The remapping of the Teutonic terrain
Welcome, dear readers, to an expedition through the neuralgic realms of the German federal states. Here we embark on an intellectual journey inspired by economic reason, the desire for administrative efficiency and a good dash of ironised state theory.
Historical precedents and their instructive lessons
Before we plunge into the future, let’s take a look back. The historical emergence of the German federal states is a patchwork of political compromises, historical coincidences and occasionally strategic considerations. After the Second World War, new borders were drawn, sometimes with a ruler on a map, resulting in curiosities such as the Saarland or Bremen. Later, after German reunification, the new federal states were created by merging GDR districts, some of whose borders ignored historical structures.
These historical anecdotes teach us that state borders in Germany were shaped less by geographical necessity than by political expediency. The question arises: is this still appropriate in the 21st century?
Economic symmetry and demographic homogeneity
Let us imagine a division of Germany that not only respects historical and cultural lines, but also seeks economic and demographic balance. The aim is to promote economic synergies and utilise administrative resources more efficiently by creating more homogeneous federal states.
Proposal A: The mega states
Variant: Merging the northern German federal states into a single “northern federation” extending from Schleswig-Holstein to Saxony-Anhalt, as well as a “southern federation” comprising Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and perhaps also Hesse.
Advantages:
Strengthening regional economic power by pooling resources.
More efficient administration and stronger political representation at federal level.
Disadvantages:
Possible loss of regional identities.
Risk of centralisation and neglect of peripheral areas.
Proposal B: City-state expansion
Variant: Transformation of metropolitan regions such as the Ruhr area, Frankfurt am Main and Stuttgart into independent city states.
Advantages:
Targeted promotion of urban centres, which are often innovation and economic drivers.
Relief for the surrounding, more rural areas from the financing of urban infrastructure.
Disadvantages:
Risk of social division between urban centres and rural peripheries.
Complexity in the reorganisation of financial equalisation mechanisms.
Philosophical and sociological dimensions
These proposals are not just administrative exercises, but also interventions in the collective consciousness and the cultural landscape. Any reorganisation of the federal states would require a renegotiation of what it means to be “North German”, “Bavarian” or “Saxon”. It is an opportunity to reflect on the construct nature of regional identities and perhaps bring a postmodern flexibility to the rigid structures of regional belonging.
Technological support: AI-supported governance
In an age where artificial intelligence is redefining the boundaries of what is possible, AI-supported governance could help to overcome the challenges of such territorial reorganisation. From optimising traffic flows to personalised healthcare, new federal states could serve as testing grounds for smart, networked public administration.
The beauty of impermanence
To conclude with a wink: history teaches us that borders come and go, often faster than the ink dries on the treaties. The debate on the reorganisation of the federal states is therefore less a question of “if” than of “how” and “when”. In this sense, our approach should be characterised less by rigid convictions and more by curious openness.
In the remapping of our homeland lies the opportunity to question the old and boldly shape the new. So, off to new shores – or should we say new lands?
