• Social Psychologist Ulrich Wagner on How Fear and Prejudice Fuel the Far Right

    Social Psychologist Ulrich Wagner on How Fear and Prejudice Fuel the Far Right

    The rise of the far right has become impossible to ignore in Germany. In the 2026 state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD mobilized voters on a remarkable scale, with migration and “remigration” playing a prominent role in its political messaging.  But why are narratives that portray immigrants and other social groups as a threat so effective? What makes people divide the…

  • The Participation Paradox: Why Political Trust Doesn’t Always Translate Into Votes

    The Participation Paradox: Why Political Trust Doesn’t Always Translate Into Votes

    Research published earlier this year by researchers at the University of St Andrews as part of the European We-ID project found a striking pattern: across Europe, immigrants tend to have greater trust in political institutions and higher levels of satisfaction with democracy than native-born populations. But the longer they and their families live in their new countries, the smaller that difference…

  • Who Will Lead Germany Into Its International Future?

    Who Will Lead Germany Into Its International Future?

    What does the story of Charles De Gaulle teach us? Antonin Baudry’s La Bataille de Gaulle tells, in five hours, the story of the General during the Second World War. A great movie. I learned a lot. Tenacity. De Gaulle arrives alone in London. On 18 June 1940, he makes his first BBC speech, speaking on behalf of a free France.…

  • What is Germany’s greatest asset?

    What is Germany’s greatest asset?

    “Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and, in the end, the Germans always win,” said Gary Lineker after England lost the 1990 World Cup semi-final on penalties against Germany. Times are changing. Germany no longer always wins at major football tournaments. And England now has a German coach. Today, everyone is talking about renewal.…

  • No True German — What It Means to Be German in 2026

    No True German — What It Means to Be German in 2026

    Is there really one German identity that defines all Germans? One German identity to rule them all? We’re going to get into this question, but bear with me for a few paragraphs. I want to take a moment up front to provide a little context, tell you where I’m coming from.  We’re going to dip into some culture-war nonsense and talk…

  • “Das Volk” in 2026: Time to Redefine the People

    “Das Volk” in 2026: Time to Redefine the People

    “Do you behave as the person you truly want to be?” I ask myself this question in moments when I clearly fall short. Yes, it is hard to live up to one’s ideal self—I’m probably not the only one who feels this way. The same applies for societies. Over the past ten years, I have learned a lot about German society.…

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