AGI

Society

Our societies are changing on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to demographic change, immigration and integration, and regional differences—among other factors. Greater understanding about our cultures, an open exchange about emerging issues, and fostering dialogue between different groups can help German and American societies build stronger internal and external connections and awareness.
Reset

Sustaining LGBTQ+ Communities in a Fragmenting Landscape

The second cohort of AGI’s project “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States” met in March 2025 in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Between their first meeting in …

Episode 128: Queer Economies: Solidarity, Sustainability, and the Struggle for Space

Third spaces where people can gather, organize, and provide support have been critical for LGBTQ+ communities in Germany and the United States. “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United …

Divided We Fall

Discrimination within the LGBTQIA+ Community The LGBTQ+ community has always experienced discrimination and persecution. Even if the narrative prevails in some circles that equality has been achieved, discrimination and violence …

From Shame to Pride to Propaganda

The Political Afterlives of the Pink Triangle Symbols wield profound political significance, particularly within marginalized communities. They emerge from histories of exclusion and become tools of identity, resistance, and collective …

Episode 126: Pride and Politics: The Complex Relationship between the LGBTIQ+ Community and Politics

The LGBTQ+ communities in Germany and the United States have been working toward greater legal rights, but laws and politicians in both countries have threatened to not only halt progress …

What Germany Needs?

The 2025 CDU/CSU-SPD Coalition Agreement After the February 23, 2025, Bundestag election, only two majority coalition governments were possible under the Union leadership of Friedrich Merz. Given that an alliance …

What Now?

Examining the Uncertain Future of Syrian Refugees in the Aftermath of Syria’s Civil War Like so many impacted by the conflict, Syrians in Germany reacted to the fall of Bashar …

AGI Profiles: Sahra Wagenknecht

Leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance When Germany headed to the polls in February 2025, voters found themselves deciding between a familiar slate of options, ranging from the Green Party …

Austria’s Political Paralysis

A Warning for Germany Germany’s recent federal election saw the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) double its vote share, reaching a record high. Meanwhile, neighboring Austria remained paralyzed for five …

Episode 123: An Expanding German Memory Culture

For decades, memory culture in Germany has largely focused on coming to terms with and memorializing the Holocaust. In recent years, however, memory discourses have expanded to include, among others, …

Episode 122: The German Bundestag Election Results

Shortly after the polls closed in Germany, Jeff Rathke, Eric Langenbacher, and Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger discussed the results of the snap elections. They give their reactions to the performance of the …

Episode 119: Voter Volatility and Political Stagnation

Germany votes for a new parliament on February 23. While the center-right Christian Democrats maintain a lead in the polls, the three parties of Olaf Scholz’s outgoing “traffic light” coalition …