Abstract

Germany's first «Grand Coalition»government between Christian and Social Democrats (1966-1969) did not steer German political culture away from «the West», as many critics feared at the time. In retrospect it is obvious that the government headed by Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger and Foreign Minister Willy Brandt represented the high tide of German Keynesianism. It was very much in line with International developments. Several key reform bills were enacted, which expanded the welfare state, reformed the education system, liberalized the penal code and relaxed family laws. In sum, the grand coalition can be seen as part of the «Westernization»and liberalization of postwar Germany.