to daily life right down to the smallest vil- state administrations represent the basis of all of the 4.6 million civil servants, only 481,000 lage, with the aid of an excellent, specialised politics in Germany. are employed by the Federation; in contrast,

70 Administrative map of BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG Wertheim Federal border HESSEN Tauber- State border bischofsheim BAYERN Administrative district border City and rural district border MAIN- Regional border TAUBER-KREIS Stuttgart State capital Mannheim NECKAR- Bad Mergentheim Large district town ODENWALD-KREIS Heidelberg with seat of the County Council Offices Heidelberg Mannheim Large district town RHEINLAND- RHEIN-NECKAR Künzelsau Urban district Mosbach with seat of the County Council Offices PFALZ HEILBRONN-FRANKEN RHEIN-NECKAR-KREIS Urban district Künzelsau Sigmaringen Town Sinsheim with seat of the County Council Offices Bad Rappenau HOHENLOHE- KARLSRUHE Neckarsulm KREIS FREIBURG Name of the administrative Öhringen district (seat of the Regional Heilbronn SCHWÄBISCH HALL Governing Office is underlined) MITTLERER GÖPPINGEN Rural district Bruchsal there are 254,000 civil servants of the state in KARLSRUHE Schwäbisch Hall NECKAR-ALB Name of the region HEILBRONN Baden-Württemberg alone. These are joined Seat of the regional association Karlsruhe STUTTGART - Ellwangen Rheinstetten Mühlacker Vaihingen by 208,000 employees of municipalities and an der Bissingen (Jagst) REMS-- OBERRHEIN Ludwigsburg KREIS OSTWÜRTTEMBERG associations of local authorities as well as Rastatt Pforzheim FRANK- am Neckar RASTATT Schorndorf 82,000 persons employed in the indirect civil Stuttgart NORD- Schwäbisch Gmünd STUTTGART Baden- am Neckar service here in the state, in other words a total Baden Göppingen REICH Ostfildern an der Brenz Bühl CALW Böblingen Leinfelden- GÖPPINGEN Echterdingen Nürtingen HEIDENHEIM of around 544,000 civil servants. Geislingen BÖBLINGEN Kirchheim unter Teck an der Steige Kehl an der Brenz SCHWARZWALD ESSLINGEN Tübingen FREUDENSTADT Three-tier administrative Rottenburg Offenburg am Neckar Freudenstadt TÜBINGEN structure ALB-DONAU- Mössingen REUTLINGEN KREIS Ulm /Schwarzwald NECKAR-ALB (Donau) SÜDLICHER As in other large states in the Federal Repub- Balingen ROTTWEIL lic of Germany, the administration in Baden- DONAU- ILLER Rottweil TÜBINGEN Württemberg is split into three regional levels: Emmendingen FREIBURG Biberach an der Riß Sigmaringen OBERRHEIN SCHWARZWALD-BAAR- at the top, we find the Ministries – responsible Villingen-Schwenningen HEUBERG BIBERACH SCHWARZWALD- SIGMARINGEN for the entire state but with separate special- Freiburg Donaueschingen im Breisgau Tuttlingen BAAR- ist competences. The administration below BREISGAU- HOCHSCHWARZWALD BODENSEE-OBERSCHWABEN KREIS RAVENSBURG the ministerial level is classified according -BODENSEE Leutkirch Weingarten im Allgäu (Hohentwiel) Überlingen BAYERN to spatial responsibilities so that the political Ravensburg HOCHRHEIN- am Bodensee Wangen im Allgäu decisions can be implemented harmoniously, LÖRRACH WALDSHUT Konstanz Weil Waldshut-Tiengen B Lörrach o am Rhein d “from the same mould” as it were, beyond e n (Baden) s e their specialist limitation, and local peculi- e SCHWEIZ 01020 30 40 50 km arities can be taken into account. This is why ÖSTERREICH Baden-Württemberg is divided up into four Administrative units in Baden-Württemberg. administrative districts, named after the seat Map: Landesvermessungsamt Baden-Württemberg of the relevant Regional Governing Offices (Regierungspräsidium):

• Stuttgart: 10,557.7 km2; district level; five state police authorities (for structure: in the four Regional Governing Of- 4.003 mn. inhabitants the four administrative districts and the city fices (in each of which personnel thus quadru- • Karlsruhe: 6,919.9 km2; of Stuttgart) and police departments for the pled) and the local authorities. The Regional 2.732 mn. inhabitants districts; two forestry authorities (Tübingen Governing Offices and County Council Offices • Freiburg: 9,347.0 km2; and Freiburg) with subordinate forestry of- thus profited from this reform since it ensured 2.191 mn. inhabitants fices; health authorities; agricultural authori- their continued existence. A total of 350 such • Tübingen: 8,917.7 km2 ; ties, highway board departments as well as the special state authorities were incorporated into 1.805 mn. inhabitants State Office for Historical Monuments with the three-tier administrative structure. Even if state-wide tasks. this administrative reform, which came into Until a short time ago, there were also nu- force on 1 January, 2005, has not been with- merous special authorities for individual fields. The administrative reform which was im- out controversy – it has at least led to greater These were located outside the normal admin- plemented by the Minister President Erwin clarity. istrative structure, for example, four higher Teufel shortly before the end of his term of school authorities on the Regional Governing office incorporated all of these special authori- Offices level and state school authorities on a ties into the existing three-tier administrative

71 Karlsruhe, the former seat of the court planned on the drawing board with a The engraving from 1739 shows Karls- and state capital of Baden, today is ruler and compasses. The town planning ruhe from the north. the home to the Karlsruhe Regional Gov- structure with the castle tower in the Illustration: LMZ Baden-Württemberg erning Office. The “Fan-Shaped City” middle clearly reflects the absolutist way of the of Baden-Durlach was in which the sovereigns thought.

72 The authorities of the state administration in Baden-Württemberg

Ministries StM JuM IM KM MWK FM WM MLR SM UM Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry General Accounting of State of Justice of the Interior of Education, of Science, of Finance of Economics of Food and of Labour of the Environ- Office for Youth and Sport Research and Art Rural Areas and Social Affairs ment Baden-Württemberg

Upper State State State State Archive Higher Regional Authorities Agency Appointee Finance Surveyor’s for Civic für Data Authority Office Education 1) Protection 2) State Office State Office of Statistics for the Pro- tection of the State Salaries Constitution and Pensions Office State Office of Criminal Investigation

Regional Regional Regional Regional Regional Regional Regional Regional Governing Governing Governing Governing Governing Governing Governing Governing Offices Offices Offices Offices Offices Offices Offices Offices

Higher Corporate State Auditing Special Forestry Offices Authorities Institutions

Lower Ad- County Coun- County Coun- County Coun- County Coun- County Coun- County Coun- County Coun- ministrative cil Offices cil Offices cil Offices cil Offices cil Offices cil Offices cil Offices Authorities Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Districts Districts Districts Districts Districts Districts Districts Notes: Large District Large District Large District Large District Large District 1) The State Agency for Civic Education is an unincorporated public body in the portfolio of the Towns Towns Towns Towns Towns Ministry of State. 2) The State Appointee for Data Protection exercises State Admini- State Admini- State Admini- State Admini- State Admini- his office independently and is only amenable to the strative strative strative strative strative law. He has his offices in the Ministry of the Interior Communities Communities Communities Communities Communities (cf. §§ 26 ff State Data Protection Act). 3) State School Authorities only exist in the field of urban districts. Lower State School Tax Offices 4) Schools are regarded as a lower special authority Special Authorities 3) within the scope of § 23 para. 3 of the Schools Act. Authorities Schools 4)

Original: Fritz Endemann, 2007 © 8421medien.de

Municipalities as the basis The municipalities are corporations of self- The rural districts of the state administration, in other words the citizens themselves bear the responsibility, though Duties which arise between the municipali- “The municipalities are the basis of the politi- almost all of their tasks are performed by ties (e. g. connecting roads, public transport) cal union”, says the constitution of the King- elected bodies: the municipal council and the or for which one municipality is too small (e. g. dom of Württemberg from 1819: this held mayor. The council is not a parliament but an hospitals, vocational schools, special schools, true at that time, as it did beforehand, and administrative body that is in charge of the waste disposal) are carried out by associations still holds true today. The municipalities are administration as a committee. The chairman of local authorities (rural districts). The state in principle responsible for all problems and of the council is the mayor. He (or, naturally, also uses the County Council Offices to per- duties that arise within their territory (general she), too, is elected directly by the citizens. form its tasks – even more so since the 2005 responsibility; principle of universality). They He prepares the resolutions of the committee administrative reform, when school authori- can only be deprived of this general responsi- and then carries them out. He is the external ties, forestry authorities, etc. were incorporat- bility in individual cases by way of law. And representative of the municipality. In addi- ed into the county councils. In the meantime then only if they are out of their depth or fur- tion, the state uses the mayor and his full-time the ratio between self-administration tasks ther interests make a more comprehensive administration and assigns them state duties and state tasks on the rural district level has solution desirable or even necessary. This is (e. g. police work, vital statistics, performance roughly been reversed: from 2 : 1 to 1 : 2. The laid down in the principle of subsidiarity, ac- of elections). The mayor is hereby integrated state tasks of the County Council Offices have cording to which each task is to be performed in the normal official channels of the state and always included the supervision of municipali- on the lowest possible level. has to follow instructions from “above”. ties. The relevant Regional Governing Office is

73 THE STUTTGART REGION

The Verband Region Stuttgart (Stuttgart Region Association) is a regional association of out- standing quality. Not simply because twenty percent of the state’s inhabitants live around Stuttgart within its boundaries: not just the state capital but a further 178 municipalities and five rural districts (Böblingen, Esslingen, Göppingen, Ludwigsburg, Rems-Murr). Here, where the problems of settlement development and traffic, countryside and environmental protection are particularly serious, and where there can also be some cutthroat competition between the municipalities, great efforts are needed to coordinate and control the prob- lems between the city and its surrounding area. Apart from the normal planning tasks of a regional association, the Verband Region Stuttgart also has its own responsibilities and executive tasks: For example in public trans- port – the association is responsible for the suburban railway (S-Bahn) traffic –, in subare- as of waste disposal, in marketing, cul- tural and sports events as well as fairs and ex- hibitions, wherever these are of supra-regional importance. The association has founded its own company as an instrument of business de- velopment: the “Wirtschaftsförderung Region Heidelberg is a place of pilgrimage Stuttgart GmbH”. for tourists from throughout the world. responsible for supervising municipalities with For hundreds of years the palace Unlike the other regional associations, the Ver- more than 20,000 inhabitants. After all, mu- of red Neckar sandstone was the band Region Stuttgart has a directly elected nicipalities are not an autonomous level under splendid residency of the Electoral regional assembly that is elected at the same time as the municipal councils, though without state level within the political system but part Palatinate. It was not restored following any accumulation and splitting of votes. It nor- of the states. This is why the states specify its final destruction in the War of mally has eighty members; following the elec- the frame of action (municipal code) for the Palatinate Succession, also known as tion in 2004 the number currently stands at 93 municipalities, control the administration and the Nine Years’ War, in 1689 and members due to “Ausgleichsmandate” (com- budgetary frameworks. So it is not really sur- 1693. Only the Friedrichsbau has been pensatory seats). Mayors and county council- prising to learn that the municipalities are the fully rebuilt. lors are members of the regional assembly, level with the lowest debts in the political sys- Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg which can be seen as an indication of the im- portance of the association. At the same time, tem of the Federal Republic of Germany. the heads of local politics make sure that the association does not take too many liberties. Local government reform temberg this meant that the 63 former rural Unlike structures on a municipal level, the as- in the 1970ies districts were combined into just 35 with ef- sociation has a “double-headed” leadership, fect from 1 January, 1973. The nine urban with an honorary president of the regional assembly and a full-time association director. Local government reforms were carried out districts in which the municipal and district This should make it clear that the association throughout Germany in the 1960ies and 70ies levels overlapped remained unchanged. is not a further municipal level. so that municipalities and rural districts could perform their self-administration duties ap- The municipal reform that was completed propriately in view of the increasing problems on 1 January, 1975, reduced the number of in a densely populated state and the growing political municipalities to around one third of demands of its citizens. The maxim was: “A its original number: from 3,379 to 1,108 (sta- better administration is a specialised admin- tus: 2007), plus a municipal-free district, the istration, and a specialised administration has Münsingen estate area which up to now has to be a big administration.” For Baden-Würt- been used as a military training ground (275

74 inhabitants; there are no municipal elections here; it is administered by a civil servant ap- pointed by the Higher Finance Authority in Stuttgart).

Unlike other federal states, namely North Rhine-Westphalia (18 mn. inhabitants, only 396 municipalities), Baden-Württemberg has remained a state of small and medium-sized municipalities. Only four cities in the state have over 200,000 inhabitants: Stuttgart (593,000), Mannheim (308,000), Karlsruhe (285,000) and (216,000). Five more towns have over 100,000 inhabitants: Heidelberg (143,000), Heilbronn (122,000), Ulm (121,000), Pforzheim (119,000) and Reutlingen (112,000). 89 municipalities have the legal title “Große Kreisstadt” (large district town) with a population between 20,000 and 100,000; and the head of their administration can call him or herself “Oberbürgermeister” (mayor). On the other hand, half of the mu- nicipalities in the state (53 %) only have up to 5,000 inhabitants. 311 municipalities in Baden-Württemberg are allowed to bear the title “Town”. The Minster in the old Imperial City of Ulm on the Danube, the permanent Furthermore, smaller municipalities often The job of these regional associations is the meeting place of the Swabian Imperial large-scale control of settlement and traffic merge to form administrative communities in Circle in the 17th and 18th century, which some of the duties for all member mu- has the highest church tower in the developments, business promotion, supplies nicipalities are handled jointly, for example, world (161 m). and waste disposal, environmental protection, scheduling the budget. Districts with munici- Photo: UNT / Stadtarchiv Ulm culture. Since these problems do not end at pal councils can be formed within municipali- state frontiers, the Donau-Iller regional asso- ties that consist of several districts. A district ciation spans the border and cooperates with constitution can also be introduced for cities The twelve regional associations its Bavarian neighbour. The regional associa- such as Stuttgart. tions are a planning instrument and have no There are a total of 12 regional associations in executive functions – with the exception of The municipal councils are elected directly by Baden-Württemberg so as to enable supra-lo- the Stuttgart regional association. the citizens; the district councils are consti- cal planning within the scope of the regional tuted by the town councils, at the suggestion policy: of the groups in the town council and accord- • Stuttgart ing to the voting strengths of the lists for the • Ostwürttemberg municipal council elections in the relevant dis- • Franken trict. Municipal and district councils generally • Unterer Neckar have an advisory function. • Mittlerer Oberrhein • Nordschwarzwald • Südlicher Oberrhein • Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg • Hochrhein-Bodensee • Neckar-Alb • Donau-Iller • Bodensee-Oberschwaben

75 LOCAL POLITICS

The Town Hall – like the half-timbered Town Hall in shown here – is the symbol for citizen spirit and self-administration of the municipalities in Baden-Württemberg.

Photo: Kurverwaltung Bad Urach

The outstanding position of municipalities the laws. (…)The guarantee of self-govern- The duties of the municipalities, however, go is underlined by the fact that the Basic Law ment shall extend to the bases of financial beyond simple self-administration. Certain re- and state constitution expressly guarantee the autonomy; these bases shall include the right sponsibilities are obligatory, and are joined by right of municipal self-administration (“insti- of municipalities to a source of tax revenues state tasks. The duties of the municipalities can tutional guarantee”, Art. 28,2 Basic Law, Art. based upon economic ability and the right to thus be divided up into the following groups: 71,1 State Constitution of Baden-Württem- establish the rates at which these sources shall • Voluntary tasks, whose fulfilment is de- berg): “Municipalities must be guaranteed the be taxed.” (Art. 28,2 Basic Law) cided solely by the municipal council: these right to regulate all local affairs on their own include, for example, the construction of a responsibility, within the limits prescribed by municipal hall, swimming baths, the establish-

76 THE POWER OF CITIZENS IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

The citizen comes before the municipal coun- Nevertheless, certain affairs are excluded from cil and mayor in the municipal code of Baden- a referendum through a negative catalogue, for Württemberg. This embodies the maxim that the example the legal status of the mayor, the mu- institutions are there for the citizens, can only nicipal councils and municipal civil servants; the legitimise themselves by referring to the citizens, budget and fees; master building plans and build- to their mandate and the services they render for ing regulations – on the assumption that citizens them. The citizen in Baden-Württemberg has an may think only of themselves in such matters. A important influence over local affairs because referendum can be enforced through a corre- ment of museums or a theatre. They may also • he or she decides directly who is to be mayor sponding petition or be initiated by a resolution of include the redevelopment of the town centre (plebiscite); the municipal council (with a two-thirds majority; or grants to clubs. • he or she has a great influence on who is “council request”). A referendum is validated if • Obligatory tasks without instructions: elected to the municipal councils by means of the majority accounts for at least 25 percent of the these have to be fulfilled, but the municipal vote-splitting and aggregation. persons eligible to vote (§ 21 Municipal Code). council decides on “how”. These include kin- The significance of this instrument becomes ap- The elements of direct democracy have a firm tra- parent not only from its – relatively rare – use. dergartens, schools, cemeteries, sewage plants. dition in local politics in Baden-Württemberg: Much more important is its very existence: if the Nevertheless, their leeway is restricted by the • a certain quorum of citizens can enforce an municipal council has to fear being “called to specifications of the state or through allocation open council (§ 20a Municipal Code); order” by the citizenship, it will try harder to lis- criteria for grants and subsidies. • a maximum number of eligible voters, that is ten to the citizens‘ wishes. The council thus has • Obligatory tasks with instructions: in this graded according to the size of the munici- competition – and as we all know, competition is pality, can enforce the discussion of certain good for business. In the end, a referendum is an case, the state prescribes how the task is to be matters in the municipal council per “citizen’s instrument to control the quality of local politics. performed. Examples include the organisation motion” (§ 20b Municipal Code); of local elections. • the referendum is the most important possibil- • State tasks in which the state (be this ity for a direct participation of citizens in local the “Land” or the Federation) only uses the political decisions: the citizenship takes the municipal administration for reasons of con- place of the municipal council in a referen- dum. Accordingly, a referendum can be held venience: these primarily include the field of on all matters for which the municipal council the administration of law and order. The sole is otherwise responsible. responsibility lies with the mayor, who thus quasi becomes part of the state administration. The municipalities are reimbursed for the con- comitant expenses. Ideally, the citizens should monitor the work VILLAGE AND DISTRICT CONSTITUTION of the mayor and decisions of the municipal There has been a quantitative and qualitative council with a critical eye without degenerat- increase in the scope of municipal tasks in the ing into bellyachers. Politics in the municipal- The mayor, municipal council and central ad- ministration are institutions of local politics with course of industrialisation and the expansion ity is by all means understandable for citizens. a frame of reference that encompasses the entire of the welfare state. The municipalities take This is inconsistent with the fact that the par- municipality. District and village mayors, district care of the infrastructure such as roads and ticipation in mayoral and municipal council and village councils and, in many places, local paths, energy, water supplies and sewage dis- elections is relatively low, with a downward administrations act on a district level. posal, environmental protection; they develop trend, though this could also be interpreted The Municipal Code for Baden-Württemberg residential areas, though also provide their own as a sign of mobility, which is an obstacle to includes the possibility of a district constitution housing; they develop industrial estates and closer ties with the municipality in which one (§§ 64–66 Municipal Code) for municipalities canvass companies willing to move to the area; lives. At the same time, this can be understood with more than 100,000 inhabitants or spatial- they provide child care facilities and old-peoples as a sign of satisfaction with the services of ly separate districts and a village constitution homes as well as leisure facilities. the municipality: the more content the citi- (§§ 67–73 Municipal Code) for municipalities zens are, the lower the incentive to get in- with spatially separate districts. Despite numerous state specifications, the mu- volved – and vice versa. Unlike the district counsellors, who have been nicipalities have an enormous leeway, particu- appointed up to now by the municipal council larly if they use their creativity. Competition also If a popular mayor is up for reelection with no despite the possibility of direct elections, the vil- pays off on the municipal level, in local politics, rivals, a low turnout is not really surprising. lage counsellors are elected to their office by the unlike in centralistic states where everything But the turnout falls the larger the town or city citizens in the village or district. comes from and is expected from “above”. is – an indication of the associated loosening

