Jennifer Yoder, Robert E. Diamond Professor of Government and Global Studies (Colby College)
When Angela Merkel assumed the German chancellorship in 2005, there was little indication that she would emerge as a leader adept at memory politics. The unassuming physicist was a relative newcomer to politics, lacking media savvy and skill at public speaking. During the early years of her leadership, she was criticized for her cautious style and her indecision, eventually inspiring a new German verb, merkeln, or to dither. Furthermore, Merkel is an East German, the first East German to be chancellor, and she was born in 1954, whereas her predecessors Gerhard Schroeder and Helmut Kohl were born in 1944 and 1930, respectively. These regional and generational background factors likely contribute to Merkel possessing very different individual memories than her predecessors. As someone socialized in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), we would expect that her knowledge of the Nazi period and the Holocaust was shaped by the antifascist, anti-imperialist ideology of the East German communist regime rather than by the processes of Geschichtsaufarbeitung (working through the past) and reconciliation with former enemy countries that typically shaped the memory politics of her predecessors.
In my lecture for the Presence of the Past series, I will explore how and why Chancellor Merkel has invoked the German past, particularly when addressing Germany’s role in Europe and the world. I will suggest that Merkel has drawn upon several pasts – from different points in time and from different configurations of Germany – to present an integrated collective memory for a unified Germany. What is more, she has referenced the past to justify particular policy positions and, occasionally, a particular vision for Germany’s role in European and global affairs.
At Colby since 1996, Jen Yoder is jointly appointed in the government department and the global studies program. Her courses focus on European politics, including this semester’s “Memory and Politics.” Yoder’s research addresses various aspects of post-unification German politics and identity. Her ongoing research project on European memory explores the memory divides that have emerged in recent years between new/eastern and old/western members of the European Union.
- Invoking the Past for the Future February 18, 2019
slattia Professor Yoder’s presentation on ‘The Presence of the Past in Angela Merkel’s Political Discourse’ was very insightful and brought about ideas I had never really given much thought to. I ... - Merkel Keeping Memories Alive February 18, 2019
Grace Eagan This past week Professor Yoder gave a fascinating speech on the politics and ideology behind Angela Merkel, the German chancellor’s, leadership strategy. When Merkel assumed the German Chancellorship in 2005, ... - A Brighter Future Built Upon the Past February 18, 2019
William Kirby I truly enjoyed Professor Yoder’s lecture on Chancellor Angela Merkel and her political style in comparison to her predecessors. It was fascinating to note all of the significant differences between ... - The Presence of the Past: Angela Merkel and a Unified Germany February 18, 2019
Isabella Scribano Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in power in Germany since 2005. She has been the leader of the biggest European economy for a significant time, which is very unusual. Merkel’s ... - Angela Merkel: Memory Construction as a Political Tactic February 18, 2019
Lyla Jones Last week, Professor Jennifer Yoder gave an insightful lecture on “The Presence of the Past in Angela Merkel’s Political Discourse” which highlighted the political career of Merkel and the role ... - Merkel’s Tactic February 17, 2019
Sarah Rossien Jennifer Yoder’s lecture on ‘The Presence of the Past in Angela Merkel’s Political Discourse’ showed the ways in which Merkel has evolved as a politician since 2005. Angela Merkel has served ... - Pride in the Future: Merkel’s Memory Politics February 17, 2019
Audrey Bell During the Q & A portion of Jennifer Yoder’s lecture, one student suggested that some Germans might see Merkel as an undesirable leader because her actions do not “take pride” ... - Past, Present, and Future in Merkel’s Memory Discourse February 17, 2019
Natalie Hope Professor Jennifer Yoder’s talk on German Chancellor Angela Merkel revolved around a central political discourse known as memory politics—that is, integrating imagery from a society’s past into the present in ... - Angela Merkel’s Use of Memory Politics February 17, 2019
Zaie Nursey Jennifer Yoder’s lecture about Angela Merkel’s use of memory politics gave a good example of how big of a role collective memory plays in our society and every day lives. ... - humanitarianism shaped by Merkel’s biography and German history February 16, 2019
gohwil21 Jennifer Yoder explored Angela Merkel’s usage of memory politics as chancellor of Germany. She identified three overarching themes that Merkel uses in her speeches to address the past: responsibility for ...