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Politik & Verwaltung

The Zeitgeist

von American-German Institute

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Building a Smarter German-American Partnership

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  1. Episode 158: The International Language of Populism

    On this episode of The Zeitgeist, Henk de Berg, author of Trump and Hitler: A Comparative Study in Lying, discusses how populists have used rhetoric throughout history. He compares and …

  2. Episode 157: What Factors are Driving the AfD’s Success?

    The Alternative for Germany has received unprecedented support in state elections in 2026, especially in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In this episode of The Zeitgeist, Hannah Alarian discusses what issues and …

  3. Episode 156: State Election Aftershocks

    Regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin saw successes for the far-right Alternative for Germany and far-left Die Linke and “disaster” for the mainstream parties. The episode of The Zeitgeist …

  4. Episode 155: The Transatlantic Investment Relationship

    Investment is the backbone of transatlantic trade, but foreign direct investment between the United States and Germany has fallen in both directions in the past year. The German Economic Institute’s …

  5. Episode 154: Germany’s Autumn: The Regional and International Constraints on National Politics

    Approval ratings for Chancellor Merz and his government are at historic lows, the war in Ukraine is in its fifth year, and instability abroad has led to economic challenges at …

  6. Episode 153: The Greens’ Next Steps

    Germany’s Green Party is no longer part of the federal government and is seeking a comeback. How can the party mobilize the electorate and counter growing fragmentation and extremism in …

  7. Episode 152: How to Win a Trade War

    The global economic landscape is contested between China and the United States, with America’s partners such as Europe also playing important roles. China has pursued policies of one-way dependencies, and …

  8. Episode 151: Soccer and Society

    The 2026 World Cup has been bigger than ever before; an expanded tournament of forty-eight teams has brought record-breaking audiences. On this episode of The Zeitgeist, Andrei Markovits discusses soccer …

  9. Episode 150: Valuing Civil Society Organizations

    Civil society organizations are funded differently in the United States and Germany, and LGBTQ+ organizations must take different approaches when seeking financial support from the public and private sector. Preston …

  10. Episode 149: Forgotten LGBTQ+ Histories

    The Stonewall Riots are known worldwide as a starting point for LGBTQ+ activism, and musicals like Cabaret have shared the story of the queer experience in Weimar Berlin. But the …

  11. Episode 148: Weaponized Interdependence in a Changing International System

    The United States has exploited strategic networks and dependencies to its advantage in foreign policy. As the international system has transformed, more countries seek to play at the game of …

  12. Episode 147: Merkel, Leadership, and Crisis

    Why are some women leaders hailed as brilliant crisis managers while others draw widespread criticism? Louise K. Davidson-Schmich’s new book Gender, Leadership, and Crisis: Possibilities and Perils for Women Leaders (Oxford University Press

  13. Episode 146: European Manufacturing and Global Trade

    German industry is facing headwinds: a sluggish domestic economy, instability in the transatlantic trade relationship, and unfair global trade practices. Bertram Kawlath, the president of Europe’s largest industrial association (VDMA), join

  14. Episode 145: Transatlantic Fractures and the Future of U.S. Relations with Europe

    The United States is reevaluating its place in the world, not only because of President Trump. The metamorphosis in American politics is affecting U.S. foreign policy profoundly, as well as …

  15. Episode 144: Economic Resilience as Economic Security

    The world’s leading economies are putting economic security at the top of their policy concerns. Among them, the European Union is taking a risk-based approach that seeks to deter weaponizable …

  16. Episode 143: Germany’s Political Barometer

    Two state elections in western Germany this month resulted in one win for Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democrats and two poor outcomes for the Social Democrats. The Alternative for Germany, meanwhile, performed better …

  17. Episode 142: The AfD and the 2026 State Elections

    Five state elections will be held in Germany in 2026. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) enters this “super election year” in a strong position: it is the largest opposition party …

  18. Episode 141: Germany’s Other Populist Party

    The BSW (formerly the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, now Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason) had early successes after its founding in 2024, winning seats in the European Parliament and …

  19. Episode 140: The Transatlantic Relationship in a Transforming Global Trading System

    How have increased geopolitical competition and changing trade policy objectives affected the transatlantic relationship, and what are the shared priorities for German and U.S. business? On this episode of The Zeitgeist, CEO of DHL …

  20. Episode 139: The German-Polish Relationship amid Changing European Security Challenges

    The European security landscape is shifting. The United States is pressuring Europe to manage the defense of its region, and many NATO allies have growing doubts about the long-term reliability …

  21. Episode 138: The Trump Administration, the AfD, and German Foreign Policy

    Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been known for its foreign policy embrace of Russia and China, but in recent months, the party has turned its sights on building ties …

  22. Episode 137: Friedrich Merz: Foreign Policy Chancellor

    Chancellor Merz has received praise internationally for many German foreign policy and defense initiatives in 2025: suspending the “debt brake” to allow for more security investments, expanding the Bundeswehr, committing …

  23. Episode 136: The Role of Communities in Times of Crisis

    In Washington, DC, LGBTQ+ organizations enhance the city’s cultural life, provide services, and represent the community’s political interests. At a time when LGBTQ+ communities are losing protections and facing increased …

  24. Episode 135: Reenergizing the German Economy

    The German economy is stagnating, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised an autumn of reforms. But are the government’s policies enough to restore competitiveness? Berenberg Chief Economist Holger Schmieding joins …

  25. Episode 134: Europe’s Strategic Dependencies

    The dynamics of the transatlantic relationship are changing. As Europe faces the changing policies of the United States toward its alliances, Germany is investing in its armed forces at a …

  26. Episode 133: The SPD and Its Foreign Policy Challenges

    The center-left Social Democrats are the junior coalition partner in Friedrich Merz’s government, but they hold two of the most important portfolios for implementing Germany’s security policy revolution known as …

  27. Episode 132: Transatlantic Alliances of the New Right

    Ties between far-right parties and movements in Europe and the United States are growing. Annett Meiritz and Juliane Schäuble join this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss their forthcoming book …

  28. Episode 131: Multilateralism in a Fragmenting Global Trading System

    The global trading system is in flux, with increased multipolarity and uncertainty. Disruptions in supply chains and concerns about sustainability and national security have caused countries to reexamine trade policies. …

  29. Episode 130: Germany’s Transatlantic Coordinator on U.S.-German Relations

    Germany’s defense commitments are beginning to match the ambitions of the Zeitenwende, and Germany’s increased investments in European security are being noted in Washington. In his first visit to the …

  30. Episode 129: German Constitutional Law and Banning Extremist Political Parties

    Even though it came in second place in the 2025 German federal election, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was subsequently classified as an extremist party by the Office for the …

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