Understanding Contemporary Germany is a wide-ranging survey of Europe's largest and most powerful country. It examines political, economic and social aspects of post-unification Germany, as well as considering questions relating to German identity. More specifically, it discusses whether the new Germany is a stable democracy based on solid political and economic foundations. It assesses the extent to which the German people is at ease with itself following the traumas of the country's history. By looking at a wide range of topics and including a cultural dimension, Understanding Contemporary Germany seeks to widen debate on Germany in a way which will be useful to all who study or work in the fields of German or European studies. Its conclusion is that, in contrast to the widespread fears expressed both in the country and outside, the new Germany largely remains a stable and reliable partner in European and world affairs.