Contemporary Germany is a very strange place. It dominates the European Union with iron inflexibility but it refuses to assume the role of the benevolent hegemon. Its chancellor –unlike any other leader of a major European country since the beginning of the sovereign debt crisis– has been brilliantly re-elected, but in fact the victory is so overwhelming that it could turn out to be more of a curse than a blessing. The undisputed Dominatrix Germaniae could have a hard time to find the coalition partner of whom she still is in dire need.
During the campaign there hasn’t been any serious discussion on the all-important question of Germany’s role in Europe, but nevertheless the issue of the future course of the European Union seems to have been decisive for the results of the poll. The country is headed for a great coalition that will put the two major parties in power that, notwithstanding all their ideological differences, have a very similar approach when it comes to the European crisis.
A political leader that is weakened by is crushing popularity; a hegemon that refuses to lead; a coalition that should easily span left and right for the simple reason that they largely agree an the most dramatic and challenging of all issues, that is to say Europe. There is an astonishing confusion, an uncanny absence of policy options, an astounding poverty of the intellectual debate. The campaign, as was often deplored, was boring and irrelevant. Now the situation is even worse: The turnout of the elections seems to reflect the very meagreness of conceptual options.
Even more puzzling than the difficulties of the political system to give convincing answers to the current crisis of the Continent is the state of public discourse. Where the hell is the German intelligenzija? Certainly, there is Wolfgang Münchau, the brave and very lonely critic of the German austerity recipe, there is Heiner Flassbeck and there are a few post-Keynesians surrounding the unions or the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung. But basically their voices have little to no influence in the contemporary German debate. In the Anglo-Saxon, and for that matter global discussion they are very far from expressing minority opinions, whereas in Germany they are totally marginalised.
Where is the German intelligenzija? Whatever happened to the assertiveness of the proud and powerful Sozialdemokratie? That is the greatest puzzle of all. Its absence does not bode well, neither for Germany nor for the rest of us.