Germany: Unraveling an Enigma

Germany: Unraveling an Enigma

Greg Nees

Language: English

Pages: 228

ISBN: 1877864757

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Did you know that more Germans have immigrated to the United States than any other ethnic group? While German culture is rich in its own traditions and history, Americans still tend to see German culture as similar to their own until they experience it firsthand. In his book, Germany: Unraveling an Enigma, Greg Nees seeks to highlight the background and customs of this fascinating group of people. As it turns out, Germans spend a great amount of time discussing their puzzling heritage and culture; in fact, discussing and debating almost anything is one of their favorite pastimes, and with Germany, Americans can begin to understand and unravel German culture as well.

The book includes a review of modern German history, major German cultural themes and their relationship to German communication patterns, and it also looks to the future, piecing together a picture of twenty-first century Germany. Germany: Unraveling an Enigma will be welcomed by anyone interested in Germany or German culture. It can be especially valuable for students, managers, and others living in Germany, along with anyone else wishing to understand the dynamics of cross-cultural interaction between Germans and Americans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

of capitalism and that it was the socialists who had fought the Nazis. In the leaders’ opinion, it was absurd for them to take any responsibility for Nazi atrocities. Thus, while the GDR did more to get former Nazis out of jobs and positions of power than did the FRG, they also allowed their children to grow up with no sense of collective guilt for Germany’s past. Today, these differences in attitude between East and West Germans toward their country’s fascist history are gradually fading as

that so clearly differentiates between insiders and outsiders. Not surprisingly, Germans are inclined to do thorough background checks before they feel comfortable entering into a deal with someone new. This makes breaking into business in Germany a longer, more difficult undertaking than in the United States. One effect of this close-knit business network in Germany is the high value placed on discretion. From an American perspective, German businesspeople often seem quite secretive, and

intimidating in their gatekeeping functions. These Chefsekretärinnen will not lose their power in the foreseeable future, and it is wise to treat them with the formality and respect they deserve and are accustomed to. Other Changes in the German Business Environment Since the early 1990s, fault lines have become apparent in the German model, and a heated public debate is currently in progress as to what must be done to save the economy from further decline. Clearly, times have changed, and the

rebuilding the infrastructure, subsidizing social programs, and reducing the unemployment that still plagues the former east. As these programs continue, the east will eventually catch up with, and perhaps even surpass, the economy of the western parts of Germany. Currently the unemployment and economic problems in the east are among the strongest forces in Wertewandel: Creation of a New German Identity? 153 keeping the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), the successor to the former East

Mardi Gras. Glossary of German Terms 175 Frauenförderungsprogramme. Programs for the advancement of women in business or public service; frequently this includes a quota system for women’s job promotions. Freunde. Friends; for Germans, this means close, personal, long-standing relationships. See Bekannte. Gastarbeiter. Guest worker(s); mostly Italian, Spanish, Greek, and Turkish nationals working in German industry. Gemeinschaft. Community, ingroup with a sense of shared responsibility for

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