All in News

When Germany Stands Up

Recent protests across Germany against the far-right and the AfD have seen hundreds of thousands take to the streets, but questions remain about their lasting influence. Can such large scale demonstrations change people’s minds and will we see an impact in the polls?

A Winter of Discontent

2024 is only two weeks old, but in Germany it already feels as febrile as the last twelve months. The Bauernproteste, along with the rail strikes have to a feeling that things are beginning to fall apart. IS this Germany’s winter of discontent, and is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

A Guide to Nowhere

When discussions on immigration and integration come up in Germany, the term Lietkultur is never too far behind. The idea that those coming to Germany need a set of “house rules” in order to live here has existed since the mid 90s, but can a national culture as diverse as Germany’s really be so easily codified?

The King of Bavaria

Few may have noticed, but last Saturday saw two coronations, one in London, the other in Nürnberg. Bavaria’s largest and most successful political party, the CSU, reappointed Markus Söder to lead them into state elections this October. Why do Bavarian voters find the CSU so appealing, and what does this mean for the future?

God Save Us

The British monarchy fascinates many in Germany, and as a British person, I’m often called upon to explain why it still exists. Is there a reason Britain continues to cling to the Royal Family, and why might that prevent the UK from moving forward?

A Trap For Fools

This week has been dominated by crude statements from CDU leader Friedrich Merz on integration and migrant communities. Why might this moment give British people a feeling of Deja Vu, and what does it have to do with former British PM David Cameron?

The Grass is Always Greener

This week, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented key points for the possible legalization of cannabis to the public. Although hurdles to legal weed remain, a change in law could come by 2024. What form will legal cannabis culture in Germany take, and will it ever be accepted?

A Royal Send-Off

The reaction of Germans to the death of the Queen has been surprising, but as in Britain, feelings range from sadness to disinterest. We may have this in common, but there are many nuances that might be missed in both countries. How have Germany and the UK differed, and what does the funeral of a monarch actually mean?

English for Beamte

In a country that has wrestled with its acceptance of migrants, one thing all sides of the political spectrum have agreed on is that migrants to Germany should learn to speak German. However, a recent FDP proposal may well see English become the an official bureaucratic language. Will this really make things easier for migrants and how difficult will it be to achieve?

More Spirit than Bremse

Rapid decision making has never been a hallmark of Germany. Now we live in the era of the “Zeitenwende” where decisions are seemingly made overnight. How deep is this change and will it have an impact on the current fuel crisis?

The Lessons of History

We’re no longer living in the same Germany we were a week ago. The invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally changed German politics and possibly society at large. What can history tell us about this change and is that knowledge even useful

Fear for the Future

Fear is the mind-killer, but it’s hard to feel anything else at the moment. As war rages , social media argues about how best to counter Putin’s aggression and a million “experts” share their opinions. Is there room for optimism or is European society too fragmented?

Unfit by Comparison

Olaf Scholz was sworn in on Wednesday, at the same time as he was being congratulated by both friends and foes, 1000 km away in Westminster a very different leader was facing the music. They may be polar opposites, but what can the Ampel-Koalition in Germany tell us about the dumpster fire of British government?

A Lonely Glühwein to Joshua Kimmich

According to Bavaria’s Minister President Markus Söder, we are in a pandemic “time loop”. It’s hard to tell whether we’re in 2020 or 2021 as infections and hospitalisations soar. How did we end up here, what’s that got to do with Joshua Kimmich and why might Germany be suffering under a tyranny of idiocy?

Vote Boring

The frontrunners in the German election have been described as uncharismatic by critics from inside and outside Germany. Is there a benefit to keeping politics boring or do Germans deserve some excitement before casting their vote?

Lessons in German Politics

Watching an election in another language is only one difficulty of following the election campaign in Germany. There’s a lot to learn and more than a few unanswered questions. Is Plagiarism a serious issue, what happened to German foreign policy and why are Christian Lindner’s rolled up sleeves be cause for concern?

Coming Home? I never left.

It’s been a weird month. Watching England progress to a final, in Germany, during a pandemic would be enough, but fielding questions about England fans booing or explaining English covid restrictions has also been odd. Can these even be explained and could it get weirder?