German Studies Seminar 2009
Germany´s Future: New Parties – New Solutions?”  

The seminar offered 14 U.S. scholars from various academic disciplines and institutions the opportunity to explore which societal and economic developments impact on the German political system, and how the increasing European influence affects Germany’s national political agenda.

For Germans, 2009 was a year remarkable for its celebrations and elections.  Not only did the Federal Republic of Germany turn 60 this year, Germany also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall.  In the midst of all the festivities, Germans were faced with a record number of elections – elections of the German Bundespräsident, of the parliaments in the five federal states of Brandenburg, Saarland, Saxony, Thuringia and Hesse, of the local governments in eight more federal states, of the European parliament in Brussels, and, marking the highlight of German voting activities, the election of the German Bundestag.

During the seminar portions in Berlin, Erfurt, Frankfurt am Main and Wiesbaden, the participants learned of the political power of grass-roots, local and state interests, how the social concerns of diverse populations find their way into the German party platforms, and how political coalition-building is turning into a balancing act.  Finally, they compared how global crises and financial turmoil shape politics made in Germany and in the United States.

Meetings and discussions with scholars, politicians, journalists and other experts offered the participants much food for thought, opportunities to form new personal friendships, and professional contacts.