AGI

Society, Culture & Politics

The AGI Society, Culture & Politics Program focuses on crucial topics within the German-American dialogue, including: demographic change, migration/integration, and aging societies; electoral politics at the national, state, and European levels, and comparative analysis of Germany and the United States; diversity within Germany, Europe, and the United States; the politics of collective memory and identity, Holocaust remembrance and reconciliation, and shifting conceptions of national identity that shape perspectives and policy responses.
Reset

The AfD’s New Transatlantic Network

Tracking the AfD’s Engagement with the United States As the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has gained support domestically—exemplified by 20.8 percent of the vote in the 2025 Bundestag election—they have …

Whither the Greens?

Özdemir’s unexpected triumph and the future of the party The Green Party, led by talismanic candidate Cem Özdemir, finished first on March 8 in the Baden-Württemberg state elections with 30.2 …

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 …

AGI Profiles: Leif-Erik Holm

Member of the Bundestag; AfD State Chairman in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Leif-Erik Holm is a father, politician, loyal party member, local celebrity, and a “nice guy.” A founder of the Alternative …

Time for a Change?

Thoughts on the National Anthem of Germany The story of the Deutschlandlied (song of Germany) is one of turbulence and shifting perceptions. It was written in 1841 by August Heinrich …

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Toy Maker 2: Journeys

On June 20, 2018, the article “The Story of Bert Reiner, the Toy Maker, or: An Appreciation for the Individual Experiences of Former Shanghai Jewish Refugees” was published by the …

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 …

Gender-Blind, Not Gender-Neutral

Friedrich Merz and Pension Reform Hoping, for the third time, to become CDU party chair, Friedrich Merz declared in January 2021: “I know that we have to be better and …

AGI Profiles: Bärbel Bas

Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Over the last few years, Bärbel Bas has emerged as one of the more prominent figures in German politics. At the 2025 party …

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 …

AGI Profiles: Ulrich Siegmund

Member of the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt; AfD Parliamentary Group Leader Ulrich Siegmund is becoming a star within the ranks of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). He is a salesman by …

Two Shades of Liberalism

D66’s Rise in the Netherlands and the FDP’s Collapse in Germany When Dutch voters returned to the polls in late October 2025 after the collapse of the short-lived Schoof government, …

Where Does the Catholic Church Stand on Migration Policy?

On November 12, 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a special message at its annual conference in Baltimore, the first of its kind in the last …

Grassroots LGBTQ+ Resistance to Federal Pressures

Over the course of 2025, the Trump administration has implemented policies and executive orders designed to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; defund support services for vulnerable groups, including …

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