The German economy is unsettled.
A new political generation with a new understanding of politics and a new political style is in the process of shaking up the traditional interplay between business and politics.
With 300 newly elected members of parliament, the Bundestag has not only become younger and more diverse;
a changed attitude towards political decision-making is in the offing.
If political stakeholders want to continue to mediate between social concerns and their political implementation, they must show that they are capable of learning.
A new generation of politicians has developed a more relaxed relationship to power. The coalition negotiations were rightly described as "professional", "confidential" and "targeted". There were no public lobby fights. Those who did not want to get involved looked at what was happening from the outside with amazement. This procedure, which has been prepared down to the last detail, is exemplary for professionalized political power processes that are increasingly seeking their external legitimacy not only through internal party congress resolutions but also through plebiscitary elements such as member surveys.
The party – understood as an independent power system – gains influence over parliamentary decision-making in a traffic light coalition.
The arbitration function of the coalition committee moves even more into the center of power.
The pre-political space is thoroughly politicized
The new party dynamic of a “democratic center” made up of the SPD, Union, Greens and Liberals recognizes that they now have to win over a highly volatile electorate.
It is not enough just to set up platforms for long-term exchange.
Politicians also have to anticipate fast-moving, current interest formation with spontaneous formats.
MPs become small independent campaign units.
Economic and civil society actors must adapt to this new style of politics. Decision-makers, especially members of parliament, often reject classic requests for talks without a reason. Anyone who has no specific concern and is only pursuing their own particular interests will hardly be heard in political Berlin. Whoever proposes solutions that are comprehensive and strategic, i.e. based on a clear goal-means calculation, is now convincing. In this way, the pre-political space is thoroughly politicized. Economic and civil society actors must explain how they intend to resolve the tension between legitimate individual interests and the interests of the common good and initiate pre-parliamentary consensus-finding processes.
The logic of successful proposed solutions is limited by radically new political consideration parameters. Environmental protection and health protection enjoy categorical priority, combined with the target of an "ecological-social" market economy. Other social goods – including those protected by fundamental rights – such as mobility, professional freedom, prosperity or culture are integrated or have to withdraw. In public discussions, the discourse ethics still based on Habermas give way to an emotionally carried out ethical rigorism.
However, this development not only holds risks, but also opportunities.
In view of a postmodern political logic, economic actors are under pressure to transform.
You have to build new bridges to politics.
They can only be successful if they integrate the entire civil society into their actions as alliance partners.
This leadership task is no longer limited to maintaining address books.
Economic organizations must be strategically empowered to seek dialogue with civil society while taking a pragmatic but credible political position in order to actively play in the pre-parliamentary space and identify congruences of interest across ideological divides.
Resources of postmodern power logic
Today's political representation of interests relies on the comprehensive development of political strategy skills and discourse-sensitive argumentation. Contemporary public affairs is based on a partnership approach oriented towards the common good, which helps to shape politics through its own mobilization and reflects the social positioning and responsibility of its own organization.
Political advocacy and public affairs are thus becoming the architects of this bridge building.
They explore the complex interdependence of business and the common good in the light of a new style of politics.
Credibility, professionalism, transparency and trustworthiness serve as the primary resources of postmodern power logic.
The lobby register, which has finally come into force, helps to ensure transparency.
Once the lobby register reflects the intended executive and legislative footprint, the end of classic “directory book lobbying” is sealed.
Political stakeholders need to recognize the new reality.
Anyone who understands the core of the traffic light coalition's political style and has mastered the strategic skills now required will open up many political options.