Commentators link Germany's slow Ukraine response to SPD ties to Russia or even electoral strategy. This is a false understanding of its current leadership and positions. The SPD's actions mirror how social democrats have approached policy problems in the past decades #Thread

Within the paradigm of the Third Way many social democratic parties “depoliticized” their approach to politics. Finding solutions for problems should be largely free of ideology. Policy became a question of administration, management, and pragmatism 2/

This depolitcization also meant a departure from symbols, gestures, and identities. Social democrats became convinced that their ideology is associated with a lack of competence. If only they provided the right solutions for problems, this would lead to electoral support 3/

This also meant their politics became risk-averse. Social democratic policy change necessarily became incremental. Probably best summarized by Helmut Schmidt's statement "if I have a vision, I go see a doctor", social democrats focused on getting policy details right 4/

Olaf Scholz is the prime example of this generation of social democrats. Driven by pragmatism, focused on policy solutions, diving deep into the details of policies. Someone who has certainly changed German policy profoundly but without formulating a vision or an ideology 5/

It is this approach to politics that is currently driving Germany's political response to the war in Ukraine. It is based on an obsession with figuring out the details of political solutions instead of providing a larger vision or goal 6/

Even Scholz' "Zeitenwende" fits that pattern. You can learn much about Scholz and his inner circle in this article by Mark Schieritz in die Zeit. Scholz' aim is to present solutions and not processes 7/ https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2022-04/olaf-scholz-ukraine-krieg-russsiche-offensive-bundeskanzler

There are probably many reasons why this approach is problematic in the current situation. Political responses may need rapid and bold decisions, grand gestures and symbols. But you won't be able to change the actions of the German government if you misinterpret its motivations.