The German Model and its Discontents
Germany and the United States share a legal tradition and constitution that promotes equality for all those living within its borders. However, real world examples show that within these borders …
Refugees bring the downfall of Germany’s Angela Merkel
AICGS President Jeff Rathke spoke with NewstalkZB, a nationwide New Zealand talk radio network, about the role that the refugee crisis played in Merkel’s and the CDU’s declining popularity and …
Berlin Protests Highlight Need for Sound Employment Discrimination Laws in Germany
This past weekend, tens of thousands of protestors gathered in Berlin to take part in a demonstration to support an “open and free” German society. Organizers planned the #unteilbar demonstration …
Ufuk Topkara, DAAD/AICGS Research Fellow
AICGS is pleased to welcome Ufuk Topkara as a DAAD/AICGS Research Fellow from October to December 2018. He has been active in promoting inter-religious dialogue since 2005 as an expert on …
AICGS Launches Project on Integration in Germany as part of the “Year of German-American Friendship”
Washington, DC, October 3, 2018 – The American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University announced today that it has received a grant from the German Federal …
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A Specter Is Haunting Europe
The thirteen-year era of “Mutti” (“mama”) Angela Merkel just ended—not with a bang, but with a whimper. Germany’s most beloved politician for a long decade was not voted out of …
The Hijacking of the German Immigration Debate
When the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) had their ugly spat over migration in July, few would have expected it to result in a new …
The Chemnitz/Charlottesville Era and Readjusting What to Expect of Government
After the recent week of protests in Chemnitz, comparisons to the events of Charlottesville’s 2017 “Unite the Right” rally have abounded. And with good reason. Both events forced their respective …
Germany’s Charlottesville Moment
The protests and violence that took place last week in Chemnitz have brought home the depths of the western revolt against the liberal order which has been the norm in …
Europe Should Take Steve Bannon’s Threats Seriously
In an interview with the Daily Beast, Steve Bannon announced his plan for The Movement, a foundation to support right-wing populist parties in the upcoming European Parliament (EP) elections. Many …
The CDU and CSU: Hanging Together Rather Than Hanging Separately
This summer has not been easy for Angela Merkel, with a spat over immigration threatening to break up the party alliance between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian …
Squaring the Gender Circle: Merkel, Men, and the CDU/CSU “Master Plan” Crisis
In November 2005, Angela Merkel became Germany’s first female chancellor, the youngest person to reach the nation’s top leadership post to date. Having lost his own bid for the chancellorship …
On Identity: Where Are You Really From?
The Centre for Turkey Studies and Integration Research (Stiftung Zentrum für Türkeistudien und Integrationsforschung) at the University of Duisburg-Essen conducts an annual multi-topic study involving citizens of Turkish descent who …
Exploring Immigration and Integration Initiatives in Germany
AICGS Minority Exchange Program Immigration and integration challenges are at the forefront of policy discussions in the U.S. and Germany. How can our societies adapt to newcomers and what services …