77 THE SOUTH GERMAN COUNCIL CONSTITUTION – THE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

Committees Administration

fills governs

Referendum Municipal Council Mayor resolves controls

when a Quorum is reached

Petition

initiates elect

Citizens

© 8421medien.de

of ties to the municipality, which is sometimes incentive to become involved, even between Constitution and administration no more than a somewhat “chance” abode. elections. This can by all means be seen as a for the municipalities The municipality is then regarded as a service theoretical dilemma for democracy. provider that consistently performs its work Local politics takes place in a given legal space. satisfactorily – thanks to the mayor and his ad- The competence to enact the municipal code ministration as well as the municipal council. rests with the state legislative bodies. This Apart from an emotional link to the municipal- freedom of scope has been used by the states. ity, “concrete” interests are then more of an Each of the German states today has its own

STRONG MAYORS IN THE “LÄNDLE”

The municipal council elected by the citizens • he is the chairman with voting power of the namely in “urgent matters (…), whose settlement of Baden-Württemberg is to all intents and pur- municipal council and all of its committees; cannot be postponed until a municipal council poses the “main institution in the municipality”. It • he is the head of an administration tailored to meeting can be convened without notice and in- resolves municipal laws, controls the mayor and his needs; formally.” (§ 43,4 Municipal Code). administration, employs municipal civil servants • he is the figurehead and legal representative of and resolves tax collection rates and spending. the municipality. The “higher order” of a direct election But municipal reality looks much different: the The mayor’s position is strengthened by a fur- main protagonist on the local politics stage is the The mayor is the only member of the municipal ther factor: citizens in Baden-Württemberg have mayor. Even if the “business” has become more council who plays a decisive role in all three always elected their mayor themselves. This difficult: the office of the mayor in Baden-Würt- phases of municipal affairs: the phase in which plebiscite generally speaking bestows a “higher temberg can still be seen as a “dream job”. decisions are prepared, the phase in which con- order” on the respective office bearer. The direct sultations are held and legal decisions made in election means not only more citizen participa- The south German council constitution, the the municipal council and finally the phase in tion, it also strengthens the authority of the mayor, municipal constitutional system in Baden-Würt- which the decisions are implemented. In addition, who stands before the municipal council as the temberg, creates the best prerequisites for the the municipal code in Baden-Württemberg grants elected representative of the people and can mayor’s strong position. The head of the munici- the head of the municipality a further instrument of claim to enforce his ideas with reference to the pality simultaneously combines three functions power, even if this is rarely used: the mayor is en- will of the people. This is an incentive for a strong, in his office and position: titled to decide “in lieu of the municipal council”, authoritative personality to stand for the office.

78 municipal administrative system. The most important features of the municipal code in Baden-Württemberg are:

• The municipal council is elected as the rep- resentative of the municipal citizens for a period of five years. • The strong position of the mayor: he is chairman of the council, manages the ad- ministration and is the external representa- tive of the municipality. • The (lord) mayor is elected directly by the citizens in Baden-Württemberg for a pe- riod of eight years. • Numerous elements of direct democracy: the initiation of open councils; a citizen’s request that the municipal council deals with a certain topic; petitions and referen- Meeting of the municipal council dums. in the town of Stühlingen in the south The municipal council is responsible for con- of the Black Forest: one of the few The municipal council trolling the municipal administration. The municipalities in Baden-Württemberg most important rights of the municipal council with a Lady Mayor.

The municipal council is the “main institution are: Photo: Municipality of Stühlingen of the municipality” (§ 24,1 Sentence 1 of • the statutory law (the “legislative right” of the Municipal Code). It is the political repre- the municipality); The municipal councillors have a five year sentative of the citizenship that “determines • the budget law; term of office. Like the district councillors, the principles for the administration of the • the planning authority; members of the state and federal parliament, municipality (…) and [decides] on all affairs of • the personnel authority (the employment they are elected in a universal, direct, free, the municipality, unless the mayor is respon- of municipal civil servants). equal and secret election by the citizens. sible by operation of law.” (§24,1 Sentence 2, The number of municipal councillors de- Municipal Code) pends on the population of the municipality.

Mayors with a background in administration are has increased, this is still a very rare occurrence. A rarity: the Lady Mayor preferably elected in Baden-Württemberg even In most cases, these mayors had lost contact with There are currently (July 2008) 35 Lady Mayors though the municipal code makes no demands on the citizens. Over the past 30 years, there have amongst the more than 1,000 full-time mayors the qualification – apart from a minimum age of been no more than 170 cases, where the mayor in the state, eight of whom are Lord Mayors. 25. Applicants from outside the municipality are was not reelected, hardly more than four percent, This accounts for just 3.3 percent of the total also given preference, so that they can assume relative to the office bearers who stood for reelec- number, though 8.2 percent of Lord Mayors. their office as a mayor for all citizens with no tion. It is not possible to prematurely vote some- Before 1990, when Beate Weber was elected encumbrance. This also means that they maintain one out of power in Baden-Württemberg. After Lady Mayor in Heidelberg, only men had filled a distance to the parties. Almost half of the may- the election, all of the persons involved have to this post in Baden-Württemberg. Since then, a ors are in fact neutral. More than anything else, be prepared for eight years of work together. The total of a further 40 women have been elected. a good mayor needs to be in contact with the municipal council, on the other hand, is elected In this sense it can be said that women have in grass roots. What’s more, he has to have ideas for five years, but there is a high level of person- fact caught up a little. on how the municipality is to progress, or put nel continuity here, too. differently: visions. He has a very good chance of reelection if people see that he goes about his business in a good and neutral way. Although mayors in this country are worried because the number of mayors who have not been re-elected

79 MUNICIPAL FINANCES

The municipalities need money to carry out their work. It is hereby important just how “self-ad- ministration-friendly” the revenues are; i. e. to what extent can the municipalities influence the amount of the revenues, but also how freely can they dispose of these. The municipalities receive their income from three main sources:

• Own tax revenues: these include the real taxes: land and business tax (the municipalities can set their own collection rates), as well as a share of the income and value added tax. These are joined by entertainment duty, dog licence fees, second residence taxes as “petty taxes”. Around three quarters of the tax revenues come from the business tax and income tax. Business tax revenues are very cyclical, income tax flows more steadily. • Grants from the state, federation and the EU: grants can be awarded freely, and then flow like taxes for free use by the municipalities. These include payments that are intended to balance disparities in the funding of the municipalities to a certain extent (“financial equalisation”). These are joined by grants for statutory tasks, for ex- ample, the construction of schools or welfare services. In these cases, the municipalities de- mand full compensation for the costs they have The baroque Town Hall in Wangen im to bear (“principle of connexity”, anchored in Allgäu. Art. 71,3 of the State Constitution). Grants can ment and the general public. The municipal also be tied to projects. This should induce the Photo: Rupert Leser representatives have a right to a hearing that municipalities to adopt a certain behaviour, i. e. is anchored in Art. 71,4 of the State Constitu- the giver specifies whether and on which terms money can be given (“golden reins”). The mu- tion: “Before general questions that affect the nicipalities are free to decide whether they wish The municipal regional municipalities and municipal associations are to accept such offers. associations settled through a law or ordinance, these or • Payments, fees, contributions for services their associations are to be heard in due time.” rendered by the municipalities: kindergartens, There are three municipal regional associations This has led to a close cooperation between the swimming baths, issuing identity documents, in Baden-Württemberg: individual ministries and the three municipal marriages, cemeteries, waste disposal and sew- age treatment as well as development fees for • the “Städtetag Baden-Württemberg” (As- regional associations. residents of streets. sociation of Baden-Württemberg Cities and Towns) with 179 members; The extensive right of participation is based on Each of the different types of income makes up • the “Gemeindetag Baden-Württemberg” the special significance of the municipalities around one third of the municipal budget on (Association of Local Authorities in Baden- in the governmental organisation of the state. average, though the deviations from this aver- age may be considerable in some cases. Other Württemberg), representing 1,062 mem- The decisions taken in the state parliament revenues from the sale of property, rents, for- ber towns and municipalities; are implemented in the municipalities. Impor- est ownership also have to be included. If the • the “Landkreistag Baden-Württemberg” tant questions, for example, of environmental revenues are not high enough, loans can be (Association of Administrative Districts in protection, transport policy, educational and taken out to finance investments, but these have Baden-Württemberg) as representative of cultural policy, cannot be solved without the to be approved by the municipal supervisory the 35 administrative districts. participation of the municipalities. authorities – as do the overall budgets of the municipalities.

The three municipal regional associations rep- resent the manifold interests of their members toward the state government, state parlia-

80 LEGAL CHANNELS AND APPEALS

Ordinary jurisdiction Special administrative courts Constitutional Labour Administrative Civil court Social Federal Finance jurisdiction Criminal cases jurisdiction jurisdiction matters jurisdiction Court (BFH)

Federal Federal Federal Court of Justice (BGH) Social Federal Finance Federal Labour Court Administrative Court jurisdiction Court Constitutional Civil Divisions Criminal Divisions (BAG) (BVerwG) Court

Federation Courts 1 Revision Revision Revision Revision Revision

State Superior Administra- Higher Regional Courts State Labour State Social Constitutional tive Court Revision Court Court Courts Civil Divisions Criminal Divisions (VGH) 6

Appeal Revision Revision Appeal Appeal Appeal

2

Regional Courts Administrative State Labour Courts State Social Courts Finance Courts 4 3 Courts Courts Civil Chambers Criminal Chambers

Appeal Appeal Appeal Appeal Revision

District Courts

Single Common Single judge judge jury 5 7

Art. 92-94 Basic Law, Law on the Judicature Act Rules of the Legal Labour Courts Social Courts Financial Courts Federal Code of Civil Procedure Administrative bases 8 Act Act Act Constitutional Code of Criminal Procedure Courts Court

First instance Appeal instance Revision instance Legal remedy of appeal (factual and legal control)

Legal remedy of revision (only legal control) © 8421medien.de

1 BGH, BAG, BVerwG, BSG and BFH, the supreme federal 5 A common jury only exists in larger district courts. The diagram can only show the jurisdictions expressly courts, form a joint chamber to preserve the uniformity 6 In other federal states, the court is called the Higher prescribed by the Basic Law in Art. 95,1. The following can of decisions (Art. 95,3 Basic Law). Administrative Court (OVG). VGH/OVG and the Federal also be named alongside these: disciplinary courts of the 2 Only if the violation of state law is to be exclusively Administrative Court also have responsibilities at first Federation and states, judicial services courts of the Fede- enforced. instance. ration and states, military service courts (Federation), Patent 3 Including chambers for commercial matters. Single judges 7 Revision against the decisions of the single judge that Appeal Tribunal (Federation), restitution courts (Federation), decide in civil chambers at first instance; disputes from cannot be contested in the appeal. naval courts (for certain ordinary courts), private appeal tribu- certain legal fields are excepted, e. g. medical law, 8 With respect to the State Constitutional Courts, please nals for professional occupations (e. g. doctors, lawyers). copyright; these disputes can, however, be transferred by refer to the pertinent state constitution and the correspon- a chamber resolution to one of its members under certain ding law on the state constitutional court; the names are Original: Fritz Endemann, 2007 circumstances. different: “Staatsgerichtshof”, “Verfassungsgerichtshof”, 4 Only in family matters or if pertinent to other countries. “Landesverfassungsgericht”.

81 THE ECONOMY IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

Probably the most famous invention from the “Ländle”: in 1886 by the first automobile, at that time a motorised the automobile. Gottlieb Daimler from Schorndorf developed carriage. Carl Friedrich Benz from Karlsruhe in Baden the fast running 4-stroke engine together with the “King had built an automobile with a 4-stroke combustion engine of Designers” Wilhelm Maybach in a garden shed in the and electric ignition the previous year, which he also grounds of his villa in Cannstatt, an invention that was to presented in 1886. Berta Benz (illustration) tested her revolutionise transport around the globe. The first motorbike husband Carl Friedrich’s invention. rattled over the cobblestones of Cannstatt in 1885, followed Photo: Daimler AG archive

The southwest of Germany today is one of more ground. Over the past fifty years, the liv- German states and is almost always amongst the most prosperous regions in Germany and ing conditions and economic structure have the leaders in any comparison with other Ger- Europe. The rise of this economic area began changed faster and more lastingly than ever man states. It is an industry and export-orient- with industrialisation in the 19th century. It before. ed state, home on the one hand to industrial was a gradual change from an agrarian to an giants with international reputations such as industrial society – slower than in other in- Today we can see that Baden-Württemberg Daimler, Bosch and IBM Deutschland, though dustrial regions in Germany. This structural has successfully faced up to the challenge on the other hand it still has an SME economic change gathered momentum in the first half posed by globalisation over the past decades. structure (SME = small and medium-sized en- of the 20th century – industrialisation gained It is one of the most efficient and productive terprises). And finally, Baden-Württemberg is

82 tural change and will have to keep developing Structural change and business its traditional innovative strength if it wants sectors to retain its leading position. The goal of the state’s economic policy is to maintain the Over the past years, the service economy has above-average level of employment and pros- made an above-average contribution to the perity by creating effective parameters for the economic performance and, above all, employ- economic policy and hereby help companies ment in Baden-Württemberg. The service sec- in the state to successfully face the changing tor now accounts for way over sixty percent

A COMPARISON OF GERMAN STATES

Unemploy- Area Inhabitants Employees ment rate in GDP Foreign trade Share of fede- Share of fede- Share of fede- percent per wage Share of fede- ral territory ral territory ral territory for all civil earner ral territory in percent in percent in percent wage earners in euros in percent

FEDERAL TERRITORY 100 100 100 13.0 57,899 – Baden-Württemberg 10.0 13.0 13.9 7.8 61,236 15.7 Bavaria 19.8 15.1 16.2 8.9 63,512 16.3 Berlin 0.2 4.1 3.9 21.5 51,736 1.3 Brandenburg 8.3 3.1 3.1 19.9 47,772 0.8 Bremen 0.1 0.8 0.7 18.3 64,231 1.6 Hamburg 0.2 2.1 2.2 12.9 76,084 2.9 Hesse 5.9 7.4 7.5 10.9 65,270 5.0 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 6.5 2.1 2.0 22.1 44,520 0.4 Lower Saxony 13.3 9.7 9.3 13.0 53,464 7.6 North Rhine-Westphalia 9.5 21.9 20.9 13.2 58,163 18.2 Rhineland-Palatinate 5.6 4.9 5.0 9.9 54,770 4.3 Saarland 0.7 1.3 1.2 11.7 54,230 1.5 Saxony 5.2 5.2 5.0 20.0 45,521 2.2 Saxony-Anhalt 5.7 3.0 2.8 21.7 48,701 1.0 Schleswig-Holstein 4.4 3.4 3.4 13.0 56,296 2.1 Thuringia 4.5 2.8 2.8 18.6 44,649 1.0

Source: Statistisches Bundesamt , 2007 (status 2005) © 8421medien.de one of the most attractive locations for inves- national and international challenges. It is im- of the value creation and employment. In the tors in Europe. portant to create space where ideas and initia- course of this structural change, the sectoral tives can develop and flourish in an export- economic structure of Baden-Württemberg has The strengths of the Baden-Württemberg intensive state such as Baden-Württemberg so developed more and more into a “tri-partite” economy are the distinctive clusters for auto- that these can then be turned into innovative system of industry, business-related service mobile and production technology, its tech- and competitive products and services. providers and personal and consumeristic serv- nology competence, the internationality and ices. Thus, the sector of mainly knowledge- interaction between big companies and SMEs. intensive and business-related services (R & D, Nevertheless, the state is undergoing a struc- data processing services and software develop-

83 • a relatively low unemployment rate; • an above-average development in produc- tivity and a high speed of technological in- novation; • a strong orientation to the world market, reflected in a high export quota and high corporate assets abroad; • a high financial power and thus a high con- tributor share in the horizontal financial equalisation between states.

