Although it was overshadowed by the Omicron surge, one of the most substantial geopolitical developments of this century took place in December of 2021. Angela Merkel stepped down as German Chancellor after a record 16 years in office. Germany has the fourth largest GDP in the world and it is by far the most important nation in the EU (whose combined economic power is close to that of the US). After 16 years Germans voted to make a momentous change. What does this change portend for Germany, the EU, and globe at large? What are the policy goals of the new center-left Chancellor, Olaf Scholz? How might these impact issues important to us including global trade, energy, climate change, immigration, and democracy? This lecture seeks to provide participants with information to help them assess where the Federal Republic of Germany and the EU may go from a policy perspective and how this might impact the US.

Dr. Ganaway is one of our most dynamic and charismatic speakers.  He is Associate Dean of the Honors College at the College of Charleston, where he is also Director of International Studies Fellows.