Contractual Arrangements, Formal Institutions and Personalised Crisis Management: Coalition Governance Under Chancellor Merkel (2013–2017)

Abstract

The cabinet Merkel III (2013–2017) faced several exogenous challenges that called for effective conflict management in this coalition of Christian Democrats (CDU and CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD). Following the SPD’s hesitation to join the ‘Grand Coalition’ in 2013, ideological and strategic differences between the three coalition parties continued to shape policy-making throughout the entire legislative period. Intra-coalition conflict peaked as a result of the increased influx of refugees from late summer 2015 onwards. Despite significant ideological differences and this exogenous shock, the coalition survived its entire legislative term. The present study takes this observation as its point of departure and analyses the mechanisms of conflict resolution that help to understand the stability of the coalition. Based on theoretical literature on delegation and coalition governance, we argue that strategic portfolio allocation and small informal arenas of conflict management played an important role. The relatively extensive coalition agreement, by contrast, was a weak institution since it was especially detailed in policy areas with low potential for conflict.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Thomas Saalfeld is Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Bamberg and Director of the Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences (BAGSS). His research interests include the study of legislatures, representation and coalitions. He has published extensively in these areas and is one of the editors of the Oxford Handbook of Legislative Studies.

Matthias Bahr has received an MA in Political Science from the University of Bamberg. He is currently reading for a qualification in Public Law at Erlangen-Nürnberg. His research interests include legislative voting behaviour and coalition governance in Germany.

Olaf Seifert is a graduate student of Political Science at the University of Bamberg and has received his first degree in Political Science from the same university. He is part of the management team of the Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences (BAGSS) with particular responsibility for external communication and academic events. His research interests include political parties, voting behaviour and coalition governance in Germany.