#128 | Politics in self-blockade

“With a little courage, creativity, and commitment, we can change the course of history.”

Many people in Germany are currently feeling a sense of heaviness. The mood is tense, confidence in politics is crumbling, and the country seems paralyzed. Problems such as the pension crisis, innovation backlog, and migration issues are being postponed rather than resolved. And yet, change is urgently needed. But why is it so difficult to implement? What historical patterns are blocking our thinking—and how can we break out of this self-imposed rigidity?

“In Germany, change is often seen only as a loss.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Trentmann is one of Europe's most renowned historians. In his latest book, he analyzes the political and social blockages in the Federal Republic of Germany—and takes a historical look at the challenges of the present. In conversation with Georgiy Michailov, he assesses the situation: why the country is losing its imagination and why other European countries are often further ahead. The two also discuss the role of migration in history, why Germany is falling behind in innovation, and what the AfD is currently benefiting from in Germany.

*Video only in German