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4.1.6
Religion
Germany has a history of Christianity since a couple of hundred years AD. The church has
through the history had a strong political power. In the 16
th
century, it came clear that the
religion had two areas: the Roman-Catholic and Protestant.
202
Today, Germany has no state
church and consists of Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or
other 28.3%.
203
The latter third contains many citizens from East-Germany that often don’t
belong to a specific confession. Few Jewish people lived in Germany after the Second World
War but now they increased in number again. Other religions such as Muslims have also
increased.
204
There is a guarantee of freedom of religion and to be allowed to exercise the religion which is
stated in the Basic Law.
205
The 16 states decide when their holidays should be, however, there are some general holidays:
New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, First of May, Ascension
Day, Whit Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. As seen, most of them refer to
Christianity. Stores are closed and no-one works on these days. To be mentioned is also that
most stores including food stores are closed on Sundays.
206
4.1.7
Politics and Law
The German political system today has been built with regard to lessons learnt from history.
As ground lies the constitution, which is formed be the Basic Law, founded by the
Parliamentary Council. The Basic Law sets human dignity in first place and defines Germany
198
Brannen, M.Y. & Salk, J.,
Partnering Across Borders,
(2000), p. 466
199
Gesteland, R.,
Cross-Cultural Business Behaviour,
(2005), p. 316
200
Usunier, J-C.,
Marketing Across Cultures,
(2000)
,
p.105
201
Ibid, p. 397
202
Nationalencyklopedin, http://www.ne.se.ezproxy.ub.gu.se/artikel/334099
203
Central Intelligence Agency - The World Fact Book
204
Hintereder, P. et al.,
Facts About Germany
, (2008), p. 148
205
Ibid, p. 148
206
Deutsch Schwedische Handelskammer, http://www.handelskammer.se/sv/ueberschweden/helgdagar-i-
tyskland/
52
as a democracy, social constitutional and federal state. The people form political parties that
act upon their will. Since the electoral system is designed to make it hard for one party to rule,
coalition governments are common. The German parliament consists of the elected party
representatives and the President and it is called the Bundestag. Germany’s political system
shares many similarities with most European political systems.
Germany consists of a central Federal Government and 16 federal states that all have own
independent governments but with limited authority. They divide the power with the Federal
Government according to detailed laws set in the Basic Law. This means that Germany is
based on a centralized as well as decentralized system. For example, since the Basic Law says
living conditions in Germany should be comparable, economic and social policy is
centralized. But many other areas are decentralized such as schooling, internal security,
police, finance and organization of local self-government.
207
The federal parliament consists
of two houses: Bundestag and Bundesrat where the states are represented.
208
The states are
represented in the Bundesrat which is involved in the process of federal legislation.
Germany is highly graded with regard to political and legal stability. This fact makes
Germany attractive to foreign companies as well as invite to investments and entrepreneurial
activity.
209
Germany is part of the European Union and thus part of the European Single Market. Within
the European Union, many laws and rules are the same or are about to converge creating a
homogenous field of action especially for companies from other European countries such as
Sweden.
210
207
Hintereder, P. et al.,
Facts About Germany
, (2008), p. 50ff
208
Swedish Trade Council, http://www.swedishtrade.se/landrapporter/?objectID=5644
209
Hintereder, P. et al
.,
Facts About Germany
,
(2008), p. 50ff
210
Europeiska unionens portal, http://europa.eu/abc/history/index_sv.htm
53
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