The Twilight of Angela Merkel: Implications for Germany and Europe

The Deutschland Ambassadors Initiative brings together alumni of German universities for a series of science talks and networking events in the U.S. Part of the Year of German-American Friendship and organized by German liaison offices based in the U.S., this initiative invites alumni to join a growing network of thousands of members from diverse backgrounds, ages and professions who share a passion for Germany.

Nils Ringe is Professor of Political Science, Jean Monnet Chair, and Director of the Center for European Studies. His research and teaching interests are European Union politics), legislatures, political parties, social networks, and elections. He published “Bridging the Information Gap: Legislative Member Organizations as Social Networks in the United States and the European Union” with Jennifer N. Victor (George Mason University), a book that examines voluntary, issue-based, cross-partisan groups of legislators (such as caucuses in the U.S. Congress and intergroups in the European Parliament) in a comparative perspective. His previous book, “Who Decides, and How? Preferences, Uncertainty, and Policy Choice in the European Parliament,” was published in 2010 by Oxford University Press. Ringe is currently working on a book on multilingualism in the institutions of the EU, tentatively titled “The Language(s) of Politics: Multilingual Policy-Making in the European Union,” as well as various papers on social networks in legislative politics.

The Twilight of Angela Merkel: Implications for Germany and Europe: German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced in the fall of last year that she would step down as leader of the Christian-Democratic Union, a position she held for almost two decades, following her party’s disappointing results in a series of regional elections. She also promised to serve out her current fourth term as Chancellor but not seek reelection. Germany thus finds itself on the cusp of a new era. What are the implications of these momentous decisions for domestic politics? How will they affect Germany’s foreign policy and international standing, in the European Union and beyond? During years of political and economic turmoil, Merkel was seen as a factor of stability and continuity at home and abroad. This talk considers the uncertainty prompted by her departure and what comes next for Europe’s most powerful country.

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