One reason for the state’s economic success is its location. Given the lack of natural raw materials, it is qualification, innovative work and a high flexibility of the people that are the real sources of the state’s strength. The great love of “tinkering around” can be seen in the patent statistics and the high level of expenditure for research and development. This also determines whether the positive eco- nomic trend will become stable and whether the state can tackle the problems of the 21st century: tougher international competition

Innovation has a tradition in the South- A PARADISE FOR TINKERERS west: the region around Freiburg im ment, information and communication, con- Breisgau is one of the centres of inno- Leading position for patents sulting services, engineering and architectural vation in the state. The photo shows the Baden-Württemberg takes first place in the Euro- services, advertising and financial services, solar factory in Freiburg. This factory pean Union when it comes to innovative ability. the credit services sector, insurance compa- building is the first in Europe that can No other region in Europe has more employees nies, etc.) contributes almost as much to value boast zero emissions for solar electric- in high-tech industries and nowhere – relative creation in the state as industry (28 percent ity modules and covers its electricity to the population – are more patents registered compared to 31 percent). The predominantly and heat requirements exclusively with than in Baden-Württemberg. Inventive talent has personal and consumeristic services (above all regenerative energies. a tradition in this region: almost a quarter of all trade, transport services, hotel and restaurant Photo: Solar-Fabrik AG, Freiburg patent registrations in Germany each year come from the innovative descendants of Johannes Ke- industry, leisure sector, health, culture, educa- pler, Philipp Matthäus Hahn, Gottlieb Daimler, tion, etc.) contribute almost 34 percent. Carl Friedrich Benz and Count Zeppelin. with its technical focus has also established Nevertheless, the shares of value creation and itself in the service sector. employment in the service sector are lower than the national average – which also has Leading position in an inner- a historical background. Although the small- German comparison through European integration and the EU ex- scale, decentralised structure in the South- pansion, globalisation, the continued spread west with its tradition of small trades and The level of services offered by the local econ- of new communication and information tech- handicrafts offered favourable conditions for omy remains high. Baden-Württemberg takes nologies, demographic change, social equality the development of highly-specialised industri- a leading position in a comparison of all Ger- in the state and, not least, the demand for al enterprises, the chances of success for large man states with comprehensive sustainability. service companies were only modest. Techni- • a much higher-than-average per capita in- cal services, on the other hand, have a higher- come; than-average showing in Baden-Württemberg. • a high wage level; The economic structure that has evolved here • a favourable development in employment;

84 ECONOMIC DATA FOR BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

Unit 1995 2000 2005

POPULATION Inhabitants 1,000 10,319 10,524 10,736 Foreigners 1,000 1,348 1,284 1,278 Excess of births over deaths Number 14,726 10,842 201 Net immigration Number 32,572 37,641 18,145

WAGE EARNERS Wage earners 1,000 4,735 4,910 5,093 Labour force participation rate1 % 49.7 49.4 51.1 Self-employed (without agriculture) 1,000 418 437 486 Foreigners 1,000 600 606 609 Share of wage earners Agriculture and forestry % 2.7 2.4 2.0 Industry % 42.8 40.7 38.3 Mining and processing trade % 34.8 33.2 31.5 Building trade % 7.3 6.9 6.1 Commerce, catering trade and transport % 20.2 19.4 20.3 Other services % 34.2 37.5 39.4 Property market, renting Services for companies % 5.8 8.0 9.2 Public and private services % 18.0 19.5 20.5

ECONOMIC POWER Gross domestic product in relevant prices mn. euros 261,064 297,393 330,715 per inhabitant euros 25,358 28,343 30,818 Share of the gross value added (relevant prices) Agriculture and forestry, fishing % 1.1 1.2 0.7 Industry without building trade % 33.1 33.6 34.4 Processing trade % 31.1 32.0 32.7 Engergy and water supplies % 1.9 1.4 1.5 Building trade % 5.7 5.1 4.2 Commerce, catering trade and transport % 15.4 15.9 16.2 Financing, renting and corporate service providers % 26.0 25.5 26.1 Public and private service providers % 18.8 18.7 18.5

LABOUR MARKET Unemployed 1,000 328.3 281.5 385.3 Short-time workers 1,000 24.9 8.1 17.8 Unemployment rate2 % 7.4 5.4 7.0

1 Share of wage earners in the population 2 Relative to all civil wage earners Source: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg

Typical and important sectors of all jobs in industry, takes precedence. The industry with the segments textile, clothing, majority of these jobs are in the three indus- wood and plastics processing as well as the The industrial structure proved to be a decisive trial branches of mechanical engineering, ve- printing trade. The industrial core in Baden- factor for prosperity in the past. The capital hicle construction and electrical engineering. Württemberg is more pronounced than in the goods sector, accounting for almost two thirds These are followed by the consumer goods national average: around one eighth of the

85 population of Germany live in the Southwest, and innovative power is constantly emitting Foreign trade but almost one fifth of all industrial employees stimuli for all parts of the state. work here. The primary and producer goods There is hardly any other state whose econo- industries, on the other hand, are clearly Small trades: the second biggest my is more involved in foreign business than under-represented in the state. This means economic sector Baden-Württemberg. It stands its ground in in- that Baden-Württemberg is not home to those ternational competition, since more and more lines of industry that have been hardest hit by Small trades in Baden-Württemberg are par- companies are supplying the markets in other the international structural change (coal, steel, ticularly formidable – despite the downward European and non-European countries. The shipbuilding, etc.). trend. They stand for continuity, loyalty to a export quota – in other words the share of ex- location, though also innovation. With over ports in the gross domestic product – is almost The industrial conurbations 80,000 companies and around 700,000 em- forty percent; one in three jobs in industry in ployees in almost 125 different trades, around Baden-Württemberg depends on exports. The southwest of Germany traditionally has a 60,000 apprenticeship positions and a total decentralised industrial and economic struc- annual turnover of over 60 billion euros, Exports focus on the capital goods sector. Cars ture. Nevertheless, more than one third of small trades are an important economic factor and automobile parts, machinery, chemical all inhabitants and almost half of the state’s in the state. They are dominated by small-scale products and electrical engineering account production facilities are concentrated in the structures: a maximum of four people work in for large shares of industrial exports, followed industrial conurbations of Baden-Württem- more than half of all companies, less than two at a respectable distance by textiles. Goods to- berg – in the Stuttgart region, the Rhine- percent of the companies employ fifty people talling around 120 billion euros are exported Neckar/Mannheim region and the Middle Up- and more. every year. Goods are exported world-wide, per Rhine/Karlsruhe region. The core region but mainly to EU countries. The biggest re- is the Stuttgart region, one of Germany’s big- cipients are France, Great Britain and Italy. gest industrial conurbations, whose dynamic On the whole, Baden-Württemberg has an above-average presence on markets outside the EU compared to other German states. BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG EXPORTS IN 2005 ACCORDING TO COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION North America and East Asia are two main foci of economic cooperation. The significance of developing countries in Central and Eastern Africa Australia and Oceania Europe, Asia and Latin America as economic 1.8 1.0 partners for Baden-Württemberg will continue Asia to grow steadily in future. The up-and-com- ing national economies of China, India, Rus- sia and the new member states of the EU will 12.7 become more and more important.

Foreign trade is not a one-way street: Baden- Württemberg’s exports are offset by substan- tial imports from around the globe. Thanks to America 15.1 Total 40.7 Eurozone its high level of income, the state is an impor- 123.5 bn. tant sales market for imported goods. Goods euros worth a total of almost 97 billion euros were imported in 2005. The most important im- 5.3 Rest of ported goods are above all chemical products, Europe cars and automobile parts, machinery, though 6.4 also textiles and foods. More than half of all 16.9 imports come from EU countries, followed by EFTA Countries the USA.

Non-Eurozone

Quelle: Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg © 8421medien.de

86 In the exhibition rooms of the State Museum for Technology and Labour in Mannheim, visitors can trace ECONOMY AND SCIENCE the development of today’s Baden- Württemberg from an agricultural There has been a long tradition of cooperation Baden-Württemberg also has a widespread region to a prosperous industrial state. between the economy and science in Baden- system of technology transfer. Companies in The photo shows a two-reel rotary Württemberg. The export-driven, high-income the state can call on a dense network of con- printing press from 1922. state can only remain successful on global tact offices with trade organisations (such

Photo: State Museum for Technology and Labour, Mannheim markets if it develops top-rate technological as the Chambers of Industry and Trade). The products, processes and services. Apart from Steinbeis Foundation primarily supports small the expansion of and support for universities, and medium-sized enterprises through advice, polytechnic colleges and extramural research training and the performance of development institutions, technology centres form the core of orders with its more than 300 specialist transfer Baden-Württemberg: the research and technology policy. centres, most of which are located at the poly- one of the strongest economic technic colleges throughout the state. regions in the EU Baden-Württemberg has the densest network of research institutions of all German states. Apart There are around thirty technology and start-up from the universities, polytechnic colleges and centres in the state to encourage technology- Baden-Württemberg is also one of the strong- science-oriented Max-Planck Institutes, there oriented business start-ups. The classic “SME est economic regions within the European are a number of extramural research institu- state” of Baden-Württemberg thus makes sure Union. With a share of over three percent of tions that are specially aligned to the needs of that small and medium-sized enterprises can the EU’s gross domestic product, it is more im- the economy which still retain close links with also profit from the scientific know-how for their portant than nations such as Sweden, Austria the universities. These include the institutes of start-up and innovative work. the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the joint industrial or Denmark. Export strength is also decisive research institutes, research institutions at the in the European Union: Baden-Württemberg universities and the large-scale research facili- profits from the EU expansion through its cen- ties in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. These research tral location. institutions have economic interests and form the bridge between the basic research that goes on in universities and the technical development of new products and processes in companies.

87 AGRICULTURE

Haymaking below the Wurmlinger chapel near Tübingen.

Photo: Manfred Grohe

No other economic sector has felt the effects of technical improvements had increased this Sideline farming the structural changes since the end of the Sec- number to over 120 by the year 2000. Supply- ond World War more than agriculture. Farming ing the population with organically grown and The importance of small businesses in the has lost its significance in Baden-Württemberg, cheaply-produced food is still one of the main form of family-run farms and the traditionally too – a traditionally strong agrarian region. jobs of farming in Baden-Württemberg. high share of sideline farmers who pursue a More than a quarter of a million farming and profession during the day and work their farm forestry operations have been abandoned since in the evening is still characteristic of agricul- 1950. While a farmer provided food for ten ture in the Southwest. This is in part a conse- people in 1950, revolutionary inventions and quence of the relatively high density of popula-

88 tion, above all in those areas that practise the husbandry means that the average livestock division of real property, though also in the numbers are much lower and dairy farming catchment areas of the larger towns and cities. no longer plays such an important role. Direct These have always lured workers with better- marketing and guest accommodation are much paid jobs in trade and industry. Significantly more widespread amongst organic farmers. In more than half the farms in the state are now the meantime, more than one in twenty farms sideline operations and their share has grown in the state are run according to the criteria of steadily over the past years. organic farming.

Specialised crops Wine paradise Evidence of farming culture in Baden- Baden-Württemberg Württemberg can be seen in the regional Baden-Württemberg is a state of specialised open-air museums. The photo shows crops: “Schwetzinger” asparagus, “Tettnanger” Baden-Württemberg is the second-largest the imposing Haldenhof, a Black Forest hops, “Bühler” damsons, “Filderkraut” (a spe- wine-producing state in Germany with around house from Schonach. The farm building cies of pointed cabbage), Germany’s most im- 66,700 acres, corresponding to roughly one now stands in the open-air museum portant producer of apples, tobacco and straw- quarter of the total area in Germany covered in ob Eck in the district berries, the second largest wine-growing state by vines. Viticulture in the state is famous for of Tuttlingen. Many other open-air in Germany – these examples prove that the its variety and regional specialities. The long museums for cultural history can be cultivation of specialised crops is very impor- growing season and different climatic and soil found in Baden-Württemberg. They are tant in Baden-Württemberg. They place great conditions offer ideal prerequisites for the de- a testimony to a past era and a popular demands on growth factors, require a lot of velopment of subtle nuances in flavour. Both excursion not just for families, because labour input and high requirements on the wine-producing areas in the state, Baden and they make cultural history a “hands-on” experience for everyone. harvesting technology and further processing. Württemberg, are renowned for their specif- Photo: Open-Air Museum But local farmers also make the majority of ic varieties of grapes and specialities. White their income from vegetable products with wines are predominant in the wine-producing specialised crops. area in Baden, along with the cultivation of Burgundy grapes: full-bodied Grauburgunder Klingelberger in Ortenau), luscious Müller- In addition, the Southwest can boast a diver- or Ruländer, lively Spätburgunder and elegant Thurgau wines and hearty Weißherbst. sified agricultural system with cereals, root Weißburgunder. These are rounded off by the crops, oleiferous fruits and fodder growing tangy Gutedel, flowery Riesling (which is called Red wines, on the other hand, rule in as well as pastures and forestry. Regional foci Württemberg. Fruity Trollinger, full-blooded have developed depending on the climate, Lemberger, Schwarzriesling, Portugieser and soil, altitude and sales opportunities. The pro- A common feature of wines from Samtrot are found almost exclusively in the motion of regenerative energies has also left its Baden and Württemberg is their high wine-producing area of Württemberg, where quality: production is limited almost mark on the use of agricultural land: there has there is a long tradition of growing new, cross- exclusively to “Qualitätsweine” been a significant increase in the cultivation of breeding and refining different types of grapes ( of better-quality German silage corn and rape, both of which can wines) and “Qualitätsweine mit in the “Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt be used as energy plants. In other parts of the Prädikat” (former designation of the für Wein- und Obstbau” (State Teaching and state, farming is dominated by animal breed- best-quality German wines, since 2007 Testing Institute for Viticulture and Fruit- ing and husbandry, with their products being shortened to “Prädikatswein”). Growing ) in . This is also where an important source of income. Photo: Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH the Kerner grape was created, a new cross- breed between Trollinger and Riesling, named Organic farming after Justinus Kerner, the Swabian romantic poet. Fruity Riesling, Silvaner, Grauburgunder Several food scandals over the past years have and Gewürztraminer round off the range of sharpened the consumer’s awareness of nutri- Württemberg grapes for white wines. tional behaviour and opened up a better eco- nomic perspective for regional agriculture as well as organic farming. The numerous – and growing number of – organic farms in the state farm more area on average than conventional farms. The basic principle of organic animal

89 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

There are some close causal relationships between energy production and climate change. The photo shows a photovoltaic system to produce environmentally safe solar energy.

Photo: picture-alliance /dpa

As a densely populated industrial state with be done. The central environmental problems, spicuous as the gradual rise in sea levels. The a heavy traffic load, intensive agriculture and however, are not as easily perceptible as be- consequences of these anthropogenic (man- high income and consumption levels, Baden- fore. Mountains of foam on rivers and streams made) effects are gradual processes that take Württemberg is faced with environmental are images of yesteryear, as are factory chim- place over decades. The accumulation of ex- problems. Although a number of environmen- neys spewing out smoke. The causal relation- treme weather conditions over the past years tal impacts have been able to be relieved over ships between an environmentally harmful be- may be a precursor of a noticeable change in the past thirty years, with state actions and haviour and its consequences are much more our living conditions. efforts by industry and commerce leading to complex with today’s challenges. The rise in some remarkable successes, a lot still has to the average global temperature is just as incon-

90 Comprehensive public service Environmental protection is a compre- hensive public service. Sustainable, The preservation of natural resources is a goal nitrate pollution), watercourse morphology, environmentally sound actions affect all with a constitutional status. Baden-Württem- air pollution control (in particular particu- fields of politics and areas of society. berg has had a separate Ministry of the En- late matter and nitrogen oxide, both mainly Photo: Angelika Schober-Penz vironment since 1987, whereby the Ministry produced by traffic), the protection of species of Food and Rural Areas has been responsible and living spaces as well as the reduction of for the living environment and the complete waste amounts, for example. The climate field of biodiversity, in other words the pro- protection goals (above all the reduction of tection of nature and species, since 1996. CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels), In the end, sustainability must permeate all Environmental policy is understood to be a land consumption and state-wide noise con- areas of our life as a guideline for action. The comprehensive and sustainable public service trol, could not be achieved. The Baden-Würt- goal of the initiative is thus to secure the idea by the state government so as to preserve the temberg Sustainability Advisory Board thus of sustainability one step at a time in as many living conditions and opportunities for individ- recommends that the unsolved problems be fields of politics and society as possible. Start- ual development for future generations. State given special attention in the updated envi- ing points are subject areas such as politics has a duty to this principle of sustain- ronmental plan and that the environmental ability. But environmental policy is not just a plan be developed further in the direction of • Sustainable energy supply matter for a few politicians and experts; it is a sustainability. How can this be made climate-compatible, task for everyone in society. safe and competitive? How can we all learn This is where the sustainability strategy of to handle energy more efficiently? The “Baden-Württemberg Environmental Plan” the state of Baden-Württemberg comes in. • Working world, production and work gives all social forces the opportunity to cooper- Sustainable, environmentally sound actions How can we produce sustainably and with ate in a long-term orientation framework. A new are no longer simply a matter of environmen- an efficient use of resources? How can the positioning and environmental policy goals tal policy but are increasingly affecting other working world be organised so that family based on this are drawn up in a cross-media fields of politics. The challenges are manifold: and profession are reconcilable with one approach. At the same time, the environmen- prosperity and further economic development, another, so that young people and older tal plan answers the call of the United Nations fair welfare systems and an intact environment employees both find a meaningful job? Agenda 21 from the Conference of Rio (1992) with a just distribution of resources have to be • Quality of life to prepare plans of action and objectives as tackled simultaneously. This calls for an inte- How can we create a healthy world to live to how a permanently environmentally-sound grative approach offering a long-term orienta- in with good air, clean water, little noise development can be realised. tion for society, the economy and politics: the and unpolluted foods? sustainability strategy. This sustainability strat- • Sustainable development of towns A scientific Sustainability Advisory Board egy is not a rigid plan but a working concept and regions (NBBW) was set up in 2002 with experts from that can be used to deal with central topics for How can we increase the appeal of our various specialist disciplines to accompany the future. Apart from the Ministries, all social towns, retain free spaces and bring living, the dialogue-based implementation process groups should get involved since sustainable working, leisure time and mobility require- for the environmental plan. In 2005 the development affects everyone and can only ments into harmony? NBBW assessed the progress made in achiev- be realised together. Representatives from the ing the goals of the environmental plan and economy, environmental and nature protec- The sustainability strategy is an ambitious determined that important milestones had tion, special interest groups, churches, un- project that goes far beyond simply ecological been reached, but that great efforts were still ions, clubs, municipalities, though individual questions. The initiative has thus been created needed in some sectors. This is particularly citizens, too, are taking an active part in this to span a space of time that goes beyond a true of groundwater protection (in particular sustainability strategy. legislative period.

