The international court of public opinion seems to have a soft spot for Germany these days. Outside observers are hailing us for our stable democracy, our acceptance of female politicians and our economic success.
In an age when much of the world seems to have gone crazy, I can understand why some commentators might see Germany as a bastion of reasonableness and good sense. Yet the reality is not quite as reassuring.
Take conspiracy theories. In Germany, they are no longer the prerogative of a handful of unhinged individuals. According to a recent study, nearly a third of Germans give credibility to them.… Seguir leyendo »
German citizens are increasingly alienated from each other, with a large gap between how people view themselves and their beliefs about others’ opinions. A research project I led found that while 80 percent of respondents viewed solidarity and compassion for their fellow man to be important, only 10 percent thought that others felt the same way. Similar disconnects occurred over family values, employment and sense of community. Put simply, even though a vast majority of German society shares similar values, people seem to assume they are more or less alone in their views.
What happened? How did Germans lose their belief in shared values within their society, an essential element of any democratic society?… Seguir leyendo »
Tout le monde, ou presque, connaît l’anecdote : le feu est rouge pour les piétons mais, en l’absence de véhicule à 23 kilomètres à la ronde et donc de tout danger, quelqu’un traverse, immédiatement foudroyé du regard par quelques bons citoyens, indignés, presque horrifiés. La scène, bien entendu, se déroule en Allemagne ou en Suisse alémanique (jamais en Autriche, tiens donc !) et elle illustre par l’exemple cette intangible réalité, que l’on formule d’un air amusé ou envieux : là-bas, on ne plaisante pas avec la règle. Du sac aux stéréotypes touchant l’Allemagne, la scène décrite est souvent la première que l’on sort. … Seguir leyendo »
Utilizamos cookies para el correcto funcionamiento de la página web y analíticas para estadísticas.ACEPTARPolítica de privacidad
