How does Germany come out on top in the European Union?

[L.A.P.]

I've seen on a lot of posts references to the eurozone being Greater Germany and that being pro-EU is equivalent to being pro-German.

Can anyone explain how Germany came out being the dominant power of the European Union?

[Sasha]

It's the main, and most stable economy... Also one of the most populated.

[L.A.P.]

oh...I thought there would have been more to it, but that makes sense

thanks

[Per Levy]

well unlike many other eu countries the wages in germany stagnated for roughly 20 years and didnt rise high, thanks the social dems and the greens a massive increase of low wage jobs and i mean, for germany, really low wages, so we have now roughly 25% of the working population being working poor. wich doesnt help the german market, so small shops and all that suffer from this, but the export centered industries and big companies are makeing a lot of profit thanks to this.

[Blake's Baby]

It began long before 20 years ago though. By the 1960s, (West) Germany was the strongest economy in Europe. There were severe worries that the strong economy of the West might have trouble absorbing the relative economic backwater of the East, and that this would hamper Germany's position as the leading economy in Europe.

Obviously there have been problems over the last 20 years or so, but not to the extent that they crippled (unified) German capitalism.

Doesn't wage stagnation go back to before 1989 too? I seem to recall reading somewhere recently (but can't remember where) that German wages had been stagnating in real terms since the early 1980s. I'll have to try and find info on that though.

[Old Bolshie]

Germany has been the most powerful continental European economy since it became unified in 1871. For two times Germany sought to expand and transform that economic superiority into a political one and failed.

European Union and (even more important) the Euro were simply a way of allowing Germany hegemony over Europe peacefully and without bloodshed.

This leadership role of Germany in Europe is not really a surprise and people like Giuseppe Garibaldi predicted it even before the country became unified in 1871.

[Per Levy]

im sorry for my post i somewhat misunderstood the question, it was late at night, and so wrote something that didnt really fit the question. i though it was asked why germany is still such a powerhouse while the rest of the eu is under such pressure.


Obviously there have been problems over the last 20 years or so, but not to the extent that they crippled (unified) German capitalism.

of course not, the ones who suffer are the petit bourgeosie and the workers mostly, while the big cappies are stronger than ever.


Doesn't wage stagnation go back to before 1989 too? I seem to recall reading somewhere recently (but can't remember where) that German wages had been stagnating in real terms since the early 1980s. I'll have to try and find info on that though.

probally it started before the 1990s, my 20 year thing came from all the blogs/newspapers i've read who pretty much state that there is a 20 year stagnation in wages, while the profits and the productivity rises higher and higher.