Contemporary Germany and the Nazi Legacy: Remembrance, Politics and the Dialectic of Normality (New Perspectives in German Political Studies)

This book examines a range of public debates on the Nazi legacy in Germany since Schröder's SDP-Green coalition came to power in 1998. A central theme is the 'dialectic of normality' whereby references to Nazi past impact upon present normality. The book is a valuable resource for students of contemporary German politics, history and culture. "Over 60 years since the end of World War Two, the legacy of the Nazi past continues to provoke public discussion and controversy in Germany. Focusing on the period 1998-2006, this book provides a fascinating insight into how and why remembrance of the Nazi past is kept alive. Topics include the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, the controversy surrounding Martin Walser's 1998 Peace Prize speech, the campaign against the far right and debates on anti-semitism, national pride and German wartime suffering, Pearce views these debates as indicative of a 'dialectic of normality' in contemporary Germany, whereby references to the Nazi past impact upon normality in the present. In addition, she explores how political interests, generational change and media representation can influence perceptions of the Third Reich."--Jacket The legacy of the Nazi past continues to arouse public discussion and controversy in Germany over 60 years since the end of the Second World War. This volume provides a fascinating insight into how and why remembrance of this past retains such prominence. It assesses the most important debates on the legacy of Nazism since the entry to power of Gerhard Schr̲der's SPD-Green coalition in 1998, including the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, campaigns against the far right and discussions of national pride, anti-semitism and German victimhood. Pearce perceives a 'dialectic of normality' in contemporary Germany, whereby references to the Nazi past impact upon normality in the present. This dialectic can, however, have a productive effect in attempting to incorporate the 'lessons' of the past into politics and society The legacy of the Nazi past continues to arouse public discussion and controversy in Germany over 60 years since the end of the Second World War. This volume provides a fascinating insight into how and why remembrance of this past retains such prominence. It assesses the most important debates on the legacy of Nazism since the entry to power of Gerhard Schrœder's SPD-Green coalition in 1998, including the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, campaigns against the far right and discussions of national pride, anti-semitism and German victimhood. Pearce perceives a 'dialectic of normality' in contemporary Germany, whereby references to the Nazi past impact upon normality in the present. This dialectic can, however, have a productive effect in attempting to incorporate the 'lessons' of the past into politics and society This book examines a range of public debates on the Nazi legacy in Germany since Gerhard Schrder's SDP-Green coalition came to power in 1998. Topics include patterns of remembrance, the Walser-Bubis controversy, the Holocaust monument in Berlin and disputes about national pride, anti-semitism and German victimhood. A central theme is the 'dialectic of normality', whereby references to the Nazi past impact upon normality in the present. The book is a valuable resource for students of contemporary German politics, history and culture. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-5 German, European and Global Recollection of the Nazi Past....Pages 6-43 Schröder, Walser and the Dialectic of Normality....Pages 44-79 Approaches to the Dialectic of Normality....Pages 80-118 The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin....Pages 119-162 The ‘Anti-Semitism Dispute’....Pages 163-195 Sixty Years On: Commemoration and a New Government....Pages 196-227 Conclusion....Pages 228-233 Back Matter....Pages 234-266 Unification and the fight for survival Policies, programmes and personalities : the post-1998 Left Party Aims and ambitions : policy, office, votes and the Left Party Haven't we been here before? : comparing the Left Party and the Greens The Left Party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania The Left Party in Berlin The Left Party in opposition From the PDS to the Left Party Combining new thinking in International Relations theory with original historical research, Kleuters explores the struggle between Christian Democrats and Social Democrats on the subject of German reunification, from Westbindung to Ostpolitik. The result is a gripping narrative focussing on theoretical relevance in foreign policy decisions-making This book examines a range of public debates on the Nazi legacy in Germany since Schroeder's SDP-Green coalition came to power in 1998. A central theme is the 'dialectic of normality' whereby references to Nazi past impact upon present normality. The book is a valuable resource for students of contemporary German politics, history and culture. A comparative analysis of an old and new EU Member State's perceptions of and contributions to EU security and defence. This book focuses on change and continuity in both countries' defence policies and where convergence and divergence has occurred. This has important implications for the EU's effectiveness as an international security actor This new interpretation analyzes some of the central enigmatic features of his writing, arguing that they result from the co-presence of religious scepticism and the desire for a religious foundation of social life.