91 As sustainable development calls for a change sewage treatment as well as the cooperation which millions of people, animals and plants in the way in which all of us think and act, with EU accession states. Apart from improv- are living today. Agenda 21 thus names education as a key in- ing the environmental situation and living strument on the way to sustainable develop- conditions of the people in these regions, these The worst consequences of climate change ment. The state government has been working initiatives also offer opportunities for the do- can only be prevented if we succeed in check- at anchoring the idea of sustainability in various mestic economy on the fast-growing export ing the global rise in temperature. The time fields of education for many years with a vari- market for environmental technology, where window in which any further rise in tempera- ety of different projects such as the “Schools Baden-Württemberg has a leading position. ture can be prevented will close within the on course for environment” promotional pro- This is due not least to the specific support next two decades. Rapid and resolute action is gramme, teaching material and further educa- for research work into solving environmental thus needed to reduce the greenhouse gases. tion courses. The UN decade of “Education for problems. Even more so if one considers that consistent a sustainable development” proclaimed by the climate protection also reduces the dependen- United Nations for the years 2005 to 2014 has Climate protection and climate change cy on energy imports, spares energy resources given this process additional momentum. The Climate change is in full swing and its effects and leads to lower pollutant emissions thanks state government resolved the “Shaping the are being felt in Baden-Württemberg, too. The to a lower consumption of fossil fuels, along- future – Education for a sustainable develop- question of whether mankind is changing the side lower CO2 emissions. ment in Baden-Württemberg” plan of action climate or whether natural fluctuations are at the end of 2005. It is aimed at anyone who responsible for the climate change has been The state of Baden-Württemberg has thus wants to get involved in the UN decade of categorically answered by climate research in developed the “Climate Protection Concept sustainable development, for example, in the the meantime: the carbon dioxide concentra- 2010”. It should be possible to reduce CO2 “Learning sustainability” network. tion in the atmosphere has been rising due to emissions on average by between two and our economic development since the Indus- four million tons per year in the period 2008 Cross-border and international trial Revolution. This increase strengthens the to 2012 if its measures are implemented. The environmental protection; envi- natural greenhouse effect and leads to global key measures to achieve effective climate pro- ronmental research warming of the earth’s surface and in the low- tection are to save energy, use energy more er layers of air. efficiently and expand the use of regenerative Sustainable, ecologically sound action affects energies. not only all fields of politics, the economy and The consequences of climate change for na- society but also has cross-border aspects. Air ture and the environment, the economy and Baden-Württemberg is thus aiming to reduce and water pollution as well as detrimental ef- for the health of people are considerable, as the per capita energy consumption over the fects on the climate know no national fron- demonstrated by the storms, floods and peri- next ten years by twenty percent and to dou- tiers. One example of a successful and long- ods of drought over the past years. But in the ble the share of regenerative energies by the standing cross-border cooperation is the Lake case of Baden-Württemberg, and with today’s year 2010 (compared to 1997). The next step Constance area. A cooperative dialogue and level of knowledge, it can be assumed that will be a twenty-percent share of regenerative joint measures by the European regions are adjustments to these new conditions will, by energies for electricity production by the year called for both here and along the Rhine. The and large, be possible. In certain sectors such 2020. state has been cooperating in the International as summer tourism or viticulture, we can even Water Protection Commission for Lake Con- expect some advantages. Nevertheless, winter The share of regenerative energies in primary stance (IGKB) since 1959 with the neighbour- tourism will have to be prepared for changes. energy consumption was 5.1 percent in 2005, ing states and cantons for the preservation and and a continued dynamic development is ex- sustainable protection of the Lake Constance Scenarios for the future are much more dra- pected. The latter also applies for energy ef- ecosystem. matic in some of the earth’s other climate ficiency and energy saving: these fields have zones, beginning in the Mediterranean region. great potential that can largely be exploited Commensurate with the global character of Climatic conditions in the tropics and subtropi- by measures which pay off. But none of this important environmental problems such as cal areas as well as near the poles often mean should distract from the fact that enormous climate protection, the state is also involved a life under extreme conditions for the peo- efforts are still required to achieve effective in environmental development cooperation. ple that live there, which are often a threat to climate protection. Climate protection calls A state like Baden-Württemberg has to allow their very existence. The intensity of climatic for staying power – none of us can afford to developing and threshold countries to share catastrophes such as floods and desertification take a breather. in its innovative concepts and solutions. This as well as the melting and breaking apart of ice is done, for example, with concrete projects sheets could reach dimensions that lead to the in China on energy efficiency in and reshaping and destruction of entire regions in

92 Air pollution environmental policy. Over the past forty years of more frequent extreme rainfall and an un- or so, numerous measures have succeeded in stopped increase in soil sealing through build- The great improvement in the quality of air greatly improving the quality of the bodies of ing activities. Within the scope of the flood since the mid 1980ies is primarily due to the water throughout the state. The water protec- protection strategy, the flood damage risks consistent renovation of industrial plants and tion areas could be almost doubled to help pro- in the state and across the borders should be power stations, the use of low-sulphur fuels tect groundwater. But it is not just the state moderated in future through joint action and and the introduction and constant further de- that is responsible for the groundwater: cross- the actual damage caused by flooding reduced velopment of computer-controlled catalytic border programmes for water monitoring exist or even eliminated completely through spe- converters in vehicles. These measures led to a significant reduction in the classic air pol- lutants sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and dust. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work to do in the field of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and ammonia in view of the high ozone levels in summer, acid rain and nu- trient contamination. In addition, the improve- ments that have been made, are not adequate to comply with the new European limits for particulate matter in ambient air (since 2005) and nitrogen dioxide (as of 2010) in areas of heavy traffic.

In order to further improve the quality of air, air purification plans and plans of action have been drawn up with local and regional meas- ures, with a great emphasis on road traffic. This is why measures to reduce emissions from traf- fic take priority. Measures such as a ban on old, high-emission vehicles are unavoidable. But measures on a German and European level The drinking water reservoir of the are also needed. The aim is a further significant Lake Constance Water Supply Joint reduction in the pollutant amounts emitted di- with the neighbours France, Switzerland and Authority (BWV) in on Lake rectly at their sources in traffic, industry, com- Austria and in a pan-European context with Constance: this is where the treated merce and domestic combustion (e.g. wood- the EC Water Framework Directive (applica- water from Lake Constance is fed into fired heating systems). Climate protection ble since 2000), which covers the protection the network of pipelines that reaches through the use of wood as a fuel may not be of groundwater and surface water. The valu- to the northernmost tip of Baden- at the expense of air purification. able ecological habitats and reservoirs can only Württemberg. Around four million be protected on an international level in this people in Baden-Württemberg are sup- Protection of water and pro- network. plied with roughly 140 million cubic tection against flooding metres of water from Lake Constance A total of more than 2,600 water protection every year. Baden-Württemberg has an abundance of areas have been established in Baden-Würt- Photo: picture-alliance /dpa water. Around three quarters of the state’s temberg. This corresponds to roughly 21 per- drinking water comes from ground water and cent of the total area of the state. By the year spring water. Groundwater is a resource of el- 2010, it is planned to identify 29 percent of ementary importance. But it is contaminated the total area of the state as protection areas by numerous – man-made – pollutants: from to guarantee the quality of the groundwater industry and commerce, energy supplies, traf- throughout the state. fic, sewage disposal, agriculture, air pollutants and abandoned polluted areas. Water protec- Protection against flooding remains a never- tion is thus one of the most important tasks in ending task, not least against the background

93 cific flood water management. This will take into account issues related to water ecology. Technical flood protection will concentrate, for example, on continuing the programmes that have been started on the Rhine, Danube, Neckar as well as regional flood protection plans.

Measures will also be taken for the manage- ment of areas affected by flooding. The aim of these provisions for endangered areas is to prevent new buildings in and the reckless use of areas susceptible to flooding in future. The state government regards the natural re- tention of water on the surface, particularly through preventive flood protection – which is also relevant for regional planning – as a key instrument to help reduce the floodplain discharge quantities and rates. In addition, former floodplains (containment areas) should be recovered. The development of near-natu- ral watercourses and the restoration of flood- plain dynamics also contribute to an effective protection against flooding.

Furthermore, the organisational premises to The Rhine floodplains near Ober- effectively combat remaining flood risks will hausen-: they form impor- be improved. A reliable and prompt flood tant flooding areas and are thus warning helps greatly in reducing the remain- There was a drop in the conversion of free instrumental in protection against ing risks. The state’s flood warning centre is flooding. space into settlement and traffic space from regularly improved to keep up with the state- Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg 11.8 to 8.8 ha/day between 2001 and 2005 – of-the-art. The water level measuring network but there still is no permanent reversal from and precipitation measuring network are in- an external to an internal development in dispensable as bases for data. sight. On the contrary: 2006 once again saw a pansion of the infrastructure – a problematic de- slight rise to 9.4 ha/day, probably due to the Land use management velopment in view of the demographic changes economic recovery. The great potential for in- that are taking place in our society. Housing es- ternal development (fallow areas, conversion One urgent environmental topic – particularly tates for young families on former “green fields” areas, gaps between buildings, renovation of in the sense of sustainability in general and outside the settlement cores can lead to isolated existing buildings) will have to be mobilised in view of the protection against flooding – is areas which then have a poor infrastructure for in future more than ever before to prevent an the excessively high use of land through the older people in the medium term. over-planning of open spaces. conversion of open spaces (usually agricultural land) into settlement and traffic areas. The en- Over the past fifty years, the areas for settle- According to the environmental plan and a vironmental damages associated with the use ments and traffic have more than doubled in resolution of the Council of Ministers from of land are sometimes gradual and only appear Baden-Württemberg while the population has 2004, the state is pursuing a long-term strat- after a longer period of time. This leads to con- only risen by two thirds. Mass motorisation egy to combat land consumption. The use of tinuous losses of ecological functions in the benefits a dispersed settlement structure, the as yet undeveloped areas for settlement and soil as well as habitats for flora and fauna. reduction in the size of households brings traffic purposes is to be significantly reduced about a rise in the number of apartments that by the year 2012. But this is only possible to- Other consequences of uncontrolled develop- are needed. The average living space per in- gether with the municipalities as institutions ment are the increase in the volume of traffic habitant has almost doubled since 1965 from of the local planning authority. Catchwords and energy consumption as well as the costly ex- 22 to 43 square metres. here include space efficiency, the precedence

94 of internal development and intensification of President Oettinger in his government policy the cooperation between municipalities and statement in June 2006 where he proclaimed regions. The state also created an action al- “Net Zero” as the long-term goal for land liance “Win space in Baden Württemberg” consumption, for demographic reasons, too, in October 2004 to accompany this measure. analogous to the “Net Zero” for the state in- Municipalities, the economy and nature con- debtedness. servation associations are now working on changing attitudes in settlement development. The successes of this land use management are reported on a regular basis.

The coalition agreement of April 2006 also schedules a significant reduction by 2012, a stringent enforcement of administrative rules and planning guidelines, a tightening up of approval procedures for zoning plans, a co- ordination of existing support programmes and greater efforts to clean up abandoned pol- luted areas. This was underlined by Minister The daily evening rush hour on the A5 motorway near Karlsruhe: the increased volume of traffic continues to claim more and more space.

Photo: picture-alliance /dpa

95 EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

In a state with no appreciable raw materials and in a knowledge and service society that is governed by the laws of globalisation, human education is the capital and insurance for the future.

Photo: picture-alliance /dpa

The politics of education and science is at ticularly in the fields of personnel, university and states in research of national interest is the heart of the cultural sovereignty of the admissions, right of choice and university still possible. states. It is a key part of their independence. construction. The reform of the federal system that was The states cooperate in the Standing Confer- resolved in 2006 places the relationship be- The states remain responsible for the school ence of the Ministers of Education on the top- tween the federation and the states on a new politics. Vocational training and further educa- ics of learning and education, universities and footing in the field of education, science and tion as well as the grants system still lie within research as well as culture. One of the main research. By unravelling the responsibilities, the competence of the federation. The possi- jobs of the Standing Conference of the Min- new opportunities arise for the states, par- bility of cooperation between the federation isters of Education is to ensure a high level

96 assume another decline in the number of Targeted industrial placements encourage schoolchildren. the vocational orientation and aptitude for training. Weaker pupils have the chance to The four-year primary school is the common receive intensive support in cooperation with basic level in the school system. Its duty is vocational schools. Particularly gifted children the development of the various abilities of chil- are offered a tenth year at a central “Haupt- dren in a common course of education. The schule” that teaches an extended general main concern is to give every child the chance education. It is concluded with a final exami- of mobility within Germany. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Science, Research and Art represent the in- terests of the state of Baden-Württemberg in their respective fields of responsibility.

A profusion of educational and research institutions

Baden-Württemberg has a very diversified educational system: it offers not only prima- ry, secondary, grammar and special schools throughout the state but also has more uni- versities than many other German states. The state has set examples with its functioning vocational school system and the expansion of technical colleges, polytechnics as well as “Berufsakademien” (higher education institu- tion in Germany with professional orientation and on-the-job training) – an “invention” from Baden-Württemberg. More than 1.3 million pupils attend one of the numerous schools in Baden- General education schools of individual learning according to their abili- Württemberg. Following a rise in the ties. The encouragement of children – from number of pupils since the 1990ies, Following a drop in the number of pupils at slow learners through to highly gifted – thus forecasts are assuming a drop in the general education schools in the 1980ies, the runs through the reform projects of past years number of schoolchildren. numbers have been rising again in Baden- like a central thread. The educational package Photo: picture-alliance / dpa Württemberg since 1990. There are currently “A new approach to starting school” is based just over 1.3 million young people attending on the developmental stage and individual po- a school in the state. Nevertheless, forecasts tentials of the children.

Baden-Württemberg has decided to retain the nation that is equivalent to a leaving certifi- traditional three-tiered school system. Com- cate from a “” (secondary school STATE CONSTITUTION prehensive schools thus did not survive the leading to higher education). The goal of the trial phases. Nor do all-day schools have a “” with “Werkrealschule” is to legal basis as standard schools. After primary ensure the pupil’s aptitude for connectivity Article 11,1 school the “Hauptschule” (general second- and training. The project examination as part “Every young person is entitled to an education ary school) takes pupils through to year 9 of the “Hauptschule” final examination tests and training commensurate with their capabi- and concludes with a state-wide, central final technical, personal, social and methodical lities, regardless of their origins or economic competences. The economy places great store situation.” examination. Learning in the “Hauptschule” with “Werkrealschule” (secondary technical in the examination since it allows a verifica- school) takes its bearings from the educational tion of the competences expected by the firms requirements and demands of the learners. offering apprenticeships and traineeships.

97 Children and teenagers should be taught curiosity and open-mindedness, The six-year “Realschule” offers an additional schule” often choose to attend an academic the power of concentration and core subject to the regular combination of sub- and vocational upper-secondary school or perseverance, though also the joy jects as of year 7: technology, mankind and the grammar school after the “Realschule” to gain of learning, experimenting, observation environment or French. This differentiation al- their higher education entrance qualification. as well as an interest in music and lows priorities to be set in line with a pupil’s In addition, pupils can also attend an “Aufbau- arts at school. aptitude. The leaving certificate from a “Real- ” after year 6 and 7 – and later, too, Photo: picture-alliance /dpa schule” opens up a number of chances for fur- in individual cases – so as to gain their higher ther training and education. An apprenticeship education entrance qualification. fine arts or sport as main subjects. More and in industry, trade, business and administration more schools are offering not just classical lan- can lead to an advanced technical college en- The grammar school normally follows the guages as well as English and French, but also trance qualification through the successful at- primary school and lasts eight years. Pupils other modern languages such as Spanish, Por- tendance of a “Fachschule”. At the same time from a “Hauptschule” or “Realschule” can tuguese, Italian, Russian or – as later foreign the young people receive a state certificate, also gain the higher education entrance quali- languages – Turkish , Chinese and Japanese. for example as technician or business econo- fication in courses at an “Aufbaugymnasium During the last two years in the sixth form, mist. The advanced technical college entrance mit Internat”. Within the grammar school pupils learn in a course system. Since the qualification can also be obtained through a course of studies pupils can choose between school year 2002/2003 there are numerous professional apprenticeship in a “Berufskolleg” certain subjects and foreign language prefer- optional choices that can be made within a or after professional training by attending a ences. Most pupils choose a science or arts group of subjects alongside the obligatory core one-year “Berufskolleg”. Pupils from a “Real- profile, though some schools also offer music, subjects of German, mathematics and one for-

98 eign language. The scope for work in school The vocational schools each school leaving certificate leads to the has been extended by optional modules for the next stage of learning. Pupils can thus achieve individual subjects and specialisations. The state and private vocational schools the next level of qualification and exploit their (including health care schools) in Baden- individual talents. Handicapped pupils visit normal schools if Württemberg are attended by around 410,000 the circumstances at these schools can guar- full-time or part-time students. Trade schools antee the teaching and educational objec- account for the majority of vocational schools. STATE CONSTITUTION tives. A number of different types of special The main quality factor is the close link be- schools throughout the state cater for children tween theory and practice, taught in two plac- Article 22 and adolescents with handicaps who have a es, the company and the vocational school. high level of special educational needs. These This dual system gives every young person “Adult education must be encouraged by the state, municipalities and administrative dis- the opportunity to learn a qualified trade or tricts.” profession allowing them to start work directly after leaving school. Around two thirds of one age group currently begin a dual vocational education. Further education in Baden- The vocational schools in the state offer vo- Württemberg cational and general education leaving certifi- cates ranging from a “Hauptschule” certificate Baden Württemberg is at the forefront in through to higher education entrance quali- Germany with around 65 percent of the work- fications. The flexibly structured system of ing population holding some form of vocational schools in Baden-Württemberg ensures that or professional qualification. The range of fur- ther education and training courses available stretches from publicly funded further educa- The dual educational system with tion (e. g. adult education centres, church-sup- schools and companies has proven ported organisations, union further education itself and is a cornerstone of vocational institutions), non-supported, privately organ- training in Baden-Württemberg. ised courses through to in-company and in-

Photo: Bosch terplant further education. There is a growing

Learning in groups and in subject combinations is becoming increasingly important. We have to broaden our horizons and look beyond the narrow constraints of a single subject.

Photo: picture-alliance /dpa schools offer the same leaving certificates as the normal schools. Pupils can change from a special to a normal school or vice versa at any time.

