Germany - 88.07
18
Weakened by economic downturn and political divide
Germany, the highest scoring country to fail a category, is currently in a phase of downturn. Political polarization has increased severely in recent years in Germany, as was exemplified when the center-right incumbents attempted to place the far-right opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party under surveillance. Mainstream left-wing parties in Germany have become increasingly more extreme while an increasing number of far-right populist parties have emerged, threatening Germany’s political balance. Germany has also recently been tightening hate speech laws by increasing penalties for hate speech and declaring more symbols to be hateful, which this year notably included the Hamas flag. Germany also experienced a fairly major economic contraction due to COVID, which would not be notable had the German economy not already begun to enter a period of stagnation. Germany is also in somewhat of a precarious position in regards to freedom, needing to grapple with its past while also allowing for free expression. Despite a recent period of downturn, Germany remains a country committed to human rights, democracy, and free expression.
Human Rights - 94
Germany has fully abolished the death penalty. German police have been accused of carrying out arbitrary checks and searches of ethnic minorities, mostly in rural areas and at land border crossings. The government allows “potential attackers” to be deported back to several countries, including Syria, Iraq, Sudan, and Mali, without being convicted of any crimes. Members of various extremist organizations or fundamentalist churches can be deported to dangerous regions without charge or trial. Germany guarantees a full gamut of LGBT rights, and recently banned conversion therapy for LGBT children. Abortion is legal to fourteen weeks.
Democracy - 93
The largely ceremonial president is directly elected and the chancellor, who holds most executive power, is chosen by the directly-elected Bundestag. Districting for Bundestag seats changes every election cycle but there are always a minimum of 598 seats. Despite this fairly frequent re-districting, Germany’s distrcits are not subject to gerrymandering. Elections are free and fair with a strong multi-party system. Despite relaxed immigration policy, Germany has relatively high standards for citizenship, meaning that a large number of residents cannot vote. In recent years, Germany’s politics have become increasingly partisan, and increasingly extreme political parties have entered the fray. AfD, a radical right-wing populist party and the fifth largest in the Bundestag, was placed under surveillance by the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU)-led ruling coalition. The move was overturned by the Supreme Court two days later.
Freedom - 77
Germany has some of the strictest hate speech laws in the entire EU. It is illegal to advocate for Nazism, deny the Holocaust, or glorify Hitler in any public setting. “Racist agitation” and antisemitism are both punishable by law. Germany maintains an extensive list of hate symbols, the display of which is punishable by law. It is illegal to publicly express support for or display symbols of terrorist organizations. Hezbollah and Hamas were recently classed as terrorist organizations, sparking some controversy. Several states ban teachers, public servants, police, soldiers, or other groups (varies) from wearing religious paraphernalia. These laws have primarily been used against Muslims but have also been used against Christians, Sikhs, and Jews. German curriculum is one of the most regulated in the EU, with strict laws regarding teaching about the Holocaust or World War II. A survey conducted by the German Association of Professors and Lecturers found that approximately one-third of university professors and lecturers felt constrained by German laws regarding education. Germany maintains a surveillance network capable of rivaling Britain and Russia, but its ability to monitor online communications is unknown. Drug use is not criminalized but possession is. First-time possession of drugs both have options for alternative punishments, including rehabilitation programs or community service. The manufacture, distribution, and trafficking of drugs are all criminal offenses punishable by jail time. Germany shall issue gun ownership licenses for semi-automatic rifles and handguns. Proof of threat to life is required for self-defense permits, which are rarely issued.
Economy - 93
Health - 97
Germany has a life expectancy of 81 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.25%. 22.3% of Germans are obese and 2.5% are malnourished. Germany provides universal health insurance through a scheme of free, government-provided health insurance. Germans can also opt to pay for private healthcare and roughly 14% do so. Germany’s healthcare infrastructure is some of the strongest in the world. Official sources estimate that the number of Germans without access to clean, running water is in the dozens to hundreds. Roughly 28% of adult Germans smoke regularly.
Corruption - 86
The German construction sector as a whole is generally perceived to be corrupt, and building permits are often difficult to obtain without corruption. Germany’s import and export process is subject to some bureaucratic red tape. Public contracts are very difficult to obtain without engaging in soft corruption, such as entertaining public officials.
Competency - 91
Germany is failing to protect refugees and migrants.
Future - 45
Germany has recently seen a sharp increase in political polarization. Left-wing opposition parties have become increasingly radical, while a number of radical right-wing parties have entered politics, most notably the AfD. Political divide has led to increased animosity between parties, which was most recently expressed by an attempt to put the AfD under surveillance. Germany has been tightening hate speech laws and declaring more symbols to be hateful. Declarations of Hamas and Hezbollah symbols as hateful recently sparked controversy., COVID-related economic contraction will likely affect Germany for several years, as the economy was not growing quickly before COVID. Poverty and unemployment have also been rising in Germany in recent years. Several major cities in Germany, most notably Berlin, are suffering from a worsening housing crisis.
Actions Abroad - 81
Germany is an active member of the EU and NATO and is one of the most proactive members of the UN. Germany has been trying to gain a permanent UN Security Council seat for over a decade. Germany is also a major contributor of foreign aid through the EU, NATO, and the UN. Germany has largely shifted colonial responsibility for its former colonial holdings in Africa to the powers that usurped it. Germany maintained close relations with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and severed all foreign aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover and the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Germany has implied that foreign aid might resume if the Taliban maintained the human rights situation in the country pre-takeover. Germany has criticized China’s treatment of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Christians, and Muslims.
Roughly half a percent of Germans have under the international poverty line, while roughly twelve and a half percent of Germans live under the national poverty line. A further 15.3% of Germans are at risk of becoming impoverished. Germany has one of the highest poverty lines in the world. 5.9% of Germans are unemployed. Germany has a low economic disparity, though the regional economic disparity between East and West is notable. Germany has a minimum wage of $1793 per month. Health insurance is mandatory and Germans can enroll in state health insurance for free, but can also choose to pay for private care. German healthcare is some of the strongest in the world and public health insurance is fairly comprehensive. Only 14% of Germans pay for private healthcare. Germany’s GDP shrunk 4.90% in 2020 and grew 0.6% in 2019.