Mythos „Kanzlerdemokratie“

“Chancellor democracy” has for many decades belonged to the most prominent and popular labels assigned to the Federal Republic, or the political process in Germany for that matter. At the same time, the reference to “chancellor democracy” has long turned into an “empty signifier”. This comparative essay takes that state of play as a starting point for tracing the term and concept’s remarkable career, and assessing its understudied and problematic implications for the political study of executive politics and leadership as well as the democratic process in Germany.