German Greens

THE GREENS have not only been a political force or social conscience for Germany before reunification and after, but an inspiration to political groups and movements in many other countries. The Greens have raised the issues of ecology, gender, and grassroots democracy in protest against government as usual. They have also had the rare opportunity to try the experiment of converting themselves into a political party that works within the system.This is a book about their paradoxical situation and about the dilemmas all advocates of change face when they become powerful enough to negotiate with the status quo. The critical essays by German social scientists and activists provide a detailed picture of the dynamics of the German Greens -- where their support has come from, the nature of the competing factions, and the place of feminism. Political posters and an entire section of carefully edited primary documents are also included in the book.These documents and critical essays, translated from the German, are accompanied by a substantial introduction written by the editors. The result is to make available to English-speaking readers a clear picture of a complex movement whose very name and color have become synonymous with social action in favor of the environment and the empowerment of people.