October 2018 ISSN 1864-3973 THE HUMAN CAPITAL Is Berlin still a metropolis unlike other major European cities, where only the most affluent can afford to live? The Berlin Times, a paper within this paper, reveals the state of life in Germany’s capital today. SHUTTERSTOCK/MIKEDOTTA IN THIS ISSUE Tainted love Touch of grey HOLD ON TIGHT The current retreat by the The Germans know what they Leading a government she did not want US was long in coming, even owe the Americans. But what does that and unable to silence her critics, before Trump. Yet we must not let our trans-Atlantic mean for the future? Angela Merkel finds herself in a tough spot partnership erode, says Theo Sommer. page 2 aware of the depth of gratitude they owe involved really wanted. Following the BY KATJA GLOGER AND the Americans, even if for decades only BY GÜNTER BANNAS federal election last year, Merkel and her UPSTARTS GEORG MASCOLO the western part of their divided country inner circle tried to forge a coalition the Four young, eloquent politi- profited from it. Together with the Red likes of which had never existed before in cians from the left, right and ne of the low points of the Army, US soldiers liberated Germany he final years are always the Germany: her Christian Democrats join- center(s) are disrupting the trans-Atlantic relationship can from the despotism of the National Social- hardest. For nearly 13 years, ing forces with the pro-business FDP and politics of old in Germany. Obe pinpointed precisely: June ists. The Americans – in a move that of TAngela Merkel has been chancel- the environmentalist Greens. Following Lutz Lichtenberger tells their 19, 2018, 6:52AM EST. Presumably course benefitted their own economy as lor of the Federal Republic of Germany. weeks of negotiations, the FDP walked stories. page 4 from his bedroom in the East Wing of well– buried the Morgenthau Plan and No current head of government in the out. FDP policymakers and even leading the White House, US President Donald launched the Marshall Plan. Decades Western democratic world has held Social Democrats blamed Merkel, adding Trump clicked “send” in his Twitter later, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, power longer than this woman from the that the coalition talks’ failure indicated PERSIAN SUNSETS app: “Crime in Germany is up 10% plus they promoted reunification while the former East Germany. that Merkel’s days as chancellor were The US and the EU have (officials do not want to report these French and Brits had misgivings. But the Merkel has led her party, the center-right numbered. often differed over Middle crimes) since migrants were accepted.” Americans also had the confidence that Christian Democratic Union (CDU), for The SPD, for its part, had little interest East policy. But the It sounds like a state conspiracy, one the Germans had become a mature and 18 years. Only Helmut Kohl, the chancel- in joining yet another grand coalition dispute over Iran could have discovered by the American president: the responsible nation. The pride at having so lor of Reunification, served longer in that with Merkel. Its leadership – under then- dramatic consequences. German chancellor, interior minister and decisively contributed to the evolution of office. Germany’s sole female chancellor, chairman Martin Schulz – understand- Volker Perthes explains the police have conspired to deceive the German the new Germany accounts for America’s Merkel has also led a variety of different ably pointed out that it had just polled strategic implications for people. But this tweet, too, to put it mildly, trusting demeanor. In this sense, Germany cabinets, at times in coalition with the the worst election result in its history. the trans-Atlantic was an incorrect claim. The AfD gleefully has always provided some sort of self- center-left Social Democrats (SPD), and Voters had assigned the SPD the role of relationship. page 10 retweeted the affirmation at other times an opposition message: for America with the free- party, Schulz Trump, it said, THE GERMANS as well. market Free MERKEL LEADS said, pledg- BULLS IN THE CHINA SHOP obviously had In their short Democrats ing that he The trade war between precise infor- HAVE NEVER HAD post-World- (FDP). A COALITION would never the US and the Middle mation from War-II history, Unlike the take part in a Kingdom is about more his intelligence A BETTER FRIEND the Germans United States, THAT NONE OF Merkel cabi- than just money. It is about services. have never had Germany does net. Merkel world domination. The German a better friend not limit the herself Hans-Jürgen Jakobs lays government THAN THE than the Amer- duration for THE OTHER PARTIES favored new out the battlefield.page 11 and the