People and Politics: Can Germany and Israel Get Along?

This recent Deutsche Welle report on German/Israeli relations is especially pertinent to our in-class discussion of the future of Europe. The fact of the Holocaust has made a relationship between the two parties tentative, at best, and now with the rate at which globalization is progressing, the need to make a secure alliance is important. The postwar realities of the two countries are drastically different; Germany became prosperous, and Israel became mired in further religious conflict. The key to a healthy international relationship between the two countries lies in their willingness to honor the tragedies of the past and move towards a position of "never again war," as Michael Wolffson states. However, is this a goal that can be realistically achieved?

From the Weimar Republic to Today: Made in Germany

In the early 1920s, after the Great War, the German people overthrew the imperial government. After such an extended and horrible conflict, this political overhaul was relatively painless; however, the resulting Weimar Republic was too weak to support an unstable, losing Germany. During the decade-long attempt at a German democracy, hyperinflation plagued the economy as well as the $33 billion war debt. (The economy seemed to improve for a short period of time, then a state of financial crisis in 1930 caused the Weimar Republic to implode, unable to function because of severe debt.) The humiliation of having lost a war caused the German people to become embittered, blaming the failure of their armies on the plotting of minority groups such as the Jews and socialists. Thus, nationalism became militant.



Now, Germany is experiencing similar economic troubles. Thankfully, militant nationalism is not driving the country toward extremism as it once had; instead, stimulus packages are being distributed in an attempt to jump-start the economy. However, the economic hardship parallels that of the Great Depression in a rather disturbing way. This is the insider's view from Deutsche Welle's Made in Germany. (I would post a RAI Italia video about the present economy in Italy, but Silvio Berlusconi regrettably owns that TV station.)

Russia Today: Global 3000

With our recent debate about Russia, I thought this was a very timely Deutsche Welle report. Although not directly connected to revolution, the plan for the city outside of Moscow seems to be a classic manifestation of the Russian desire for expansion and modernization. The currently bankrupt project hearkens back to Peter the Great's ambitious founding of St. Petersburg, or at least that's what the Russian government's saying. Thoughts?