Germany

Germany is at the center of many current debates - politically, economically, socially and geopolitically. As Europe's largest economy, a key player within the EU and a destination country for migration, global developments often have a particularly strong impact here. Decisions made at an international level have concrete consequences in Germany: in energy issues, foreign policy, the labor market and social coexistence.

This keyword bundles articles that do not look at Germany in isolation, but in the context of international crises, power shifts and long-term structural issues. It is about classification instead of headlines, about backgrounds instead of short-term outrage. Many of the articles linked here shed light on how global conflicts, geopolitical interests or economic dependencies influence everyday life in Germany - often subtly, sometimes openly, usually in a complex way.

Germany appears neither as a mere observer nor as the sole shaper, but as part of a larger context. The aim is to make developments understandable, to make connections visible and to open up the view beyond current debates.

Economic Growth: A Recipe for Success or a Thing of the Past?

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Is Economic Growth a Thing of the Past?

For decades, economic growth has been regarded as one of the most important indicators of a society’s prosperity and economic strength. When the gross domestic product grows, this is generally seen as good news: companies invest, jobs are created, incomes can rise, and the government gains additional financial leeway. Growth therefore symbolizes not only economic success but often the success of a government as well.

Hardly any other economic indicator is followed with such close attention. Even slight changes in growth forecasts can move stock markets, spark political debates, and determine whether a country ventures into new investments or considers austerity measures. Yet for several years now, the notion of economic growth that is as sustainable as possible has been increasingly called into question. After all, a rising gross domestic product merely indicates, at first glance, that more goods and services have been produced or provided within an economy. It does not directly reveal whether people are actually living happier, healthier, or safer lives as a result.

This raises a fundamental question: Is economic growth really still the central goal that societies and governments should be striving for? Or do we now need additional criteria to assess a country's success?

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42 Years of Election Platforms: How Germany's Political Parties Have Changed

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A Comparison of German Political Parties' Election Platforms Over 42 Years

Political terms have a surprisingly long lifespan. For decades, we’ve been talking about the left and the right, about conservative and progressive, about liberal, social, or ecological. The words have remained largely the same. But does that also apply to the political positions they represent?

It was precisely this question that served as the starting point for this comparison. I am less interested in how political parties describe their own history today or how political developments are interpreted in hindsight. A simpler method strikes me as much more interesting: Take the campaign platforms from different decades and lay them side by side.

What did the CDU/CSU actually call for in 1983? What did the SPD say at that time about the economy, family, defense, or asylum? What were the Greens’ views on NATO, the Bundeswehr, and energy supply during their first federal election campaign? What did the FDP stand for? And which of those positions can still be found in their platforms in 1990 and, ultimately, in 2025? This analysis may reveal some interesting shifts. But exactly what those shifts are should not be predetermined at the outset of this article.

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Donald Trump in the US system - origins, power, media and impact

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Donald Trump in the USA system

Donald Trump is no ordinary political figure. He is not a classic statesman, not an ideologically trained party soldier, not a product of decades of Washington networks. Trump is one thing above all: a projection screen. For hopes, for fears, for anger, for rejection - and for expectations that go far beyond concrete policies. This is precisely the reason why a portrait of him makes sense. You don't have to like or dislike him, but he definitely makes something visible that was already there.

Trump does not just stand for decisions or programs. He represents a rupture in the political self-image of the Western world. And this rupture cannot be explained by viewing him merely as a „populist“, „provocateur“ or „accident of history“. If you want to understand Trump, you have to see him as both a symptom and an actor.

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How the pandemic taught economists a lesson about inflation, growth and economic recovery

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Economists' assumptions during the pandemic

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, many economists were surprisingly unanimous: the great danger was a phase of low inflation, perhaps even deflation. A few years later, the picture is different. Inflation reached historic highs in many countries, supply chains collapsed and economic developments turned out differently than expected.

The pandemic was not just a health crisis - it was also a stress test for economic forecasts. This article shows where experts were wrong, why this was the case and what lessons can be learned for future assessments.

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Fracking, LNG and energy policy: a sober analysis of risks, opportunities and reality

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Natural gas fracking and energy policy

There are political and social discussions that are not linear. They come in waves. Fracking is one such issue. For years, the matter in Germany seemed settled. With the legislative package of 2016 and the resulting regulation from 2017, the framework was clear: commercial fracking in unconventional reservoirs will not take place. The debate calmed down and the issue largely disappeared from the public eye. It was as if a lid had been put on it.

But this impression was deceptive. Because while the debate in Germany was dying down, the world was changing in the background. The energy supply, which had long been considered relatively stable, came under increasing pressure. Prices began to fluctuate, supply chains became more fragile and geopolitical tensions increased. The events from 2022 at the latest made it clear that energy is not a matter of course, but a strategic commodity.

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From the end of compulsory military service to school strikes: the new debate on the Bundeswehr and education

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School strikes on compulsory military service and the Bundeswehr at school

When I myself was conscripted into the Bundeswehr in the 1990s, it was still a fairly normal part of life for many young men in Germany. Anyone who had finished school did either civilian service or military service. It was simply part of life back then - just like training or studying. People talked about it, they knew roughly what to expect, and almost everyone had someone in their circle of acquaintances who was currently doing military service or had recently done so.

I myself also did my military service. There were no major ideological debates about it in my environment. Of course, there was criticism of the military or discussions about deployments abroad - but the Bundeswehr was basically a normal part of the state. It was there, but it didn't play a particularly dominant role in most people's everyday lives. Interestingly, this also applied to school.

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Europe between freedom of expression and regulation: New US info portal raises questions

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EU censorship, hate speech and the new US portal

The other day I stumbled across a piece of information that initially interested me rather casually - and then stuck with me. A report said that the US government was planning a new online portal. A portal that would make content accessible that is blocked in certain regions of the world. Countries such as Iran and China were mentioned. But then another term came up: Europe.

Europe.

The idea that American agencies are developing an information portal that is expressly intended for European citizens, because certain content is no longer accessible here, made me wonder. Not outraged or panicked, but wary. When Europe is suddenly mentioned in the same breath as traditional areas of censorship, it is worth taking a closer look.

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Johann Sebastian Bach - order, attitude and the foundation of our music

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Johann Sebastian Bach Portrait

As a child and teenager, I grew up in a family of musicians. Both my parents are music teachers. My mother plays the flute, my father the piano. Music was not a decorative background in our home, but a natural part of everyday life. We practiced, taught, discussed, sometimes even wrestled. Sheet music was laid out on the piano, not in the cupboard.

I played the piano myself, and later also the saxophone. And like so many people who go through classical training, I ended up with Johann Sebastian Bach at some point - more specifically, the first prelude from the „Well-Tempered Clavier“. I can still play it. Perhaps no longer flawlessly, I would have to practise again. But the structure of this piece is still with me today. This calm sequence of broken chords, the clear harmony, the self-evident order - even as a pupil, you can sense that something important is happening here. This portrait is dedicated to my mother on her 70th birthday, who made it possible for me to take piano lessons at that time.

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