chan- icans. And which one elections. cellor refuted AMERICANS when push person can INVOLVED WANTED It was Presi- the substance came to shove, hold the coun- dent Frank- MADE IN DEUTSCHLAND of the tweet. In reality, the crime rate was Germany was one of the more reliable try’s most powerful political office. In Walter Steinmeier who put an end to The economy is booming, down 10 percent in 2017, and was at its friends of the US. Former Chancellor Ger- April 2016, on his last visit to Berlin as such plans. He ruled out another vote. Trump doesn’t get that lowest since 1992. The political damage hard Schröder risked his office by contribut- US president, Barack Obama remarked Only after a long period of inner conflict international trade and sanc- was somewhat contained, but the aftershock ing to the NATO war effort in Afghanistan “I do not envy Angela Merkel for not did the SPD signal its readiness to coop- tions against Russia have to continues to linger. after 9/11. Two years after that, George W. having term limits.” Obama praised the erate. In return, the CDU had to forfeit remain in place for the time Countering “fake news” and other Bush took Germany’s refusal to contribute wisdom of the US Constitution’s fram- the hugely important finance portfolio being, says German Econom- media hysterics spread and enflamed by troops to the invasion of Iraq as a betrayal. ers. “I think it’s healthy for a big, diverse to the smaller SPD. ics Minister Peter Altmaier in Russia is old hat for Berlin – after all, So, how to handle Trump and the US country like ours to have some turnover. Second, Merkel’s situation has not an interview. page 13 during the Cold War, West Germany was in these trying times? Justified and openly To use a phrase from basketball, to have improved since. The finance minister the preferred target for disinformation voiced criticism is as important as the readi- some fresh legs come in.” is now the SPD’s Olaf Scholz, who just campaigns by the KGB and the Stasi. But ness for self-criticism. Germany’s trade bal- Merkel was stunned. Her face expressed last fall was still gleefully ridiculing GERMAN DEMOCRACY 1.0 to be attacked like this by a political ally? ance surplus and its – in America’s eyes astonishment, and seemed to question the chancellor. “Her political style has 100 years after the revolu- That was something new. – inadequate defense expenditures had whether saying such a thing was even apparently reached its limit,” Scholz tion of Nov. 9, 1918, Unfortunately, this is but one of many already been matters of concern for Clin- proper. A number of her close associates said. “The time of just muddling through Robert Gerwarth reappraises reasons to look upon the German-American ton, Bush and Obama. They raised their who had expressed their intention to is over.” Now he is vice-chancellor, and the oft-overlooked landmark relationship with concern. The majority of concerns behind closed doors in a friendly leave politics after years of service would many in the SPD believe he is readying in the nation’s history: Germans harbor deep mistrust for Trump tone – and each German government turned later describe a different Angela Merkel. to vie for the top job in the next federal It afforded full citizenship and consider him a danger to world peace. a deaf ear. She seemed reflective, they said, as if it election. In the details of government rights to women. page 17 They are disappointed and distraught by In recent months, some government offi- might be liberating for her, too, to pass work – which are closely watched in Ber- his cavalier attitude toward the free press, cials have reread the farewell address US the onus of responsibility on to others. lin’s political circles – Scholz is walking the independence of the judiciary and other Secretary of Defense Robert Gates deliv- Following much introspection, she away from previous agreements. Pension SEASON ON THE BRINK fundamentals of democracy – values that the ered to NATO in Brussels in June 2011. decided otherwise. Now, however, payments after the year 2040 are just one Bayern Munich remains Americans so successfully bequeathed to the Gates warned that if burden sharing did not Merkel finds herself in a position that example. Statements by Scholz have led an international soccer vast majority of West Germans after the end become more equitable, future presidents could not be politically more difficult. to counterattacks from Merkel’s CDU. powerhouse, but the rest of of the Hitler dictatorship. The initial ironic could strike a very different tone and follow Public opinion is beginning to turn As a result, Merkel came under pressure the Bundesliga has trouble response, the sarcasm about his rhetoric and a less lenient course.