Außenblick

Without German skills it’s difficult to gain access to Germany and the Germans: “The easiest way to make Germany your own is to speak their language.” At the same time, learning the German language is considered a great challenge.

The study is based on a dual level mixed format: a combination of a structured online questionnaire and semi-narrative in-depth interviews. We contacted experts from the partner networks of the three organisations who know Germany well and are able to formulate the expectations, desires and fears they have of Germany based on their observations. 622 people from 37 countries responded to the quantitative online questionnaire. 48 interviewees from 24 countries were questioned on their perspective of Germany during the in-depth interviews.

Management of the corona pandemic in spring 2020 was to a large extent viewed as efficient and exemplary. This opinion changed in the second wave. A gradual reduction in discipline was observed in the population, as well as problems with sourcing, logistics and organisation in the vaccination campaign. The interviewees felt that the lessons learned from the corona pandemic include the necessity for stronger international cooperation, as well as the importance of a functioning healthcare system and the requirement for an effective crisis management strategy. 

From an external perspective, German history is strongly linked with the history of National Socialism: “When Germany is thinking about its future, the neighbours are thinking about its past.”