The history of the Wall — Developments up to 1989 — The international handling of German unification — The domestic politics of unification — Enduring divisions in Germany — Conclusion.

Parties after 1945: continuities and change — Parties and the German State — The main parties: SPD — CDU — FDP — Greens — Party system and cleavage change — The 2005 Bundestag election.

Federalism as a concept — Roots of German federalism — The Länder and their constitutional responsibilities — Developments of German federalism — The influence of European integration — The Bundesrat and policy-making.