The German identity in a globalised world: a scheme
When you ask a German after German people all over the world he will probably make a grimace and tell you about small minds and embarressing looking tourists. And then he or she will shout out: „But I am not like this!” So is there a common German identity or is the only thing we have in common that we are a nation of individualists?
A good opportunity to get an idea of the German way of life is living outside Germany and experiencing the differences and similarities. During the time the picture Germans have about Germany and foreign countries as well as the foreign picture of Germany has changed significantly. Whereas the German people have feared only to be judged on the the basis of their national-socialist history for a long time the new generation distances itself from the German past. Nevertheless, we needed the Socker World Cup in Germany last year to show our flag with pride again and it is still not very common to say in public: „I am proud of being a German!”
However, one can generally say that while the global network grows the world seems to become smaller. Especially Europe is influencing not only the political agenda but also everyday life to a growing extent. And the slogan of the World Cup: „A time to make friends” (which is a quite free translation of the original German one „Die Welt zu Gast bei Freunden”) showed a changing of German self-image and also the opening of people’s minds.
A second point one has to consider when talking about German identity and self-image is the construction of the German federal state. Constituted by the historical development Germany is a country of regions, whose strengths and differences have been consolidated by the political structure. Therefore, it is no suprise if a rising number of German people say they feel as a European coming from their special region in Germany but not that they are German.
In addition, there are some quite common characteristics that influence German people’s behaviour from my point of view. The first is a deep scepticism and (self-)criticism regarding the German system and the life in Germany. One can even call it pessimism. That is especially the case when it comes to the economic situation and the perspectives of the labour market. Secondly this criticism does not lead to an activation in terms of an engagement against the existing situation at all. As a result the high unemployment rate, apart from rising taxes and increased costs of living, provokes an increasing number of young Germans to go abroad. And while countries move together within the EU networks have been built up creating new jobs and furthermore, strengthening the importance of foreign languages and experiences abroad. Apart from the creation of a common European identity the EU has been an economic organization in the first instance. So the disposition to search for one’s luck abroad seems to be an advantage in terms of using the opportunities of the new European development.
There are two different opportunities one has for staying in a foreign country. On one hand one can choose short term stay abroad to gain experiences and upgrade ones CV. On the other hand more and more young German academics become expatriates. In 2006 155000 Germans had left their home to start a new life abroad, the Financial Times Germany noted. German academical grades are still seen as a high qualification and often cause better job offers from abroad than within Germany. Aside from „better” living conditions those expatriates hope to find a free and self-determined way of life that is not influenced by the German small minds and exaggerated bureaucratic ruling any more.
And then abroad a totally new perspective is emerging. One will and has to find a new way of dealing with conditions and can take off former features like old clothes. Nevertheless, one will probably find some positive features of living in Germany which one demanded as boring at home. Germany is one of the wealthiest states of the world and it still takes care a lot of its citizens although reform processes have to be implemented to secure the social system. One has to realize that the structure and order of the German state which seem to be bureaucratic, slowly and overregulating is also guaranteeing many liberties and the independence of citizens. The German state even supports those who do not want to live and work in Germany any more. And German citizens cannot only travel quite freely but live in relative wealth.
Furthermore, one might miss things aside from German bread one would never have expected to do. When I talked to a friend studying in Beirut he told me he misses punctuality (a feature that is often mentioned to be typical German). And as I thought about it I realized though we do not see ourselves as hyperpunctual everybody in Germany is railing about the delay of the German Bahn. So are there some characteristics that build a German identity somehow or are this only evidences that there is no common identity and moreover the nonexistence allow induviduals to take the best opportunities? And beyond the existence of German identity are we really more open and international? We do not even manage a proper inclusion of the migrants living in our own country. At the end one should not forget this open and very flexible group of German people abroad is mostly high educated elite who can assimilate very easily. Therefore, I would say that there are some common features one links with Germany but that is more a question of customs and socialisation than a real national identity.
