Current Events & Trends: The stark reemergence of German power
In several past issues we have noted a number of times in this feature how Germany has gained more power among the European nations over the past several decades.
This began after World War II with America's Marshall Plan (1948-1952) helping to set West Germany back on its feet. Startling economic successes followed in its wake. The next big step was the reunification of East and West Germany following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
After a number of troubling years of absorption, Berlin has now emerged as the economic engine that propels the European Union. So far Germany remains the only country that has largely escaped the effects of recession.
Already uncomfortable with the growth of German power (acutely remembering Berlin's war-making role in the first half of the 20th century), the media in much of Europe and Britain has reacted negatively to Chancellor Angela Merkel's role in the Cypriot crisis. She wants to save the euro in Cyprus and stabilize this currency for the European Union.
Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times gave this assessment:
"Yet growing German power—and growing resentment of that power—are now the main themes of European politics. This is a historic irony, given that the main purpose of the whole European project [the EU], from the 1950s onwards, has been to end for ever the idea that Germany is simply too powerful to coexist comfortably with its neighbours. The stock phrase—in Berlin, as much as in Paris or Brussels—was about the need for a 'European Germany, rather than a 'German Europe.'
"After the Cyprus crisis, however, it looks increasingly like a German Europe—because the direction of a continent in crisis is being shaped, above all, by the ideas and preferences of politicians and officials in Berlin" ("The Making of a German Europe," March 25, 2013).
The German economy, however, slowed considerably in the last quarter of 2012. If that trend persists, bailing out countries in southern Europe may become increasingly politically perilous for Chancellor Merkel at home. For now, though, she is unquestionably the leading political figure in Europe, successfully weathering several political and economic crises so far. (Source: Financial Times.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: May - June 2013
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
