The economic crisis that arose in
Europe in 2009 (known as the Eurocrisis) left many countries of the European
Union (EU) in difficult financial situations with very little ability to help
themselves. Causes varied from country to country, some of which include
real-estate bubbles which popped, leaving private debt which many countries
assumed, international trade imbalances, bailouts given to troubled banking
industries, and the impact of a global recession. Some countries were hit
harder than others. One of the countries that seems to have avoided much of the
crisis in Germany, which stands at the head of the EU giving hope for what the
Union’s future might be. This “honest, thrifty, industrious”1
country is governed by a representative democracy, which the Chancellor as the
head of government. The current Chancellor of Germany, and the head of
government throughout this major economic crisis, is a woman by the name of
Angela Merkel. This woman has led her
country, which has been an example to neighboring nations and an aid to those
in need of the greatest help, with such authority and aptitude that she has
“become the most powerful German woman since Catherine the Great ruled Russia”2.
Her intelligence, drive, and firsthand experience and witness of the impacts of
political actions in citizens’ lives has helped her become the capable leader
she is today.
As a young child Ms. Merkel experienced the
building of the Berlin Wall and witnessed the sorrow it brought to the people
in her father, the pastor’s, church. She also visited Czechoslovakia during its
revolution in 1968 and also experienced the fear of learning that the Russian
troops had put a stop to it. Being one to often speak up in class about such
situations, she had to learn to speak and when to hold still based on the
visible reactions of those around her. Ms. Merkel said herself, “Yes, it is a
great advantage from the time in East Germany, that one learned to keep quiet.
That was one of the strategies for survival. As it is today.”
Her experience in East Germany, a
place known for its lack of drive to excel beyond mediocrity, did not deter her
own diligence in obtaining an education and graduating in physics from Leipzig
University, later earning a doctorate. The personal dedication to rise above mediocrity
is seen in the way she conducts Parliament meetings. During a debate over the
pros and cons of euro bonds (a system that allows investors to loan money with
time restrictions and a defined interest rate to the Eurozone bloc which then
sends that money specific governments3) Ms. Merkel said that these
bonds “would turn mediocrity into Europe’s yardstick. We would be abandoning
our ambition of retaining our prosperity in worldwide competition.”4
Her education as a scientist is
also seen as an influence in the way she addresses problems or losses of
arguments that are natural and common in the political sphere. Most see losses
of arguments as just that, a loss or a failure. Ms. Merkel, as a scientist,
instead sees a loss as knowledge of what will not work. (Sounds quite a bit
like another famous scientist we know who discovered a thousand ways a light
bulb did not work.) Wolfgang Nowak, a former senior adviser to Gerhard
Schroder, Ms. Merkel’s Social Democratic predecessor remarked that Ms. Merkel has
“now barriers on her thinking.”
Along with this characteristic,
the Chancellor is known for thinking through her words, their impact and
meaning, and her desire and ability to say what it is she wants to say in a
direct way, a quality often found lacking in the politicians who rush to say
whatever it is they think the voters want to hear. This might stem from her
experience with questions from pupils during her time teaching. Either way,
such deliberation during conversation suggests that as a leader, Ms. Merkel
leads a more democratic deliberation process, allowing comments and
negotiations to be made. Such leadership is often credited as more common among
women leaders5 and sometimes invokes feelings of inadequacy or
weakness in leadership. Seeing Ms. Merkel’s success in reasoning with members
of her country’s Parliament as well as country leaders in the EU perhaps brings
a new perspective to the effectiveness of democratic conversation.
Chancellor Merkel has been
successful in her leadership within her own country and the continental
representation within the European Union. She has taken her childhood
experiences and added the knowledge and habits necessary to be in politics to
her already strong, capable personality. She has shown that a more democratic
style of conversation and negotiation, which style is often seen as feminine,
weak or incapable, can bring forth the best ideas and solutions and has shown
this while maintaining a strong leadership position demanding respect.
As attention continues to turn to
the participation of women in politics (or the lack thereof) studies have shown
that the “role model effect” has significant influence on girls, young women,
and mature women. This effect says that as women become more involved in
politics, other women become more motivated to participate as well. The studies
show, however, that rather than mere numbers, it is the visible and viable
offices that have the greatest influence.6 Chancellor Merkel is a
prime example of a woman who occupies both a viable and visible office in
politics and has used her experience and capabilities to lead her country and
others during very difficult and tumultuous
economic times.
1. http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/germany-and-euro-crisis-powerhouse-really-so-pure
2. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/world/europe/unmasking-clues-to-angela-merkels-methods.html?pagewanted=all
Lyn
Kathlene
Published
by: American Political Science Association
Stable
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2944795
6.
David E. Campbell and Christina Wolbrecht (2006). See Jane Run: Women
Politicians as Role Models for Adolescents. The Journal of Politics, 68, pp
233-247 doi:10.1111/j.1468-2508.2006.00402.x
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