Government and opposition: governments; parties and policies; chancellors after Adenauer; coalition governments; search for consensus
After Adenauer left office in 1963, West Germany was governed by a series of chancellors from different parties. They almost always ruled through coalition governments, meaning two or more parties sharing power.
Real World
The Grand Coalition of 1966–69 united the CDU/CSU and SPD — West Germany's two largest rival parties — under Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger to manage the first post-war recession, showing coalition politics could bridge deep ideological divides.
Exam Focus
When asked to 'assess' consensus politics, distinguish between genuine agreement and pragmatic coalition compromise — examiners reward this nuance.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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