The Basic Law (Art. 7 para. 4 sentence 1) and the Law on Private Schools of Baden-Würt- temberg guarantee the foundation and exist- ence of private schools. There are currently around 400 private general education schools in the state including evening schools, free Waldorf schools, private special schools and other private vocational schools.

99 Freiburg, Heidelberg and Tübingen, each of the younger universities in Hohenheim, Karls- ruhe, Constance, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Ulm offer students a special focus. The state has its very own type of university to train teachers with the various colleges of educa- tion. The future teachers for primary, second- ary and special schools are educated here con- certedly and on a high academic level. The academies of art and music train young talents as musicians, designers, filmmakers, music journalists and visual artists.

The technical colleges provide scientific teach- ing with a high degree of practical orientation. Apart from the classic subjects in engineering sciences, business administration and social studies, new courses in the fields of media, information and communication are also on

More than 240,000 young people STATE CONSTITUTION are studying at universities in Baden- offer the most up-to-date teaching conditions Württemberg. Article 14, 1 and 2 in numerous subjects and fields. These are Photo: picture-alliance /dpa joined by the Film Academy in Ludwigsburg, “General school attendance is compulsory.” “Instruction and schoolbooks and equipment in the Pop Academy in Mannheim and the Acad- state schools are free. (…)” demand for the “softer” forms of further edu- emy for Visual Arts in Ludwigsburg, three cation such as informal further education and more excellent teaching institutions for impor- Article 20, 1 self-controlled learning. tant genres. All of this is rounded off by the pri- “The university is free in its research and vate universities with courses in the fields of teaching.” Against the background of comprehensive social studies, economics and communication. Article 21, 1 and 2 economic, technological and social challeng- More than 240,000 young people are studying “Young people are to be educated in schools es, further education is becoming increasingly at one of the institutions of higher education to become free and responsible citizens and important alongside schools, universities and in the state, including around 36,000 foreign are to be involved in the organisation of school professional training as an independent part students, proving the international appeal of life.” of the education system within the context of Baden-Württemberg as a university location. “Social studies is a regular subject in all lifelong learning. In its various forms, further schools.” education allows the creative use of new op- The universities are characterised by theory- portunities and a personal confrontation with based education and by the combination of complex contemporary and future social, cul- research and teaching on a high level. They offer. Students at a Berufsakademie already tural, economic and technical developments. regularly achieve top positions in the vari- have an apprenticeship with a partner com- ous nationwide rankings. The universities in pany during their course of studies. The close Education, science and research Baden-Württemberg have also been very suc- links between theory and practice are charac- cessful in the excellence initiative of the “top teristic of this dual education. With over 52 state universities and “Berufs- universities”. By encouraging the up-and-com- akademien” as well as around twenty church ing generation of academics and scientists, On account of demographic developments and private universities, Baden-Württemberg through technology transfer, further education and double the amount of sixth formers, there has one of the most diverse higher education courses and intensive communication with will be an almost twenty percent increase in landscapes in Germany. The nine universities, the economy, the universities in Baden-Würt- the number of young people eligible to attend six colleges of education, eight art and mu- temberg help to guarantee an internationally university in Baden-Württemberg by the end sic academies, 23 technical colleges and the competitive centre for science and research. of 2012. Around 16,000 new places for first- “Berufsakademie” with its eight study centres Apart from the three classical universities in year students will be needed by then. The

100 state is facing up to this challenge through an the Bachelor course, normally ends after six to state politics. The income from the tuition fees intensive dialogue with the economy in the eight terms with the first degree that entitles will be used to improve the syllabus. Anyone “University 2012” initiative. the bearer to practice a profession. A Masters who is unable or unwilling to pay the tuition degree can then be earned in a two to four- fees is entitled to a loan. This has to be paid Practice-oriented with Bachelor term postgraduate course that deals with the back two years after the final degree – but only and Master topics in more depth. The basis and reason for if a certain income has been reached. There this change is the declaration from are also numerous exceptions to the charging The universities and “Berufsakademien” in 1999, in which the European Ministers of of fees. Baden-Württemberg have been undergoing a Education initiated the creation of a European process of internationalisation and modernisa- university area and the harmonisation of their Research in Baden-Württemberg tion for many years. This essentially involves a systems of higher education. This fundamental change from the former “Diplom” and Magis- reform of the higher education system, aimed Baden-Württemberg is one of the richest re- ter courses to the tiered course structure with at a high-quality course of studies with short- search regions in Europe. Around 3.9 percent Bachelor and Masters degrees. The first level, er study periods, should be completed by the of the gross domestic product goes into re- year 2010. search and development work – a top interna- tional figure. The universities are the biggest Institutions of higher education Baden-Württemberg introduced tuition fees research institutions in the state and centres in Baden-Württemberg amounting to 500 euros per term in the 2007 of internationally recognised basic research.

Institutions of higher education in Baden-Württemberg summer term – a controversial decision in They are home to almost twenty percent of all Collaborative Research Centres of the Ger- man Research Foundation: twelve institutes UNIVERSITIES COLLEGES OF EDUCATION of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft are located in ACADEMIES OF MUSIC AND ART the Southwest and a further 14 institutions of TECHNICAL COLLEGES the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. One quarter of PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES MANNHEIM BERUFSAKADEMIEN the research capacity of German national re- FILM ACADEMY HEIDELBERG search centres is concentrated in Baden-Würt- POP ACADEMY temberg, for example the German Cancer Re- SCHWETZINGEN MOSBACH search Centre in Heidelberg. The more than BRUCHSAL HEILBRONN 100 extra-mural research institutions are often networked with the state’s universities. This efficient infrastructure of universities, techni- SCHWÄBISCH HALL cal colleges and research centres with various AALEN LUDWIGSBURG competences in basic and applied research is KARLSRUHE SCHWÄBISCH-GMÜND of vital importance for the future of the state. STUTTGART PFORZHEIM

ESSLINGEN S.-HOHENHEIM KEHL CALW HEIDENHEIM NÜRTINGEN OFFENBURG TÜBINGEN REUTLINGEN ULM

LAHR ROTTENBURG

FURTWANGEN ALBSTADT-SIGMARINGEN BIBERACH VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN FREIBURG

WEINGARTEN ISNY

RAVENSBURG WEILHEIM KONSTANZ FRIEDRICHSHAFEN LÖRRACH

© 8421medien.de

101 ART AND CULTURE

The open-air performances on the steps in front of St. Michael in Schwäbisch Hall began in 1925 with “Everyman” by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The photo shows a scene from this traditional play, which still enjoys great popularity in Schwäbisch Hall.

Photo: Freilichtspiele Schwäbisch Hall, Jürgen Weller

Thanks to its historically developed, decen- Gallery and State Art Gallery, State Museum, tutional duties of the state and municipalities tralised structure, Baden-Württemberg has an State Library. in Baden-Württemberg. Public cultural institu- immensely dense cultural landscape whose tions on a state and regional level, though also richness lies in its regional diversity and in- But the presence of the cultural centres of the private patrons and non-profit clubs and initia- tensity. In addition, state culture has always old Electoral Palatinate, Mannheim and Hei- tives, help keep the state’s cultural diversity existed as a double act: the former capitals delberg, the former Further Austrian Freiburg alive, even in financially difficult times. and residencies of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe still or cities such as Ulm and Heilbronn are also have important institutions so that there are beyond their own regions. Support and encour- Art and culture have long been recognised as two of each in the state: State Theatre, State agement of the cultural life is one of the consti- not just a factor for the quality of life but also

102 Theatre landscape many can be found in Baden-Baden, namely the Festspielhaus. The Württemberg State Theatres in Stuttgart and the Baden State Theatre in Karlsruhe as- Germany’s biggest and oldest open-air theatre sume central functions in the theatre land- can be found in Ötigheim. The Castle Festival scape of Southwest Germany. The State Opera in Jagsthausen began in 1950 at this historical in Stuttgart has been voted “Opera House of location with “Götz von Berlichingen”. Open- the Year” several times in succession. Three regional theatres in Tübingen-Reutlingen, a motor for society, politics and the economy. Esslingen and Bruchsal play for not only their A functioning and diverse cultural landscape home towns but also the surrounding areas. is a location factor: for companies, qualified They bring good and local theatre to the en- employees, immigration. It is a source of crea- tire state with numerous guest performances. tivity and innovation – and attracts visitors to The municipal theatres are a centrepiece of Baden-Württemberg. urban culture and an expression of municipal self-confidence. They make an important con- A lively local history tribution to local culture with a very diverse programme: the traditional “Nationaltheater” The historical legacy of the Southwest is its in Mannheim as the biggest municipal mixed diversity. This is reflected by a wealth of at- programme in Germany, the four other mixed tractive old towns with their mediaeval cen- programme houses with their own ensemble tres, world-famous religious buildings, castles in Heidelberg, Freiburg, Ulm and Pforzheim and palaces from every era of art history. Each as well as the theatres in Aalen, Baden-Baden, year, more than three million people visit the Heilbronn and Constance. “State Castles and Gardens” alone, including the in Stuttgart as a highlight – a A plethora of privately-funded theatres often unique combination of historical park and provide important artistic stimuli on financial- zoo. ly thin ice. These range from classical theatre, local dialect theatre through to marionette and The Stuttgart Ballet is one of the So it comes as no surprise to learn that Baden- puppet theatres, dance theatre and cabaret. best companies in the world and Württemberg has three UNESCO World Herit- The free theatres are the independent basis of a treasured “export article”. age Sites: Monastery (since 1993), the theatre landscape, always in search of in- It was founded in 1961 by John the most completely preserved monastery novative working methods and forms of pres- Cranko who took it to world renown. north of the Alps, the Monastic Island of Rei- entation. The “Free Scene” normally relies on He was succeeded as director by chenau (since 2000) as outstanding evidence young, up-and-coming actors who are given a Márcia Haydée and Reid Anderson. of early mediaeval architecture and literature “stage” and who in turn provide stimuli for the The photo shows a scene from in Central Europe and the -Rhae- further development of the theatre. “Voluntaries” (choreography Glen tian Limes (since 2005). The longest antique Tetley) with Maria Eichwald and monument in Europe stretches for 548 km, a Theatre pageants, festivals and open-air Jason Reilly. large part of it through Baden-Württemberg. theatre exert a particular appeal with their Photo: Stuttgart Ballet Heidelberg with its palace and old city centre seasonal attractions in the mostly “theatre- as well as have a good free” holiday period and in attractive historic air theatre is offered in Schwäbisch Hall on the chance of being added to the list of UNESCO venues. They are highlights of cultural life, steps in front of St. Michael. Other summer World Cultural Heritage Sites. All of these crowd-pullers and gain recognition far beyond attractions include the open-air stages in Hei- sites attract millions of visitors from Germany the state frontiers: the Ettlingen Palace Fes- denheim, , Grötzingen, , and abroad. tival, Opera Festival in Heidenheim, Rossini Reutlingen and many other places. Festival in Wildbad, Schwetzinger Festival and Festival, the Interna- tional Lake Constance Festival, the Marquee Music Festival in Freiburg or Händel Festival and European Culture Days in Karlsruhe. Fur- thermore, the biggest Opera House in Ger-

103 Music in Baden-Württemberg sic festivals. The “Kammermusikaufführungen zur Förderung zeitgenössischer Tonkunst” Orchestras play an important role in the (“chamber music performances to encourage musical life of the state, many of them be- contemporary musical art”) were launched in ing famous beyond the state borders. Apart 1921 in Donaueschingen, today’s “Donau- from the Radio Symphony Orchestras of the eschinger Musiktage”. The “Neutöner” (term Südwestrundfunk in Baden-Baden and Stutt- used to describe contemporary composers and gart, a further eight professional orchestras in musicians who experiment with new sounds),

The so-called “Feuerbachsaal” in the Karlsruhe State Art Gallery that was opened in 1846 houses some im- portant works by the painter Anselm Feuerbach. The Karlsruhe State Art Gallery, one of the oldest museum buildings in Germany, owns important examples of old German painting, Flemish, Dutch and French baroque. 19th century art – from France as well as the German Romantic Period and art from Baden – also ranks highly in the collection. The modern collection with important works of art from the 20th century is on show in the Orangerie of the Art Gallery.

Photo: Felix Gross

of international rank, distinguished municipal and private collections, important special mu- seums and regional rural open-air museums through to a whole range of small museums The New State Gallery in Stuttgart, run on a voluntary basis. Around 13 million built between 1977 and 1984 as above all Paul Hindemith, left their mark here visitors each year speak for themselves. a post-modern extension to the State and helped the “Musiktage” achieve world Gallery by the British architect James Stirling (1926–1992), presents not renown. But jazz and pop are also firmly root- A cultural mile of European importance runs only its permanent collections but also ed in the state – with the Pop Academy in through the middle of Stuttgart. The Stuttgart some sensational special exhibitions. Mannheim, the “Jazzopen” in Stuttgart and State Gallery is one of the most popular and

Photo: Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH the Baden-Württemberg Jazz Festival, which frequently visited art museums in Germany. is held in a different town each year, as well With its neighbours, the State Academy of as numerous local jazz clubs. The State Con- Music and Visual Arts and the “Haus der Ge- Stuttgart, Constance, Reutlingen, Heilbronn, servatories in Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, schichte” (“House of History”, history muse- Pforzheim, Mannheim and Freiburg ensure a Stuttgart and Trossingen offer teaching up to um), it forms an architecturally homogeneous dense and diverse programme of concerts. an international level and thus also provide complex of arts and museums in the centre of new blood for the lively music scene in the the state capital, directly opposite the Würt- The “Gächinger Kantorei” directed by Helmuth Southwest. temberg State Theatres, the Württemberg Rilling stands out amongst the various choirs State Museum and complemented by the Mu- in the state. Rilling also organises the “Interna- State, municipal and private art nicipal Art Museum, exhibiting the Stuttgart tional Bach Academy” in Stuttgart each year, museums Art Collection in a striking “Cube”. an unparalleled series of concerts. A number of famous institutions and ensembles are fur- Around 1,200 very different museums shape The State Art Gallery in Karlsruhe is one of ther highlights in the musical life of the state, the multi-faceted museum landscape in Baden- the oldest and most important art museums which is rounded off by over a dozen large mu- Württemberg: from the large state institutions in Germany. Opened in 1846, it is one of the

104 few art museums that has largely retained its old substance and fittings and exhibits works from eight centuries. With the Museum for New Art as a department of the Centre for Art and Media Technology (ZKM), the state boasts one of Europe’s biggest museums for contemporary art. The “art KARLSRUHE” has established itself as a European art fair for clas- sic modern art through to contemporary art and complements Karlsruhe’s reputation as a The art patron and media mogul city of arts. Further on up the Rhine, the State Frieder Burda has created a crowd- Art Gallery in Baden-Baden repeatedly attracts puller with the Museum Frieder Burda attention with special exhibitions. in Baden-Baden. The Frieder Burda Collection with its focus on classic A number of municipal museums and art gal- modern and contemporary art is ex- leries such as those in Mannheim, Tübingen hibited in a breathtaking museum build- and many other places provide the state with In near Stuttgart, ing designed by the New York archi- a comprehensive programme of exhibitions of the Museum Ritter presents the Marli tect Richard Meier – a “jewel international standing. Balingen, the Braith- Hoppe-Ritter collection in a cubic build- in the park” on the Lichtentaler Allee Mali-Museum in Biberach or the Hohenkarp- ing planned by the Swiss architect in Baden-Baden. fen in (near Tuttlingen) are Max Dudler: a striking boundary Photo: Museum Frieder Burda shrines for art lovers. post between the town and country- side, art and nature. True to the company motto “quadratisch, prak- Private collections of international rank are tisch, gut” (“square, practical, good” further glittering stars in the cultural land- a famous advertising slogan for Ritter scape. These have been joined by internation- Sport chocolate) this lively place ally heeded attractions over the past few years: of artistic encounter concerns itself the entrepreneur and patron Reinhold Würth mainly with squares in art. exhibits his collections in architecturally inter- Photo: Museum Ritter, Victor S. Brigola esting buildings that have put Künzelsau and Schwäbisch Hall firmly on the European art map. The Museum Frieder Burda boosts the appeal of the spa town of Baden-Baden as a crowd-puller. In Waldenbuch near Stuttgart the Museum Ritter exhibits the Marli Hoppe- Ritter collection in a building that well de- serves a visit.

The traditional Academies of Visual Arts in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe as well as the famous University of Design in Karlsruhe are art academies whose reputations are known far beyond Baden-Württemberg. The Academy Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart is an internation- al working and meeting place for artists in all genres. The Baden-Württemberg Art Founda- tion devotes a lot of its time and energy to young, up-and-coming artists.

105 Culture, technology and history forms in an unconventional building that was liberation movements in German history in in the museum landscape planned by the architect Frank O. Gehry. Rastatt Palace.

Important collections related to cultural his- In 1977, the 25th anniversary of the state, The state museums are complemented on a tory can be found in the Württemberg State Baden-Württemberg began a series of “Large municipal level by numerous independent Museum in Stuttgart (with a branch in State Exhibitions”, which now has a long his- museums with a specific regional reference. Waldenbuch) and the Baden State Museum tory, with the Staufer exhibition. These tend Everyday culture from the fields of home and in Karlsruhe. These exhibit a large proportion to concentrate on topics of cultural history re- housekeeping, craftsmanship, local and re- of cultural history since the Middle Ages. The State Museums for Natural History in the two former residencies provide comprehensive il- lustrative material. The “Lindenmuseum” in the state capital is one of the most important ethnological collections in Europe. The State Museum for Technology and Work in Mann- heim exhibits selected objects from technical, social and cultural history in an avant-garde building. The State Museum of in Constance offers an exciting insight into the pre- and early history of the Southwest. Private highlights also attract international visitors to the state: Mercedes-Benz presents the history of the automobile in a museum whose archi- tecture and exhibits have caused something

The Schillerhöhe in Marbach has been gional history as well as agriculture are pre- given a new face with the “Literatur- sented vividly and inspiringly. The regional museum der Moderne” – or “LiMo” open-air museums, which have been con- for short. Apart from the monumental, luminous white Schiller-Nationalmuse- tinuously expanded since the 1960ies, show um, the museum of modern literature the diversity of rural areas and the history of is also an impressive work of modern building, living and farming graphically and in architectural art, designed by the context. The concept behind the museum for star architect David Chipperfield. The the history of Christians and in German Literature Archive exhibits is quite unique and provides a vivid view of treasures from its bequests from more the history of how Christians and Jews lived than 1,200 authors and academics. alongside and with each other in the Upper Photo: DLA Marbach Swabian town.

