EUROPE

Europe, in particular Ancient Greece, is the birthplace of Western culture. It played a predominant role in global affairs from the 16th century onwards, especially after the beginning of colonialism. Between the 16th and 20th centuries, European nations controlled at various times the Americas, most of Africa, Oceania, and large portions of Asia. Both World Wars were largely focused upon Europe, greatly contributing to a decline in Western European dominance in world affairs by the mid-20th century as the United States and Soviet Union took prominence.

During the Cold War, Europe was divided along the Iron Curtain between NATO in the west and the Warsaw Pact in the east. European integration led to the formation of the Council of Europe and the European Union in Western Europe, both of which have been expanding eastward since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The culture of Europe can be described as a series of overlapping cultures; cultural mixes exist across the continent. There are cultural innovations and movements, sometimes at odds with each other. Thus the question of "common culture" or "common values" is complex.

EUROPEAN UNION

It is an economic and political union between 27 member countries, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on November 1st 1993 upon the foundations of the European Communities. With over 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 28% share (US$ 16.45 trillion in 2009) of the nominal gross world product and about 21.3% (US$14.8 trillion in 2009) of the PPP gross world product.

The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states, ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. It maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Sixteen member states have adopted a common currency, the Euro, constituting the Eurozone. The EU has developed a limited role in foreign policy, having representation at the World Trade Organization, G-8, G-20 major economies and at the United Nations. It enacts legislation in justice and home affairs, including the abolition of passport controls by the Schengen Agreement between 22 EU and 3 non-EU states.

As an international organisation, the EU operates through a hybrid system of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. In certain areas, decisions are made through negotiation between member states, while in others; independent supranational institutions are responsible without a requirement for unanimity between member states. Important institutions of the EU include the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank. The European Parliament is elected every five years by member states´ citizens, to whom the citizenship of the European Union is guaranteed.

The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community formed among six countries in 1951 and the Treaty of Rome formed in 1957 by the same states. Since then, the EU has grown in size through enlargement, and in power through the addition of policy areas to its remit.



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We will focus, mainly, on Germany.

GERMANY

Germany is a federal parliamentary republic of sixteen states (Länder). The capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, G-8, G-20, OECD, and the WTO. It is a major power with the world´s 4th largest economy by nominal GDP and the 5th largest in purchasing power parity.

It is the 2nd largest exporter and 3rd largest importer of goods. In absolute terms, Germany allocates the second biggest annual budget of development aid in the world, while its military expenditure ranked 6th. The country has developed a high standard of living and established a comprehensive system of social security. It holds a key position in European affairs and maintains a multitude of close partnerships on a global level. Germany is recognised as a scientific and technological leader in several fields.

ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE

During the last decade of the 20th century Germany has transformed its attitude towards immigrants considerably. Until the mid-nineties the opinion was widespread that Germany is not a country of immigration, even though about 10% of the population was of non-German origin.

After the end of the influx of so-called Gastarbeiter (blue-collar guest-workers), refugees were a tolerated exception to this point of view. Many guest workers were of Turkish origins and brought an interesting influence into the country. Today the government and German society are acknowledging the opinion that controlled immigration should be allowed based on the qualification of immigrants.



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GERMAN MANAGEMENT STYLE

They are rigorous but not ruinous. Their companies fight for market share not for market domination; and they are committed managers. Managers can be forced to share decision-making power with trade unionists.

The immigrants´ influence in Germany can be seen not only in the economic terms but also in all the social, political, religious and cultural issues that involve a cross - cultural encounter.

Co-determination

It is a practice whereby the employees have a role in management of a company. The word is a literal translation from the German word Mitbestimmung. Co-determination rights are different in different legal environments. In some countries, like the USA, the workers have virtually no role in management of companies, and in some, like Germany, their role is more important. The first serious co-determination laws began in Germany.

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http://goeurope.about.com/cs/germany/l/bl_germany.html

QUESTION

There is a current discussion around the existence of the Co - determinism principle in Germany. Select, define and explain 3 arguments in favour and 3 against such principle.

Co - determinism

In favour:

- It gives the employee a sense of being part of the decision making in the enterprise and boosts his productivity.

- Thanks to the years during which a co-operative culture has been in place, management requests from workers for proposals to improve operations or increase productivity, for example, are no longer considered mere legal formalities.

- Gives the employees access to the company´s wealth fare plans and options in a greater way.

Against:

- It gives to much weight to unions and makes managerial decision taking very difficult.

- Scares away the possible investment of foreign companies in the German ones by fear of its bureaucratic rigidness.

- Makes shareholders think differently about the enterprise´s union workforce and it affects their investments.