The Success of the German Greens and Failure of Their American Cousins

This paper explores the varied reasons for the success of the Green Party in Germany and the continued failure of environmentally conscious parties in the United States. The explanations for these contrasting levels of success are found in their differing political cultures, opposing electoral systems, and the distinctive roles that interest groups play in each nation. Germany’s political culture is clearly more welcoming to political parties outside the typical framework. The United States’ two-party political system, unlike Germany’s mixed-member proportional representation electoral system, results in a homogenization of political ideas, leaving little room for any third party. In contrast to Germany, the role that interest groups can play in America has made it virtually impossible for any kind of environmentally conscious political movement to gain traction at any level of government.