Not just an architectural feast for Literature, film and media the eyes: the Mercedes-Benz Museum lated to the southwest of Germany. The “Haus in Stuttgart has given the history of der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg” (“House Baden-Württemberg has a unique literary the automobile a very special home. of the History of Baden-Württemberg”) in landscape. Over eighty literary museums and Photo: Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH Stuttgart, one of the most important cultural memorials in the state document the history of projects of recent years, offers state history in literature from a mediaeval monastic culture its purest form. History of nationwide impor- through to current trends. Whether Friedrich of a sensation throughout the world. Another tance is also presented in impressive exhibi- Schiller in Marbach, Faust in Knittlingen, Al- premium brand from the state, Porsche, is tions at the Reichspräsident-Friedrich-Ebert bert Schweitzer in Königsfeld, Annette von following suit. Stuttgart thus has two pilgrim- Memorial in Heidelberg, the Bundespräsident- Droste-Hülshoff in , Berthold Auer- age sites for technology freaks and friends of Theodor-Heuss-Haus Foundation in Stuttgart, bach in Horb, Heinrich Hansjakob in nostalgia. The Vitra Design Museum in Weil the memorial for Matthias Erzberger in Müns- in Kinzigtal, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel am Rhein exhibits design in its most varied ingen-Buttenhausen and the memorial for in Stuttgart, Friedrich Hölderlin in Tübingen,

106 Hermann Hesse in Calw, Eduard Mörike in Baden-Württemberg has a lot to offer when it Socio-culture Neuenstadt or Christian Friedrich Daniel comes to film: highlights such as the cartoon Schubart in Aalen – the choice is arbitrary but festival, the French Film Days in Tübingen- Support for culture is a public and private affair. shows that the state has produced important Stuttgart, the Indian Film Days in Stuttgart, It thrives to a large extent from the voluntary poets and authors in every age, in whose name numerous film festivals and not least the Film commitment of citizens. This is proven not top-ranking literature prizes are also awarded. Academy in Ludwigsburg, plus a large number least by the numerous socio-cultural centres The “Literarische Gesellschaft /Scheffelbund” of clever minds, have given Baden-Württem- in the state, which play an important part in (Literary society to promote the works of berg a leading position as an El Dorado for offering a broad range of cultural events from Joseph Victor von Scheffel) in Karlsruhe has the media and film industry. What’s more, a variety of genres. Almost half of the more set a very impressive record: with more than the Centre for Art and Media Technology than fifty institutions in the state, who are 5,500 members it is the biggest literary society in Karlsruhe is a singular cultural institution members of the umbrella organisation of the in German-speaking countries. The more than in the entire world and a forum for encoun- “Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Kulturinitia- 1,000 libraries and numerous adult education ters between science and art, politics and the tiven und Soziokulturellen Zentren in Baden- economy. The state and non-profit initiatives encourage the film landscape and give Baden- Württemberg its “moving pictures”. The “Haus der Geschichte Baden- Württemberg” is a forum for state history, the likes of which can be found nowhere else in Germany – a place for meetings, discussion and dialogue. The permanent exhibition and special exhibitions present a fascinating tour through 200 years of state history.

Foto: Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg

The Theatre Lindenhof in Melchingen on the Swabian Alb was founded in 1981 and evolved from the municipal student movement and young peo- ple from the countryside. It has been called “Germany’s most adventurous free theatre ensemble” – as one of the numerous examples of a freely-funded socio-cultural centre. The photo shows a scene from the summer theatre pro- duction “Die Steine selbst”.

Photo: Theater Lindenhof

Württemberg” (state working committee of cultural initiatives and socio-cultural centres in Baden-Württemberg), come from towns and villages with less than 50,000 inhabitants. Local organisation is one of the pillars of cul- tural policy here, too. This also demonstrates centres also make an important contribution the indispensable contribution made by socio- to cultural life in the state, and are developing cultural institutions to providing a comprehen- more and more into communication centres sive basic service in rural areas. that offer citizens a wide range of knowledge and cultural services.

107 MEDIA LANDSCAPE

A landmark and tourist attraction in Stuttgart: the television tower rises high above the city and went into operation in 1956. The 217 metre high architectural monument was planned by Fritz Leonhardt. It was the world’s first ever television tower and has served as a model for a number of similar constructions around the world.

Photo: Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH

Media, and particularly the mass media, have controlling committees that are filled by repre- Baden-Württemberg is one of the leading IT some important functions in democratic socie- sentatives from a wide variety of different so- and media centres in Germany. Consequently, ties. Democracy thrives on informed and criti- cial groups. Journalists have special rights, but the IT and media sector has developed into cal citizens. Media thus provide not only en- also a special responsibility. Whether at home, one of the state‘s strongest lines of industry. tertainment but also information and criticism. at work or in schools – our modern society Baden-Württemberg also plays an important They are an important factor in the decision- is inconceivable without media. Press, radio, role for classical and new media. Apart from making process and fulfil a critical and con- television and the Internet also largely deter- a distinctive regional TV and film landscape, trolling task. This is one of the main reasons mine the recreational activities of people and Baden-Württemberg also provides an unusu- why public radio and television stations have the business location Baden-Württemberg. ally wide variety of radio programmes with

108 and manages the joint German-French cultur- tions vied with the public programmes from al channel ARTE. It contributes its own and SWF and SDR for the listeners’ attention. This co-productions to the children’s programme number was far too large, the transmission ar- KI.KA and to the current affairs and documen- eas for the individual stations too fragmented tary channel Phoenix. In addition, the SWR to ensure the economic survival of all radio sta- coordinates the online website of the ARD tions. Consequently, the private radio market with the radio stations in the other states. was successively reduced and profiled by the Baden-Württemberg State Office for Commu- its numerous local and regional presenters, its state-wide programme for young people and nationwide radio programmes. The Stuttgart region is also one of the most active locations on the German Web 2.0 map. In this new understanding of the “world wide web”, us- ers increasingly provide the available content themselves.

Public radio

Baden-Württemberg was the only state which had two ARD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD) – Con- sortium of public-law broadcasting institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany, a joint organisation of Germany’s regional public- service broadcasters) corporations on account of its history: the “Süddeutscher Rundfunk” (SDR) which was founded in Stuttgart in 1924 Südwestrundfunk (SWR), the public at the start of the radio age, and the “Südwest- broadcasting institution for Baden- funk” (SWF) in Baden-Baden, which was set Private stations Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, up in 1946 after the end of the Second World stands for information and service, War in the French-occupied part of Southwest Apart from the SWR, numerous local and re- regionality, culture and entertainment.

Germany. The “Südwestrundfunk” (SWR) gional TV stations also make an important con- Photo: SWR has been broadcasting since the fusion of SWF tribution to the diversity of opinion. Private TV and SDR in August 1998. It broadcasts the stations from Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, pop music station SWR 3, the cultural station Lake Constance, Stuttgart, Böblingen, Heil- nication (LFK), which is responsible for the pri- SWR 2, the state stations SWR 1 Baden-Würt- bronn, Reutlingen and the Ulm/Neu-Ulm vate radio broadcasters, in two amendments temberg and SWR 4 Baden-Württemberg, the area provide viewers with information and to the media act. Following the third licensing digital information station SWR Cont.Ra and shows from the region. All of the regional pro- phase, three regional stations (Radio - the multimedia programme for young people grammes are broadcast in their transmission bogen, Hit-Radio Antenne 1 and Radio 7), a DASDING in Baden-Württemberg. areas analogue via cable and digital through- young people’s station (bigFM) and 13 local out the whole of Baden-Württemberg. The programmes have been sharing the private The SWR is the second-largest broadcaster programmes of the stations RNF, R.TV Karls- radio market in Baden-Württemberg since the in the ARD joint programme and is involved ruhe and TV-Südbaden are also broadcast dig- beginning of 2003. in around one sixth of all programmes. With itally via satellite. two local TV programmes for Baden-Württem- Open channel and commercial-free, non- berg and Rhineland-Palatinate, the SWR offers Private radio stations have also been on air commercial local radio (NKL) has also been topical and commercial-free reports from the in Baden-Württemberg since the middle of provided in Baden-Württemberg since 1995. Southwest. It also coordinates and supplies the 1980ies. In the initial phase of the dual The organisers give all interested parties the the programmes for the satellite station 3sat radio system, a total of 44 private radio sta- opportunity to produce their own radio pro-

109 gramme without pursuing any commercial of 17 independent full editorial boards. The 12,000 new editions each year, around one in interests. The programmes are financed by daily newspaper with the highest circulation in five of all new books in Germany comes from membership fees, donations and grants. In the state is the Stuttgarter Zeitung, which has a a publisher in Baden-Württemberg. Famous accordance with the Baden-Württemberg strong supra-regional significance as the voice traditional publishers such as Reader’s Digest, State Media Act, frequencies for learning and of the state capital. This is followed in terms of Reclam, Klett or Kohlhammer have their head- campus radio stations can be assigned accord- circulation by the Südwestpresse (published in quarters in the state along with smaller spe- ing to criteria defined by the LFK since 2003. Ulm), the Schwäbische Zeitung (Leutkirch), the cialist publishers. Baden-Württemberg was the first federal state Badische Zeitung (Freiburg) and the Badische to launch a digital radio (DAB) pilot project Neueste Nachrichten (Karlsruhe). in 1996, and digital radio has been broadcast routinely since 1999. DAB broadcasts digital The varied and strong publishing landscape in radio and additional data in a better sound Baden-Württemberg has over 500 book pub- quality than by terrestrial means. This means lishers and more than 200 magazine publish- that up to nine programmes can be broadcast ers. “Special-interest titles” and trade journals on a single frequency. in particular are well represented. The state also has a leading position when it comes to Print media the production of book titles. With almost

Even in this multi-media age, there is still a great interest in print media. Baden-Württemberg traditionally has a strong newspaper landscape. Despite a slight drop in coverage and circula- tion figures over the past few years – the “daily newspaper” is still a very credible source of in- Print media, above all newspapers, formation. More than seventy newspaper pub- are still a topical and important source lishers in the state produce almost 230 different of information for citizens in the state. daily newspapers with an average sold circula- The “Staatsanzeiger für Baden- tion of 2.1 million copies. The daily newspaper Württemberg” is the political weekly editions are delivered with the “cover pages” for Baden-Württemberg.

Photo: Staatsanzeiger Verlag

The Centre for Art and Media Technol- ogy in Karlsruhe (ZKM) forms a unique media museum along with the State University for Design.

Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg

Film, music and art

Baden-Württemberg has its own film fund- ing system which primarily pursues cultural aspects but should also have economic effects. The interaction between political control and funding options helps distinguish the state as a film and media location with outstanding training facilities and innovative production areas.

MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg has regarded itself as a competence and advisory

110 centre for the film and cinema landscape since to strengthening this in school, out-of-school in 2002. All of the projects and protagonists 1995. The Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg and and university projects. who are active in the IT and media sector are the “Film Commissions” in the state also act coordinated in the “doIT” office in the MFG as advisory and service centres for film-mak- The information and media sector is of vital Baden-Württemberg: companies, educational ers from within and outside the state. In addi- importance for the competitive strength and institutions, associations, business promoters tion, the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg future of Baden-Württemberg. With a ten and junior staff. Another example of the range in Ludwigsburg is an important German train- percent share of the state’s gross value added of topics is the innovative research project ing centre that has attracted attention through and around 300,000 employees, it has now “FAZIT” for current and innovative IT and me- national and international awards. become the strongest branch of the economy. dia technologies as well as their use in Baden- The economic performance in this sector has Württemberg. New possibilities for web appli- Numerous film competitions take place in grown almost double and the number of em- cations and new types of digital networks are Baden-Württemberg, for example the “In- ployees treble that of the state economy as a also emerging on the threshold of the second ternational Film Festival Mannheim/Heidel- whole since the middle of the 1990ies. Apart Internet generation. The MFG initiated the berg”, the “International Cartoon Festival from efficient medium-sized enterprises, the “Innovation programme web 2.0” in 2006 to Stuttgart”, the animated film festival “fmx”, state is also home to global players such as SAP exploit the various technical, economic and the “Biannual European Short Film Festival in or the German offices of IBM and social potentials offered by Baden-Württem- Ludwigsburg”, the “Film Show Baden-Würt- Hewlett Packard in Stuttgart. Baden-Württem- berg and establish its position in a nationwide temberg”, the “TV Film Festival Baden-Baden” berg also leads the way in the fields of web context. or the “French Film Days” in Tübingen and design and usability: the “German Multimedia Stuttgart. The Centre for Art and Media Tech- Congress Interactive Design” attracts experts, nology (ZKM) in Karlsruhe is a cultural insti- decision-makers and creative minds from the tution, the likes of which can be found no- interactive industry to Stuttgart every year. where else in the world. It forms an interface between production and research, exhibition In order to maintain this good position and and event, intercession and documentation. further strengthen the IT and media location Baden-Württemberg, the state government Baden-Württemberg has a very lively music launched the “doIT” IT and media offensive Computers and new media dictate our scene, which is why the state places an em- daily life, be this in schools, education, phasis on networking when it comes to sup- work or leisure-time. porting pop music. The Pop Academy Baden- Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg Württemberg which was founded in 2003 by the state, the City of Mannheim, SWR, Radio Regenbogen together with companies from Mannheim, Universal Music and the LFK, sees itself on the one hand as a trigger for the whole of Baden-Württemberg, and on the other hand as a creative partner for various regional pop centres.

New media

Computers and the Internet are playing an increasingly important role alongside clas- sical media. Almost seven million people in Baden-Württemberg use a personal computer, around 6.4 million are “online”. Thanks to ef- forts by the state, education authorities and the private economy, all state schools in Baden- Württemberg are equipped with multimedia computers. And because media competence is a key qualification, numerous institutions and media education initiatives are dedicated

111 RELIGIONS AND DENOMINATIONS

One of the largest and most beautiful Baroque hall constructions in the south of Germany: the church was built to the plans of Balthasar Neumann and lies above the town of Neresheim in the Ostalbkreis.

Photo: MSW, Manfred Schindler Werbeagentur

A denominational map of Baden-Württemberg half of the 20th century, the basic denomina- authorities. If they objected, the only choice appears to be quite balanced at first glance: tional structures that have developed over the left was to emigrate. The different denomi- around 4.1 million Catholics face up against ages can still be seen in Baden-Württemberg. national areas thus also reflect the territorial 3.6 million Protestants. But these figures con- fragmentation of the southwest of Germany ceal some very striking regional differences The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 established the in the era of the Holy Roman Empire before that have developed and become entrenched rule allowing sovereign princes to select the 1803 or 1806. Thus, a large majority of the since the and confessionalisation. denomination in the domains they controlled population in the former Duchy of Württem- Despite the radical demographic and social (“cuius regio eius religio”). The denomination berg are Protestants. The old power structures changes that have taken place in the second of the subjects was thus determined by the are also still clear in Baden: the Margraviate

112 This is why the ratios between the two main parish and pastoral assistants) work together denominations shifted in favour of Catholics in these counselling units under the guidance for the first time in 1966/67 – a trend that has of a priest. The commitment of the Catholic continued to this day. Church in schools and in welfare work within the scope of the Caritas organisation is very Today, around 7.7 million of the 10.7 mil- lively and present. lion people living in Baden-Württemberg are members of the Catholic or Protestant church. Apart from the secessions from the churches, of Durlach and the Electoral Palatinate are which have significantly increased since the ART. 4,1 BASIC LAW Protestant, Baden-Baden is Catholic, as are mid 1960ies, and the increased immigration the former Further Austrian areas in Breisgau, of nondenominational Germans from the the southern part of the Black Forest and in former GDR, the structure of the non-German “Freedom of faith and of conscience, and free- dom to profess a religious or philosophical Ortenau. Upper Swabia, the new Württem- population also plays a role in the drop in the creed, shall be inviolable.” berg territories in Eastern Württemberg, the share of the denominational population. possessions of the Teutonic Knights and the “scattered” episcopal and monastic areas are The first generation of “guest workers” were The two Regional Protestant also mainly Catholic. mainly from Catholic countries (Italy, Spain, Churches Portugal, Croatia) and often returned to their The two denominations only lived together di- home countries. But the share of immigrants The history of the two Regional Protestant rectly in a few towns. The two former Imperial from Muslim countries, especially Turkey Churches begins with the Reformation. The Cities of Biberach and Ravensburg had equal though also the Balkan countries ravaged by Protestant Church in Baden emerged in 1821 representation of both denominations and civil war, rose considerably. Aided by the from the union of the reformed and Lutheran thus constitute an exception. A strong Catho- higher birth rates amongst Muslims compared parts of the state. The church’s governing lic minority established itself in the Protestant to the German population, the number of body is in Karlsruhe. Pietism was formative for Electoral Palatinate around Mannheim and Muslims has doubled from around 270,000 the Protestant Church in Württemberg along Heidelberg in the 18th century. in 1987 to an estimated 600,000 today. with the Reformation. The Regional Protestant Church in Württemberg has around 2.3 mil- Changes in denominational rela- The Catholic Church lion parishioners and today covers the terri- tionships tory of the former Kingdom of Württemberg, The Catholics in the state are members of ei- apart from some small adjustments of borders The traditional denominational relationships ther the archdiocese of Freiburg or the diocese with Baden and Hesse. This was joined after began to shift in the 19th century, initially of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. Both of these dioceses the Second World War by Hohenzollern and in the larger towns and cities and above all owe their formation to the rearrangement of Wimpfen, which used to be part of Hesse. The due to the increasing mobility. The share the political and ecclesiastic circumstances fol- Regional Church has centred on Stuttgart as the in the population with a different faith thus lowing the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire seat of its governing body and Tübingen with rose above all in Ulm, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and the end of clerical principalities at the be- its Faculty of Protestant Theology since the 16th Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Freiburg. But the ginning of the 19th century. The archdiocese of century. The Regional Protestant Church in closed denominational areas in Baden-Würt- Freiburg, with around 2.1 million members the Baden has around 1.3 million parishioners. temberg were only finally broken down by second largest of the 27 dioceses in Germany, the radical movements of the population after covers the old parts of Baden and Hohenzollern. The Regional Protestant Church in Baden has the Second World War. The expellees who The diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart with its al- the following organisational levels: the two were admitted to the Southwest – the major- most two million Catholics corresponds to the church districts of North Baden (seat Mann- ity of them Catholics – brought about drastic Württemberg part of the state. heim) and South Baden (Freiburg), each of changes in the local and regional denomina- which is governed by a prelate. These in turn tional relationships. The share of Catholics in Below the level of the two dioceses there is are divided up into around thirty church cir- Baden-Württemberg continued to grow over a middle level of deaneries and the lower cuits and around 630 parishes as the basis the next decades, since the immigrants from level of parishes. Pastoral care in both dio- of the Regional Church. The organisational the Romanic Mediterranean area were almost ceses is undergoing a radical reorganisation. structure of the Regional Protestant Church in all Catholics. Furthermore, the birth rate The decline in the number of priests has led Württemberg is a little different: the Regional amongst the Catholic share of the population to a fusion of the parishes into counselling Church consists of around 1,400 parishes and was always higher than that of the Protestants. units. The various pastoral services (deans, 90 collective parishes. These are compiled

113 • the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church (SELK) • the Union of Independent Evangelical Churches

All of the free churches are financed by vol- untary contributions from their members in- dependent of the state, unlike the Regional Churches. Their numbers place them in a minority. The Old Catholic Church is also present in Baden-Württemberg; this arose from a protest against the proclamation of the infallibility dogma at the First Vatican Coun- cil in 1870 and found most of its members in Baden. The Orthodox Churches in Baden and Württemberg have their origins in the court communities of the 19th century. The number of parishioners has jumped since the late 1960ies and the immigration of Orthodox Christians from the Balkan states and Greece. The biggest Christian-based special commu- nity is probably the New Apostolic Church, which has its centre in Württemberg where it has spread since the beginning of the 20th century.

