ABSTRACT
The German federal system of 'unity in diversity' throws up a few idiosyncratic aspects of German electoral politics and electoral systems in a practical context. For many years now Baden-Wurttemberg has been viewed as one of Germany's most important federal states, with a strong economy, a high GDP per head of population and an unemployment rate below the national average. Although the Free State of Bavaria, with its idiosyncratic features and special history and traditions, is often viewed as an exception to the rule in the Federal Republic, there is considerable diversity in the other federal states too. The federal state of Brandenburg has the most expansive territory of the new states in the east. Berlin of course occupies a very special position in German history. Bremen's close neighbour, the federal state of Hamburg - official name: the free and hanseatic state of Hamburg is also a city state. The Saarland occupies a special position amongst Germany's federal states.
