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Is German democracy under threat (again)?
Germany's President Frank Walter-Steinmeier (SPD) got into hot waters for invoking history to make a case against the AfD. Was he right to do so?
14 hrs ago • 
Rachel Stern
Hot metal, cold economics - the unravelling of German steel
Germany’s steel industry, once a symbol of strength, now faces soaring costs, global competition, and uncertain survival.
Nov 5 • 
Jörg Luyken
Germany: A nation of mobile dead zones?
Why there continues to be many areas in Germany with little (or no) mobile reception
Nov 8 • 
Rachel Stern
A cancelled trip, a chip crisis, and Germany’s China problem
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed a high-level trip to China amid a stand-off over chip exports for the car industry
Oct 29 • 
Rachel Stern
On the ‘Stadtbild’ debate
How one word ignited Germany’s deepest debate on identity.
Oct 25 • 
Jörg Luyken
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The AfD paradox
Jan 16 • Jörg Luyken
Time to bring back military conscription
Mar 9 • Jörg Luyken
The fall of the Wall
Jan 26 • Jörg Luyken
‘The school system in Germany is still quite unequal’
Sep 13 • Rachel Stern
End of the Brandmauer, Part II
Has the time come for the CDU to start talking to the AfD?
Oct 22 • 
Jörg Luyken
Berlin might still be sexy, but it sure ain’t poor
Why it's time to cut off the capital's subsidies.
Oct 18 • 
Jörg Luyken
Germany is set to overhaul its unemployment system... again
Will 'Basic Income Support' continue helping the people who currently receive 'Bürgergeld'?
Oct 15 • 
Rachel Stern
The Bundeswehr should play a bigger role in defending against drones
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the increase in drone sightings "a threat to our security." So why can't Germany's military have greater…
Oct 11 • 
Rachel Stern
Why German officials are talking to the Taliban
A German delegation just spent several days in the Afghan capital
Oct 8 • 
Jörg Luyken
Up in smoke: What's next for Germany's legalisation of cannabis?
A new report shows that the partial legalisation of marijuana a year and a half ago hasn't had the effect the last government had hoped for.
Oct 1 • 
Rachel Stern
The death of domestic aviation
Flying is once again becoming a luxury only the wealthy can afford — a situation brought about by deliberate policies pursued by the political left.
Oct 4 • 
Jörg Luyken
Why Germany is so reluctant to clamp down on smoking. And what it's got to do with Hitler.
Smoking cigarettes at places with a lot of kids around has long been taboo other countries. But not in Germany.
Sep 27 • 
Rachel Stern
Are the SPD about to take the axe to the welfare state?
This newsletter in a 5 minute read.
Sep 24 • 
Jörg Luyken
A German pro-life rally in the shadow of the Kirk murder
Would the death of the US conservative activist find an echo in Germany's pro-life movement?
Sep 21 • 
Jörg Luyken
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The German Review
The German Review
Punchy analysis and clever opinions on Germany.
© 2025 Jörg Luyken
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