The Jewish communities

Around 7,500 Jews live in Baden-Württem- berg today as members of the Israelitic Reli- gious Communities of Baden and Württem- berg. In 1933, before the Nazis seized power,

ART. 4,1 STATE CONSTITUTION The Protestant church in Gaggstatt near Kirchberg an der Free Churches, Eastern Churches Jagst in the north-east of Baden- and special communities “The Churches and accepted religious and Württemberg. The photo shows the philosophical communities are free to develop interior of the village church look- the fulfilment of their religious duties with no in- ing towards the altar. It was built in Apart from the Regional Protestant Churches, tervention from the state.” 1904/05 by the architect Theodor there are a number of free evangelical church- Fischer. es in Baden-Württemberg:

Photo: Karin Wohlschlegel • the United Methodist Church there were over 31,000. The majority of them • the Union of Evangelical Con- held German nationality. Most fellow Jewish into 52 deaneries. The deaneries in turn are as- gregations in Germany (Baptists) citizens were banished or killed in concentra- signed to four prelatures: Reutlingen, Stuttgart, • the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Baden tion camps during the Nazi dictatorship. Heilbronn and Ulm. The Regional Protestant • the Christliche Gemeinschaftsverbund Churches, too, are the supporting organisation GmbH Mülheim an der Ruhr (CGV) (a Jewish communities reappeared after 1945, behind several schools in the state and are very Pentecostal Church) initially in the larger towns and cities, though active in the welfare-charity field through the • the Salvation Army they only had around 2,000 members up until “Diakonisches Werk” with 300 supporting • the Evangelical Unitas Fratrum, “Herrn- the 1980ies. Their numbers did not grow sig- organisations, around 1,000 institutions and huter Brüdergemeine” (Moravian Church) nificantly until after the fall of the Iron Curtain approximately 28,000 employees. • the Mennonites and the immigration of Jews from the succes-

114 sor states of the Soviet Union. Community life today consists of regular visits to synagogues as well as religious and cultural events in various Jewish community centres. The communities also provide their own religious instruction, kindergartens, care for the young and old as well as intensive integration and welfare work to nurture the Jewish identity. They are demo- cratically organised as public corporations.

Muslims in Baden-Württemberg

An estimated 600,000 Muslims live in Baden- Württemberg, some of them in the third and fourth generation. The majority are from Tur- key. But Muslim life in Baden-Württemberg is multifaceted. It is shaped by Muslims from many more countries and cultures. It is hard to Freiburg im Breisgau: only a few Jews returned to the town after the end put an exact figure on the number of Muslims of the Nazi dictatorship. The town in the state because there are hardly any sta- provided a room in a department store tistics. Conclusions can be drawn at best from for the first Jewish service in September nationalities and countries of origin. 1945. The synagogue was consecrated in 1987 in the direct vicinity of the The Mevlana Mosque in Schwäbisch The religious commitment of Muslims is very cathedral after a period of interim solu- Hall, named after one of the most diverse. A small number describe themselves tions. famous Islamic mystics, was built by as strict Muslims, follow the religious com- Photo: LMZ Baden-Württemberg the Turkish-Islamic Community (DITIB) mandments and visit a mosque regularly. Al- and opened in 2004. The mosque though religion is an important aspect for the represents a new type of mosque majority of Muslims, adherence to religious building that draws more on modern commandments plays a rather subordinate regional architecture and styles of role for them in everyday life. The construc- building than on historical archetypes. tion and planning of mosques in certain towns Photo: Bernd Kunz and cities in Baden-Württemberg indicate that Muslims are here to stay. They no longer wish to practice their religion in back yards, but vis- ibly and within the society.

115 MEMORIAL AND COMMEMORATION SITES

Seven Social Democrat members of the Landtag in Karlsruhe were publicly deported to the Kislau concentration camp on 16 May, 1933. Surrounded by SS and SA men, from left to right: Hermann Stenz, Adam Remmele, Erwin Sammet, Ludwig Marum, Gustav Heller, Sally Grünebaum and August Furrer.

Photo: Stadtarchiv Karlsruhe

The full force of the Nazi terror hit active to intimidate and eliminate opponents of the regime were able to go underground or save members of the labour movement and other regime. Well-known politicians such as the themselves by going into exile. political and ideological opponents of the members of parliament Alfred Haag (KPD) or Nazi regime immediately after the “Macht- Kurt Schumacher (SPD) began their journey The “later” concentration camps as of spring ergreifung” (seizure of power) on 30 Janu- through the Nazi camp terror alongside arrest- 1944 were aimed at accelerating the decen- ary, 1933. The “early” concentration camps ed clergymen and other fellow sufferers. The tralisation and moving underground of the between 1933 and 1934/35 – , Baden Social Democrat Ludwig Marum was armaments production, which had become Kislau, Ankenbuck and Gotteszell, Heuberg murdered in the Kislau concentration camp necessary due to Allied bombing raids. Dozens and the Oberer Kuhberg in Ulm – were used in March 1934. Only a few opponents of the of concentration camps appeared in the South-

116 On 29 October, 1940, the Chief of the Security Police reported to the Foreign Office: “The deportation of Jews has been completed smoothly and with no incidents from all parts of Baden and the Palatinate. The popula- tion hardly noticed the action itself.” west as external and labour camps of the Natz- weiler-Struthof concentration camp in the and the Dachau concentration camp. Despite the armaments goal, prisoners were ruthlessly forced to work under inhuman con- ditions within the scope of the “destruction through labour” ideology. The forced labour that had to be carried out by the tens of thou- sands of prisoners and the death marches fol- lowing the dissolution of the external camps in April 1945 claimed thousands of human lives. Many of them did not find a grave in the camp cemeteries. Sinti and Roma, homosexuals and numerous ideological opponents of National Socialism such as Jehovah’s Witnesses were also victims of the Nazi terror.

The Nazi regime declared race ideology to be a state doctrine. The exclusion of German Jews from society was the goal of the Nazi move- ment from its very outset. The ostracism, dis- The photo shows the deportation of Jews from Lörrach on 22 October, 1940, to franchisement, expropriation, displacement Gurs – in broad daylight and for all the and deportation of the Jews, and finally their With the start of the Second World War, world to see. exploitation as drudges and their systematic the regime implemented the deliberate and Photo: Stadtarchiv Lörrach annihilation, were a key and singular charac- planned murder of physically and mentally teristic of Nazi rule. handicapped people, referred to in Nazi jargon as the “Destruction of life unworthy of life”. victims and perpetrators, particularly since it It only took the National Socialist race ideol- Over 10,000 people were barbarously mur- would appear that the long time gap is threat- ogy a few years to destroy what had developed dered with carbon monoxide gas in ening to relativise the horror. over centuries: a lively and vital, religious Jew- on the Swabian Alb in 1940. The perpetrators’ ish culture. It was an important and largely tracks can later be traced to the extermination Numerous memorials in the state are a re- self-evident part of society in the southwest of camps. minder of the crimes and of the suffering of Germany. Over 150 synagogues and institu- the victims. Their diversity reflects the system- tions of Jewish communities were destroyed There were also staunch supporters, follow- atic persecution by the Nazi regime and its in the “Reichspogromnacht” (Night of Bro- ers and willing helpers in the southwest of racist-ideological blindness. The Nazi dictator- ken Glass) from 9 to 10 November, 1938. In Germany. And there were the everyday signs ship usurped the uncontrolled power over the October 1940, the Jews in Baden were de- of and the terror of the concentration freedom of citizens, over the life and death ported to the Gurs camp in the southwest of camps: not somewhere far away but overtly, of humans who were unpopular, excluded by France, the Jews in Württemberg and Hohen- literally on the doorstep. Baden-Württemberg, their race or even deemed to be “unworthy zollern were deported to Riga as of December too, has a responsibility for the “Era of the of life”. 1941. Many of them were later deported to destruction of values”, as the historian Peter the extermination camps in Eastern Europe. Steinbach has called the “Third Reich”, and The memories were just as painful here as they Very few survived. for a conscious and appropriate treatment of were elsewhere. After a long period of sup-

117 pression, initiatives that were willing to con- Württemberg” (State Working Committee of ported and murdered and thus absorb them front the past began to appear at individual Memorials and Commemorative Initiatives into the collective memory. locations from around 1980 onwards. This in Baden-Württemberg) so that they could was not always easy and called for courage better coordinate their work. A resolution in A similar effect is achieved by the “stumbling and staying power. It often took until the the Landtag placed this under the supervi- blocks” (Stolpersteine) that have been set into 1990ies before their acceptance grew and sion of the State Agency for Civic Education pavements in front of the houses of Nazi vic- found public support. The memorials today (Landeszentrale für politische Bildung). This tims by individuals and action groups. They re- commemorate the victims. They are places of furtherance should ensure the academic basis ally are memorials that you can stumble across mourning and reflection. But most of them are and a contemporary range of educational of- throughout the state. not content with this alone and offer informa- fers for the memorials. tion and educational programmes within the But fortunately it is not just places of horror scope of formal curricula, for youth and adult New forms of remembrance have developed that are remembered. Some of Germany’s education. They also want to be places of en- locally over the past few years which are con- most famous resistance fighters came from counter. In 1994, they joined together in the cerned primarily with remembering names: the Southwest: Johann Georg Elser (Königs- “Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Gedenkstät- memorial books in which young and old can bronn), the siblings Hans und ten und Gedenkstätteninitiativen in Baden- compile the names and biographies of the de- ( near Crailsheim, and Ulm) and the brothers Claus and Berthold (Stuttgart and Albstadt-Lautlin- gen). Memorials have been set up at the places they were born and lived that are a reminder of their courageous actions in the resistance movement. Teaching the development of civil courage within a historical-political context can thus take its bearing from such persona- lities.

Other famous resistance fighters from the Southwest also deserve a mention: the former State President of Württemberg was executed in Berlin-Plötzensee in Janu- ary 1945 because he had been let in on the plans of the conspirators in the July 20 plot of 1944. (The July 20 plot of 1944 was a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to take power by means of a plan called “Operation Walküre”.) Gertrud Luckner from Freiburg helped numerous victims of Nazi persecution flee and was officially recognised as a “Juden- retterin” (rescuer of Jews from ). She was deported to Ravensbrück concentra- tion camp in March 1943 after the Prisoners in the Vaihingen/Enz found out about her courageous and unselfish concentration camp, which had been activities. converted from a labour camp to a death camp, immediately after their liberation by French troops in April It was often believed that the passing of survi- 1945. vors and direct witnesses to history would lead

Photo: KZ-Gedenkstätte e. V. to a decline in the significance of memorials of the Nazi era. But the opposite is true. Over 200,000 mainly young people visit these sites each year. They are interested in the question: “What happened right here in the state?” But above all they are looking for an answer to

118 Stuttgart, the memorial for Matthias Erzberger in Buttenhausen or the memorial for liberation movements in German history in Rastatt.The work of these memorials thus takes on both a civil and European dimension. They deal with the central questions of the constitution of a society and the exercise of political power: with the relationship between freedom and restraint Baden-Württemberg has a very dense as well as the risks to a democracy and the and decentralised memorial land- mechanisms of a dictatorship. They emphasise scape that has developed primarily through a local civic commitment. the threats to justice and human rights through The state of Baden-Württemberg, the totalitarianism, racism and anti-Semitism. They municipalities and the Federation confront violence with respect for the individu- support the memorials that illustrate all al, extremism with reason and basic democratic of the categories of persecution and beliefs. destruction under Nazi terror and make them tangible.

Illustration: Lucia Winckler

Gertrud Luckner (1900-1995) from Freiburg im Breisgau: The “Juden- retterin” survived Ravensbrück concen- tration camp and was honoured as a “Righteous Among The Nations.”

Photo: Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand, Berlin

something that concerns them beyond the simple facts: “How could it happen? What mechanisms failed in society to allow fellow human beings to be robbed of their rights and their lives declared worthless? What signs and developments are particularly dangerous?”

These questions from young people go be- yond a simple chronology of the twelve years of Nazi rule. They stretch from the 19th cen- tury through to the present day. Because the message from the victims of the Nazi terror goes beyond their physical and mental suffer- ing. You cannot talk about this subject without thinking of the present and our future. It is not enough to create a feeling of sadness about yesterday’s crimes; the main thing is to remain vigilant so that it cannot happen again.

This is why the memorials in Baden- Württemberg also include those that remind us of the great democratic tradition in the Southwest: the Reichspräsident-Friedrich-Ebert Memorial in Heidelberg as well as the Bundes- präsident-Theodor-Heuss-Haus Foundation in

119 A CHANGING SOCIETY

Baden-Württemberg is an attractive and thus densely populated state in Germany. A modern and dynamic society has evolved in the course of its economic development with an increasing share of migrants in the larger towns and urban centres.

Photo: picture-alliance / Godong

The society in Baden-Württemberg has under- lation in Germany. It is home to the youngest But any growth region has its worries. Studies gone a fundamental change since the foun- population, who at the same time have the have shown that around ten percent of the dation of the state. Economic, scientific and highest life expectancy of all Germans. Baden- households have to make do with less than technological developments have led to a last- Württemberg has the lowest unemployment 10,000 euros per year and thus live below ing change in the living conditions of people. rate in Germany and the highest per capita the poverty line. On the other hand, another Their improvement is first of all the result of income of all German states (except Berlin, ten percent of the households have more than an economic success story. The “Musterländle” Bremen and Hamburg). Despite regional dif- 50,000 euros per year at their disposal. The (model “statelet”) holds a great attraction for ferences in the economic power there are no rift between the rich and the poor in the state immigrants; it has the biggest growth in popu- “poor”, economically underdeveloped areas. has become wider. Under the auspices of de-

120 by no means become easier to deal with and develop social and socio-political models and instruments – not just because the financial scope has been curtailed. In fact, social policy is facing increasingly complex tasks, many of which can only be dealt with as cross-func- tional tasks.

Social and socio-political fields mographic change, the high life expectancy, of action for example, will be reflected by a growing demand for care and support. The persistent The keywords demographic change, family growth in population has made the state one policy or the furtherance of children and ado- of the most densely populated of all German lescents, the integration of migrants and equal states (except Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg). opportunities for women and men are still The result is not just generally a very high cost used to describe key socio-political problems. of living but also the highest property prices in Germany and a high land usage. Demographic change and family policy The excessive ageing of society should be con- A mobile and differentiated fronted by a strengthening of families in the society state, combined with the aim of an increase in the birth rate. The parental allowance that A modern, mobile and differentiated society has been provided by the Federal Government has developed from a traditional post-war soci- since January 2007 is aimed at safeguarding ety that was still very much dominated by agri- the income situation of families and the recon- culture in many regions. Classic differentiators cilability of a career and a family. The parental in the social structure have gradually lost their allowance amounts to 67 percent of the aver- The state needs new fathers: the meaning. This relates to the traditional catego- age available earned income before the birth. parental allowance that has been paid ries of the so-called lower, middle and upper Fathers are also rewarded for their commit- since January 2007 is also being classes, which were based on job status and ment: if they take two months off for child- well received by fathers. possessions, just as much as the contrast be- rearing, the parental allowance will be paid for Photo: picture-alliance / Chad Ehlers tween town and country or the imprint based fourteen instead of the normal twelve months. on historical religious structures. The good response to the project, from fathers, too, would appear to confirm its acceptance. Other criteria, in contrast, have become more underlines the requirements of a forward-look- important. En route to a knowledge society, The state government under the Minister ing family policy that can no longer assume the lifelong chance to participate in education President Günther H. Oettinger wants to only classical family models. Although 83 per- is increasingly determining the lives and social strengthen families, children and adolescents. cent of the almost three million children in status of people. Flexibility and mobility, not The government policy statement pointed the Baden-Württemberg were living with married just in a spatial sense, but also the willingness way ahead to achieving the programmatic goal parents at the time of the report, it becomes to obtain qualifications, are decisive for the of creating a “Kinderland (children’s state) clear that family patterns have changed. The professional career, income and the participa- Baden-Württemberg”. Model projects for gener- patchwork family has become almost normal tion in education and culture. The term “non- ation-spanning and family-based living together and there has been a particular increase in the academically inclined classes” is being used in particular are supported by the “Kinderland number of single mothers. today to describe a new underclass whose Foundation”. The reorganisation of the former difficult economic situation is largely due to state child support allowance should still be- The family report also explicitly addresses the deficits in education and training. nefit families. Furthermore, a State Appointee living conditions of migrant families and docu- for Children has been appointed in the person ments not only a higher significance of classical This development has consequences for politi- of the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. family forms amongst migrants but also, and cal and government action. A differentiated, above all, a strong backlog demand for educa- and in some areas individualised society, also The family report of 2004, prepared on behalf tional integration. The integration of children calls for differentiated political concepts. It has of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and adolescents from migrant families is a key

