About this episode

The episode discusses the potential for revolt in Germany amidst various political and economic challenges.

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Saturday 18 October at Church House and the Abbey Centre, Westminster. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION When US Vice President JD Vance warned in a Fox News interview this summer that Europe risked ‘committing civilisational suicide’, he was chiefly concerned with Germany, which he says is in danger of bringing about its own demise. While Vance’s fire was directed primarily at Germany’s failure to control its borders and the destabilising effects of rising immigration, Europe’s longstanding economic powerhouse faces challenges on many fronts. That famed economy is sputtering, partly reflecting a green agenda that has caused soaring energy costs and created fears of deindustrialisation. Attempts to restructure around defence and infrastructure haven’t allayed fears over the failure to tackle structural problems. Reforms have stalled, such as on welfare, and a managerial overclass has created administrative bloat. Meanwhile, the pivot to foreign policy as a show of international dynamism now collides with rising tensions within the EU, such as over trade, rearmament and energy security. The refusal or inability to shift course – especially on…

Topics covered

• Germany
• immigration
• political stasis
• economic challenges
• right-wing populism
• EU tensions

Keywords

• Germany
• JD Vance
• immigration
• AfD
• economic powerhouse
• political stasis
• Battle of Ideas

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AfD

Places: Germany, Europe, Church House, Abbey Centre, Westminster

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