Episode 18: Hamburg as Barometer: What’s Happening in German Politics

On Sunday, Hamburg voters went to the polls for what is the only (scheduled) regional election in Germany this year. Recent regional elections have served as a barometer for the political parties on the national level and offer insights ahead of the planned 2021 federal election. High voter turnout in Hamburg suggests that citizens are engaged and are paying attention to the issues going into 2021. View the polls. On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AICGS’ Jeff Rathke and Eric Langenbacher are joined by Julian Mueller-Kaler to discuss the outcome of the Hamburg election. They discuss how the Volksparteien performed in Hamburg and whether the parties can adapt to the new post-modern social cleavages following cultural and identity issues; if the Alternative for Germany’s lack of appeal suggests an east-west or rural-urban divide; and how growing support for the Greens could play out at the national level. They also look at how German politics is affecting European leadership, direction, and decision-making. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AICGS Guests Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director, AICGS Society, Culture & Politics Program Julian Mueller-Kaler, Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council; Non-Resident Fellow, AICGS