Today’s Germany emerged in 1990 when the formerly communist East Germany was incorporated into the Federal Republic. Nearly half a century of disunion had left an economic and social divide in the country that took more than two decades to mend — and some imbalances remain. Historically, however, the more pertinent geographical divide in Germany has been between its north and south. Read more ““Too Big for Europe”: The Recurring German Problem”
There are times when geography can get in the way of making Europe the sort of perfectly rationalized utopia imagined by European bureaucrats when they stare in frustration at the continent’s map from behind their Brussels desks. Whole nations are plagued by inconvenient borders drawn by statesmen long ago. Countries can be out of sync with their neighbors’ ties and cultures. And some wonderful states that should exist don’t.
Fortunately, The Economist has a plan. Read more “Drawing a Better Europe”
