How far do you agree that the Federal Republic faced severe economic and political challenges in the years 1965-83?

Introduction

• Economic challenges = accessibility to growth, employment etc

• Political challenges = scale of opposition etc

• Severe challenge = one that could cause prolonged disruption

• Severe = too strong, as disruption = not consistent

Paragraph 1

• There were severe economic challenges

• 1966-67 recession - GDP fell by 0.3%, unemployment up

• 1973 oil crisis - oil price rose, extra $1.8b in import bills

• 1982 - unemployment around 1.8m people

Paragraph 2

• Economic challenges not severe enough to destabilise the FRG

• 1960s - Even after recession, real GDP grew back 2% by 1969

• 1970s - Economy avoided prolonged stagnation unlike other countries (1976 GDP up 5%)

• 1983 - GDP growth returned to 1.5%

Paragraph 3

• Political challenges were severe

• 1967-68 - 100k demonstrated in Bonn against emergency laws

• 1969 - 140k workers involved in September strikes

• RAF - 1970s, series of assassinations + kidnappings, resulting in 1977 ‘German Autumn’

Paragraph 4

• Political stability remained strong

• 1969 - SPD/FDP coalition created with 254 seats

• 1972 - Turnout 91%

• 1983 - Greens won 28 seats (not destabilising dissent)