Germany is facing a modernization shock: Will the state be able to act?

Germany is facing a modernization shock: Will the state be able to act?

Today, July 15, 2025, Germany faces numerous challenges that make a modernization push urgently necessary. How stern.de reports, ailing schools, excessive bureaucracy and slow digitalization are the main problems that need to be overcome. The “Initiative for a State Capable of Acting” recently presented its final report, which focuses on both administration and the welfare state, to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. This report, with a total of 160 pages and 35 recommendations, not only addresses digitalization, but also infrastructure and defense capability.

The initiators of the study express their dissatisfaction with the current situation: Germany is lagging behind, and it is time to seriously address this problem. A central concern of the report is the relaxation of data protection rules in Germany so as not to hinder modernization. Still, there are concerns: Could resistance to change stall much-needed progress?

Administrative digitalization in focus

The question of administrative digitalization plays a central role in the discussion about the modernization of the state. The first results of the eGovernment Monitor 2025, an annual study by the D21 initiative, were presented. An astonishing 34 percent of the approximately 8,000 German respondents are in favor of fully digital administration by 2030, while 34 percent are also open to the idea but still have questions. behoerden-spiegel.de emphasizes that many citizens want telephone support and expect simple language to make the processes understandable.

While some of the older generation are willing to accept innovations, young people in particular take digital administration for granted. Marc Reinhardt, President of D21, emphasizes that “Digital Only” does not exclude personal contact, but on the contrary promises better services with human support.

International responsibility

Another critical point from current events is the upcoming ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court on US drone attacks that are controlled from Germany. Two men from Yemen are suing because they believe Germany violated its duty to protect by doing nothing to stop US drone attacks. According to presiding judge Doris König, the decision could have far-reaching consequences if the court obliges the federal government to advocate for the USA's compliance with international law. t-online.de shows the various possible measures, from a clear legal positioning to public demands.

Overall, the pressure on Germany to modernize is high, both in terms of internal administration and international responsibility. We can only hope that the recommendations of the initiatives and the judicial decisions lead to a state capable of acting that strengthens citizens' trust in democracy.