popular support for democracy Flashcards
why was the concept of democracy difficult for German people to understand?
the Nazis had taught the German people to see democracy as weak and the enemy
the last and only democracy Germany has had was the Weimar Republic which was seen as a disaster by most Germans
what showed that there was support for democracy?
the high turnout at elections
after 1949 the voting turnout in the FRG never fell below…
84%
what were Germans views on the restoration of a monarchy?
many Germans at first wanted monarchy to be restored (1/3)
but over time this desire died down (1/10)
what did surveys during the 1960s show about the popularity of the FRG?
showed that the majority of Germans felt the FRG represented the best time in Germany
also showed that Germans believed democracy was the best type of government
how else did the German people show their support for democracy?
- protesting against actions taken by the govt which would undermine democracy
- protesting against the repressive and undemocratic regimes of other nations
- lack of support for violent opposition to democracy
protesting against actions taken by the govt which would undermine democracy
many Germans protested against the Emergency Law in the 1960s as they saw it as undemocratic and unconstitutional
showed that the German people respected and stood up for the Basic Law
protesting against the repressive and undemocratic regimes of other nations
Germans actively protested against the dictatorship in Greece as well as apartheid in South Africa
they did not want Germany to have diplomatic relations with these nations
protesting against Ostpolitik
Germans opposed the shift to Ostpolitik as it meant better relations with a communist regime
Germans did not want to include the USSR in any kind of reunification deal
concl on support for the FRG
it was more SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY
than it was support for the government
the German people often went against the actions of the government in favour of upholding democracy