121 challenge in view of the continued increase in Integration of migrants This situation in working life is preceded by a demand for well-trained specialists. A large share of the people with a migration similar one in school education. The problem background in Baden-Württemberg have been remains that the social background, income One basic task of family policy is also to en- living in the state for decades, often in the third and professional status of parents is still pri- courage the reconcilability of a family and a and fourth generation. Most came as “guest marily decisive for access to education and career. The share of working mothers rose be- workers”. The originally planned temporary professional success. This particularly affects tween 1985 and 2002 from 49 percent to 68 stay developed into a permanent residence in children and adolescents with a migration percent. This entails on the one hand a signifi- a new country. In the meantime, one in four background who have poorer chances of edu-

Targeted encouragement – above all of language skills – is of utmost impor- persons in Baden-Württemberg and one in cation than contemporaries without a migra- tance: around three quarters of chil- three underage persons has a migration back- tion background. This structural disadvantage dren in primary and secondary schools in towns and districts with a high share ground. Forty percent of the population in the can only be countered by targeted support for of migrants are of non-German origins. Stuttgart urban district have a migration back- educational opportunities. The obligatory year Their chance of attending a Realschule ground. In view of these figures, Baden-Würt- in kindergarten directly before the first year or Gymnasium is only half as high as temberg can by all means be called a state of in primary school that should improve the that of pupils of German origins. immigration. But there are still some unsolved premises of the children, in particular their Photo: picture-alliance / dpa integration problems, particularly in the field language skills for learning in school, is a fur- of education and on the labour market. The ther step in this direction. unemployment rate amongst migrants is al- cant rise in the number of part-time jobs and most twice as high as that amongst people in Successful integration is a must in order to on the other a higher demand for child care Baden-Württemberg with no migration back- exploit the development potential for the soci- facilities. There is great backlog demand in the ground. This is also true of the unemploy- ety and the economy – especially against the field of infant care in particular. Consequently, ment rate amongst young people. The lack of background of globalisation and demographic the new parental allowance should also be ac- a professional qualification is decisive for the change. This is no easy task, particularly companied by an increase in the number of risk of unemployment. But this is not the only since many institutions that are involved in child care facilities and offers. reason: the unemployment rate amongst even integration work are suffering under the ef- well educated and trained migrants is almost fects of funding cuts. Not just the state capital three times as high. Stuttgart, which has won several awards for

122 its integration concept, including one from The career opportunities of women in fields of to tackle demographic change, when organis- the United Nations, but many other towns responsibility in society may have improved as ing family policy measures or in civic involve- and cities in the state have now come to see a result of equal opportunities measures, but ment, will be visibly measured by the extent cultural diversity as, above all, an enrichment there are still some clear deficits in social prac- to which it can actively live up to the man- and development potential for their successful tice. Beyond the simple constitutional dictate, date of gender equality. Gender mainstream- development in the future. modern societies cannot afford to do without ing is based on the concrete living conditions the experience and professional potential of of citizens. Its advantages are based, amongst women from an economic point of view. others, on a successful because more needs-

Gender policy is all-embracing social policy. “Frauenparkplatz” Gender equality driven planning of the infrastructure and in Photo: Christoph Lang Women are still underrepresented on a senior location advantages in the competition for the management level in almost all fields. This is labour force and young families. true of management levels in the economy, Equal opportunities need good ideas science and research, in administration and The aspect of equal opportunities has been in- In July 2002, the state government de- politics. Although women account for almost tegrated into the political and administrative cided to implement gender mainstreaming 49 percent of employed persons, only 18 per- process through the concept of gender main- in the state administration. Accordingly, cent of the managerial posts are filled by wom- streaming. the former “Frauenförderungsgesetz” (wom- en. Women still earn less than men in com- en’s advancement act) was replaced by a parable jobs. Traditional role models continue It is based on a change in paradigms that fo- “Chancengleichheitsgesetz” (equal oppor- to dominate the division of labour in society cuses on the effect of political and administra- tunities act) and the post of “Landesfrauen- and the demands of reconciling a family with tive behaviour on both sexes. The goal is to beauftragte” (State Appointee for Women) by a career first and foremost affect women. The combat discrimination against women and ef- a “Chancengleichheitsbeauftragte des Landes” constitutional dictate of equal rights for men fectively implement equal opportunities. The (State Appointee for Equal Opportunities) in and women is anchored in the Basic Law (Art. bias towards allegedly neutral norms and re- 2005. The success with which gender main- 3, 2). In 1994, it was supplemented inasmuch quirements is to be overcome and replaced by streaming and women’s advancement are ap- as the state now has to take an active role in a gender-differentiated perspective. The qual- plied as equivalent strategies when planning the actual implementation of equal rights and ity of political actions, for example, in state political measures will decide on the success elimination of disadvantages. and urban development planning, in concepts of equal opportunities for women and men.

123 Civic involvement spot. A new approach to involving companies Civic and voluntary involvement enjoy ac- in community work is also being attempted tive support on the level of state politics, but with the “Corporate Citizenship” concept. above all on the level of municipal politics, even though the demand is by no means satis- The encouragement of civic involvement is fied. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs due on the one hand to the realisation that provides support for projects and the state the demand for solutions in the social, educa- network for civic involvement. The “Echt tional and cultural fields cannot be satisfied on gut! Ehrenamt in Baden-Württemberg” (“Re- account of the scarce financial and personnel ally good! Voluntary work in Baden-Württem- resources in the relevant administrations and berg”) prize is awarded by the state in recog- institutions. On the other hand, experience nition of outstanding commitment. Citizen’s has shown that the involvement and expertise Advice Bureaus or administrative departments of citizens in planning and carrying out politi- provide assistance in the municipalities and of- cal decisions lead to their success, since they fer further education and training courses for can contribute the necessary local knowledge and experience. Civic participation is thus in- creasingly assuming the dimension of political Each year, around 150 young people participation. The term “Bürgerkommune” in Baden Württemberg get involved (civic municipality) points in this direction, in environmental and nature protection describing a form of municipal administration in their Voluntary Ecological Year. where citizens are more involved in political Photos: LpB Baden-Württemberg planning and political responsibility beyond their representation committees, e. g. within social life, in art and culture, in integration the scope of a civic budget. Notwithstanding work, in education and health care, since they the without doubt great efforts needed to bal- often work in an exemplary manner and show ance different interests, this can nevertheless the way for the future. Furthermore, Baden- be seen as a chance to make urban develop- Württemberg is home to two of the biggest ment a matter of consensus and to bring it foundations in Germany, the Robert Bosch closer to the concrete needs of citizens. anyone who wants to place his or her know- Foundation and the Landesstiftung Baden- ledge and skills at the service of the communi- Württemberg (State Foundation). Several com- ty. The municipalities, clubs and associations panies also act as patrons in the field of art or charity institutions have always relied on and culture. classical voluntary work. This was the only way in which they could carry on the broad Apart from the classical fields of charity work, range of their work. The Voluntary Social Year the spectrum of civic involvement has broad- (FSJ) and Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) for ened over the past years – due partly to the young people that have been organised by the work of citizen’s action groups and the agenda State Agency for Civic Education (Landeszen- process in the municipalities. Work as a job trale für politische Bildung) on behalf of the mentor, as a pilot through welfare administra- Ministry of the Environment have also enjoyed tion, as a mentor for concrete social or cultural many years of success. Municipalities are also tasks, cooperation in urban district develop- investing more in providing opportunities for ment or integration projects, micro-projects in young people to work on a voluntary basis youth work, in models for cross-generational through the Charitable Education Year (GBJ). living forms, to name but a few. These are joined by the JES projects (“Jugend engagi- Baden-Württemberg can also rightly be called ert sich sozial”, can be roughly translated as the sponsor state in Germany. Nowhere else “Young people get involved in social work”), in Germany will you find so many foundations which are provided exclusively for young peo- and trusts that have sprung from the initiative ple. And for good reason: they deal with key of private persons or companies. Their work challenges facing the future of urban develop- has become indispensable in many areas of ment and the solution of social problems on the

124 125 REFERENCES

The Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg (State Agency for Civic Education) launched the series entitled “Schriften zur politischen Landeskunde Baden-Württembergs” (publications on political regional studies in Baden-Württemberg) in 1975.

These publications provide understandable, reliable, objective and non-party information on a wide variety of regional topics from the southwest of Germany ranging from the history and politics of the state, its geography, economy and society right through to churches, media and culture.

The series is just as diverse as the state of Baden-Württemberg and its inhabitants itself. It has in turn become very well-known and some of the volumes are now standard works of reference.

Bd. 37: Moersch, Karl / Weber, Reinhold Bd. 29: Cost, Hilde / Körber-Weik, Margot Bd. 20: Knorr, Birgit / Wehling, Rosemarie (Hrsg.): Die Zeit nach dem Krieg. Städte im (Hrsg.): Die Wirtschaft von Baden-Württemberg (Hrsg.): Frauen im deutschen Südwesten, Stutt- Wiederaufbau, Stuttgart 2008. im Umbruch, Stuttgart 2002. gart 1992.

Bd. 36: Gebhardt, Hans (Hrsg.): Geographie Bd. 28: Fischer, Thomas / Frech, Siegfried Bd. 19: Schweickert, Alexander (Hrsg.): Süd- Baden-Württembergs. Raum, Entwicklung, Re- (Hrsg.): Baden-Württemberg und seine Partnerr- baden, Stuttgart 1992. gionen, Stuttgart 2008. egionen, Stuttgart 2001. Bd. 18: Wehling, Hans-Georg / Langewie- Bd. 35: Pflug, Konrad / Raab-Nicolai, Ul- Bd. 27: Wehling, Hans-Georg / Hauser- sche, Dieter u. a.: Baden-Württemberg. Eine rike / Weber, Reinhold (Hrsg.): Orte des Hauswirth, Angelika (Hrsg.): Die großen politische Landeskunde Teil II, Stuttgart 1991. Gedenkens und Erinnerns in Baden-Württem- Revolutionen im deutschen Südwesten, Stutt- berg, Stuttgart 2007. gart 1998. Bd. 17: Biege, Hans-Peter (Hrsg.): Massen- medien in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 1990. Bd. 34: Weber, Reinhold / Wehling, Hans- Bd. 26: Hippel, Wolfgang von: Revolution Georg (Hrsg.): Baden-Württemberg. Gesells- im deutschen Südwesten. Das Großherzogtum Bd. 16: Boelcke, Willi A.: Sozialgeschichte chaft, Geschichte, Politik, Stuttgart 2006. Baden 1848/49, Stuttgart 1998. Baden-Württembergs 1800–1989, Stuttgart 1989. Bd. 33: Weber, Reinhold / Mayer, Ines Bd. 25: Schweickert, Alexander (Hrsg.): Kur- (Hrsg.): Politische Köpfe aus Südwestdeutsch- pfalz, Stuttgart 1997. Bd. 15: Klatt, Hartmut (Hrsg.): Baden-Würt- land, Stuttgart 2005. temberg und der Bund, Stuttgart 1989. Bd. 24: Wehling, Hans-Georg (Hrsg.): Ober- Bd. 32: Meier-Braun, Karl-Heinz / Weber, schwaben, Stuttgart 1995. Bd. 14: Schneider, Herbert (Hrsg.): Ver- Reinhold (Hrsg.): Kulturelle Vielfalt. Baden- bände in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart Württemberg als Einwanderungsland, Stuttgart Bd. 23: Kallenberg, Fritz (Hrsg.): Hohen- 1987. 2005 (2. unveränderte Auflage 2006). zollern, Stuttgart 1996. Bd. 13: Schnabel, Thomas: Württemberg Bd. 31: Eilfort, Michael (Hrsg.): Parteien in Bd. 22: Gerlach, Siegfried (Hrsg.): Sachsen. zwischen Weimar und Bonn, 1928–1945/46, Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 2003. Eine politische Landeskunde, Stuttgart 1993. Stuttgart 1986.

Bd. 30: Blümcke, Martin (Hrsg.): Alltagskul- Bd. 21: Bauschert, Otto (Hrsg.): Hohenlohe, Bd. 12: Borcherdt, Christoph u. a.: Die Land- tur in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 2003. Stuttgart 1993. wirtschaft in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart 1985.

126 Bd. 11: Pfizer, Theodor / Wehling, Hans- Further publications on regional Games and teaching material Georg (Hrsg.): Kommunalpolitik in Baden- studies from the Landeszentrale from the Landeszentrale für Württemberg, 3. Aufl. Stuttgart 2000. für politische Bildung politische Bildung

Bd. 10: Bosch, Michael / Niess, Wolfgang Weber, Reinhold / Wehling, Hans-Georg: Baden-Württemberg Memory (Hrsg.): Der Widerstand im deutschen Südwest- Geschichte Baden-Württembergs, München Deutschland-Quartett en 1933–1945, Stuttgart 1984. 2007. Baden-Württemberg-Puzzle Deutschland-Puzzle Bd. 9: Sproll, Heinz / Thierfelder, Jörg Wehling, Hans-Georg / Hauser-Hauswirth, Europa-Puzzle (Hrsg.): Die Religionsgemeinschaften in Baden- Angelika / Sepaintner, Fred Ludwig (Hrsg.): Welt-Puzzle Württemberg, Stuttgart 1984. Baden-Württemberg. Vielfalt und Stärke der Re- Politik ABC gionen, Stuttgart 2002. Bd. 8: Borcherdt, Christoph (Hrsg.): Ge- fit in politik. Politisches Basiswissen auf ografische Landeskunde von Baden-Württem- Frech, Siegfried (Red.): Taschenbuch Baden- dem Bierdeckel, 2008. berg, 3. Aufl. Stuttgart 1993. Württemberg. Gesetze – Daten – Analysen, Stuttgart 2004 (Neuausgabe 2009). Perspektiven bilden. Fotoset für die poli- Bd. 7: Ott, Alfred E. (Hrsg.): Die Wirtschaft des tische Bildung, 2008. Landes Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart 1983. Faltblätter: Landeskunde – Landesgeschichte – Landespolitik, zuletzt erschienen Nr. 10/2007: Kursbuch miteinander leben. Unterrichts- Bd. 6: Schnabel, Thomas (Hrsg.): Die Macht- Ludwig Marum (1882–1934). material für Orientierungs- und Sprachkurse, ergreifung in Südwestdeutschland. Das Ende der 2006. Weimarer Republik in Baden und Württemberg 1928–1933, Stuttgart 1982. Magazines published by the Landeszentrale für politische Further references Bd. 5: Fenske, Hans: Der liberale Südwesten. Bildung Freiheitliche und demokratische Traditionen in Der Präsident des Landtags von Baden- Baden-Württemberg 1790–1933, Stuttgart 1981. Der Bürger im Staat Württemberg (Hrsg.): Landtagsspiegel www.buergerimstaat.de Baden-Württemberg (mit der Jahresbilanz des Bd. 4: Rothmund, Paul / Wiehn, Erhard R. Landesparlaments, ergänzt durch landeskundli- (Hrsg.): Die F.D.P. / DVP in Baden-Württemberg Politik & Unterricht che und zeitgeschichtliche Hintergrundberichte; und ihre Geschichte, Stuttgart 1979. www.politikundunterricht.de erscheint jährlich).

Bd. 3: Schadt, Jörg / Schmierer, Wolfgang Deutschland & Europa Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württem- (Hrsg.): Die SPD in Baden-Württemberg und www.deutschlandundeuropa.de berg (Hrsg.): Statistisches Taschenbuch Baden- ihre Geschichte, Stuttgart 1979. Württemberg (erscheint jährlich).

Bd. 2: Weinacht, Paul-Ludwig (Hrsg.): Die Basic Material CDU in Baden-Württemberg und ihre Geschich- Current information from te, Stuttgart 1979. Grundgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutsch- the Landeszentrale für politische land / Landesverfassung von Baden-Würt- Bildung on the Internet Bd. 1: Eschenburg, Theodor u. a.: Baden- temberg Württemberg. Eine politische Landeskunde. www.lpb-bw.de Redaktion: Hans-Georg Wehling, 4. Aufl. Stutt- Die Baden-Württemberg-Karte (Verwaltungs- www.landeskunde-baden-wuerttemberg.de gart 1996. (Übersetzung als: The German South- karte und physische Karte, 70 x 60 cm) west. Baden-Württemberg: History, Politics, Economy and Culture, Stuttgart 1991). Further information

www.landtag-bw.de www.baden-wuerttemberg.de www.statistik-bw.de www.lmz-bw.de www.lv-bw.de

127 THE LANDESZENTRALE FÜR POLITISCHE BILDUNG

The “Haus auf der Alb” (House on the Alb) in Bad Urach, an important Bauhaus The Landeszentrale für politische Bildung monument from the age of the Weimar (LpB – State Agency for Civic Education) has Republic, is used by the Landeszentrale für the task of encouraging and strengthening politische Bildung as a conference centre. civic education in Baden-Württemberg on a Numerous institutions and thousands non-party basis. It coordinates civic educa- of people make use of the peaceful atmos- phere to hold conferences, courses and tion in the state as well as the further edu- events here every year. cation and training of the people employed Photo: LpB Baden-Württemberg in civic education. This broad scope of work is accomplished by the LpB in around 700 events, seminars and educational trips each The Landtag and the state government of year and in a comprehensive range of publi- Baden-Württemberg have given the LpB cations and Internet pages. the responsibility for the Landtag’s school- children’s competition and for the Voluntary Well-established publications from the Ecological Year as well as a special responsi- Landeszentrale für politische Bildung include bility for the memorials of National Socialism “Der Bürger im Staat” (since 1951), a profes- in Baden-Württemberg. sional journal for a wide group of readers that continues to bear the name of the predeces- The LpB is a public agency with no legal ca- sor of the LpB. The magazines “Politik & Un- pacity in the portfolio of the Ministry of State. terricht” as well as “Deutschland & Europa” It has a board of trustees with representatives are didactic magazines for practical civic from all parliamentary parties in the Land- education in schools and extracurricular edu- tag in order to guarantee its independence. cational establishments. They are primarily These are joined by experts for civic educa- aimed at teachers and multipliers. Numer- tion from all walks of life, for example, from ous publications on regional studies, includ- churches, unions, trade associations or adult ing the famous series “Schriften zur poli- education centres. tischen Landeskunde Baden-Württembergs” (publications on political regional studies in The Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg) (since 1975), provide provides a service for all citizens in the state comprehensive information on all matters who want to participate in its events, semi- of regional interest in Baden-Württemberg. nars or educational trips and order its pub- Educational teaching material, games, serv- lications. ices and not least e-Learning courses round off the varied offerings of the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung. www.lpb-bw.de www.landeskunde-baden-wuerttemberg.de