Germany’s 2025 election and its aftermath
Germany’s 2025 early election was a political earthquake. How did we end up in this mess, and what does it mean for Germany and Europe? Here is my attempt at an answer.
May is the new April: the Spring 2025 update of the radical right bibliography
Life is full of unforeseen, yet entirely predictable obstacles: over-committing, over-optimism, and yes, occasionally, over-indulgence. As a result, this year’s spring edition of the Eclectic, Erratic Bibliography on the Extreme Right (in (Western) Europe)™ is late, but here it comes. With 180 new titles, this is the second-biggest update ever, which just goes to show…
I Can’t Believe It’s Not B̶u̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ Academic Spam
I get a lot of Academic Spam. Is this the next level?
Seymour Martin Lipset wrote about the Radical Right – in 1955
In this house, every day is S.M. Lipset Appreciation Day. Most of what we do and think today is not much more than an elaboration of the old stuff, plus some new data and fancy methods. And still, I took some sort of mental double take when I stumbled across this article. Somewhat depressingly, he…
Interview mit Deutschlandfunk Kultur zur Kanzlerwahl von Friedrich Merz
Die Ereignisse im Bundestag heute waren spannend, aber was sagen sie über die Erfolgsaussichten der neuen Regierung aus? Ich glaube: nicht allzu viel 📻👇🏼 https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/affront-gegen-merz-im-ersten-wahlgang-nur-ein-daempfer-fuer-schwarz-rot-100.html
What should we expect from Germany’s incoming not-so-grand coalition?
Not too much, probably. Still, I talked at length with Linda Mannheim about the fallout from the latest German election. Here is the result. In other news, I love it when journalists ask me to keep in mind that they are writing for an American audience. https://www.thenation.com/article/world/germany-grand-coalition-government
Behold a 1970s social networking site
This, my young friends, is a (West German) coin-operated payphone. Like cigarette and bubble gum vending machines, they were ubiquitous during my youth. Now, this is literally a museum piece, which I spotted in Frankfurt a couple of days ago. Very rarely, people forgot to collect the coins that remained when they ended their call.…
Gastkommentar im Handelsblatt: Was Deutschland in Sachen AfD von anderen Ländern lernen könnte
Was bedeutet der AfD-Erfolg, und wie sollte man damit (nicht) umgehen?
What Germany can learn from others in dealing with the AfD
The AfD doubled its vote share in Germany’s 2025 federal election, achieving dominance in eastern states with over 30% of votes but also making significant gains in the west. Its success stems from mobilizing non-voters, attracting disaffected voters from other parties, and exploiting migration fears. Despite this, its extremist stance remains polarizing. Germany’s democratic parties still have a chance to stem the tide, but they must act now.
Friday Fun
I have the rare privilege of a job with very flexible working conditions, and I always loved working from home. Pre-pandemic and post-nursery, I wouldn’t normally come in on more than three, maybe four days per week. However, the pandemic had a lasting effect on my working habits. I developed a strange longing for my…