The constitutions of Germany and Japan, which were occupied after the Second World War, were written by the invaders and are still in force. If the constitutions reflect the spirit of societies, how can we explain this? In addition, their armies were restricted in both states. They cannot have nuclear weapons. They are under various pretexts and are under occupation. These states are not permanent members of the Security Council in the United States. When we consider all these things together, do you think that Germany and Japan can be accepted as free states?
Dear Mehmet, you asked a really interesting question that is also a political taboo. In the following I only speak about Germany because I am not so familiar with the Japanese situation.
Just to correct a little mistake: The German constitution was only negotiated by German representatives, not by Allied officers. But of course they had received basic instructions on what kind of constitution was desired and acceptable. A major direct influence on German legislation occurred in the 1950s, for example, during the parliamentary negotiations on the competition law that should ban cartels. A free vote would have led to a different result.
Do you know the concept of "super-imperialism"? - Since the Second World War, the United States has been the only real power, the super-imperial power, and has its vassals: former enemies, long broken and now used to unequal cooperation: Germany and Japan. And former allies who have now become auxiliary powers: Britain and France.
Only countries that are not too involved in this superpower may have the chance of substantial independence. - But are Russia and China, on the other hand, these "free states" that you asked about? Or rather independent (= un-American) autocracies?
@ Holm Leonhardt : As you correctly suggest, USA is the world's only 'super-imperial power' . But not only this ; in reality it is also a global military empire with a civilian administration attached ......no longer able to fully control their military empire's hierarchy or contain the disproportionate costs of maintaining it.
USA's 34th President, Dwight David Eisenhower warned about this threat in his farewell speech in 1961 : " In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists"
He was ignored.
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German reunification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro. The German economy suffers from low levels of investment, and a government plan to invest 15 billion euros during 2016-18, largely in infrastructure, is intended to spur needed private investment. Domestic consumption, investment, and exports are likely to drive German GDP growth in 2018, and the country’s budget and trade surpluses are likely to remain high.
In Japan's case Prime Minister Shinzo ABE was reelected to office in December 2012, and has since embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing.
Under the Abe Administration, Japan’s government sought to open the country’s economy to greater foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses, including by joining 11 trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Japan became the first country to ratify the TPP in December 2016, but the United States signaled its withdrawal from the agreement in January 2017. In November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Japan also reached agreement with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2017, and is likely seek to ratify both agreements
The position of Germany and Japan is open to debate, especially with regard to UN permanent membership. Already it is for the President of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "The world is greater than 5," it says. However, the economic and commercial interdependence and economic integrations increase today, and the superiority of Germany and Japan is an indisputable fact and hence the fact that their constitutions were written by the invaders. There is also no political objection and no objection to the dominant nation-state positions.
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