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Episode 24: German Politics in the Coronavirus Era

Germany and the United States are both grappling with what policies to enact—and for how long—to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and the choices made by political leaders will have political …

Watching Germany III: Recent Films with Contemporary Themes

As the third installment of AGI’s “Watching Germany” series (see television and contemporary films on German history), I am turning to post-reunification films with contemporary themes. There is a multitude …

Episode 23: Health Minister Jens Spahn on the Coronavirus

The globe is gripped by the coronavirus pandemic.  Germany appears to many to be a success story of sorts: over 150,000 infections, but a low death rate.  Widespread testing. A …

Must Germany Take on More Global Political Responsibility in the Corona Crisis?

History shows that it is always outstanding personalities who shape events. For better or worse, they influence the dynamics and direction of events. This is also true now in view …

Watching Germany II: Contemporary Films on German History

Here in Washington, DC, we are into week six of the pandemic shutdown. Universities and public schools will not reopen until the next school year. Regular businesses might only (partially) …

Learning Lessons from German Healthcare: How Universal Coverage Can Save Lives in a Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages countries around the world, its effects are proving somewhat indiscriminate: both long-time workers and new hires have lost jobs across a wide variety of industries. …

Watching Germany during the Pandemic

As most of us sit, shut-in at home, in the midst of a (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, there are many off hours and nowhere to go. Everyone seems to be watching …

Episode 22: Replacing the Tornado: The Strategic and Political Debate

In an era of increasing demands for military burdensharing, the issue of Germany’s aging combat aircraft fleet—the Tornados—is gaining importance. With functions ranging from conventional air-to-ground attacks, to air reconnaissance, …

Quo Vadis CDU: Left, Middle, or Right?

When Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK,) the CDU party leader and presumed successor to Angela Merkel as chancellor, announced her resignation from her role as CDU party chairwoman on February 8, 2020, speculation about …

The Unexpected Environmental Consequences of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is killing tens of thousands of people across the world and gravely disrupting life almost everywhere. Much of China has been shut down since January, European countries …

Episode 21: The Fate of the Economy Post-Corona

As governments shape their responses to the coronavirus pandemic, the economic impact of the crisis is growing. In the U.S., the surge in unemployment claims is four times greater than …

Has the Coronavirus Pandemic Broken the Populist Fever?

One of the biggest challenges that pundits and intellectuals have confronted over the last few years is the rise of right-wing populism across the (western) world. A vigorous debate over …