Thirty percent seems to be the number that is hovering over everything at the moment. First of all, the election results in Saxony and Thuringia... at least 30% of voters there voted for the AfD. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/02/europe/afd-germany-election-thuringia-saxony-intl/index.html
Whatever you think, it is clear that 30% of the people who voted would like to see more AfD content in politics. Throughout the week there were questions from abroad, which I tried to answer to the best of my knowledge and belief: How big is the victory really? What exactly does it mean? And who is this totally left-wing politician who now has her own party? What does she want? Where does she stand?
The questions naturally pushed in one direction above all, the crucial question, Gretchenfrage as we say, at least in my line of work: What do both parties think about Israel? Where do they stand on the issue and what can we expect from them?
However, as a freelance scientist, author, editor, and consultant, I am currently more concerned about the other 30%. The increase in food costs is more than 30% compared to 2019 - an incredible 32%! https://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Diese-Lebensmittelpreise-sind-am-staerksten-gestiegen-article25211014.html
How is that supposed to work if you don't get an inflation adjustment, Christmas bonus, vacation pay or a pay rise? Permanent employees may be able to cope somehow, but not freelancers. That means working even harder and earning more money - and that's what I do.
I had various meetings this week, all of which turned out to be positive. I'm very happy to continue working with my clients in 2025, who obviously like my work 😊 I'm also happy to have been asked to accompany a group of colleagues as an expert and native speaker in order to bring about changes in the curriculum. In addition, I have FINALLY been able to give the go-ahead for printing and now very much hope that the publisher won't need weeks and numerous requests from me again to finally bring my study to market! As the attentive reader of my blog knows, the whole thing has been dragging on since April. Simply unbelievable.
Well, and then there was another attack this week. 52 years after the Olympics, Jews (and victims of National Socialism) were attacked again in Munich. https://www.timesofisrael.com/gunman-killed-in-shootout-near-israeli-consulate-in-munich-on-1972-attack-anniversary/
I can only shake my head at this. Even though not all the details are known yet - I had goose bumps and was really shocked. I tried to keep my friends from abroad up to date, as the initial information was only available in German. The day was really stressful and I'm so tired of being the bearer of bad news! It's exhausting.
But since I don't want to end with the bad information, here are some good news. Please find below new publications in the form of encyclopedia articles from me. They are now online 😊
Racism
People's sovereignty
Nationalism
National state
Nation
Cold War
And there are also new videos online, whose scripts I have written. We have now finally completed the foundation of the Reich in 1871 😉
Industrialization in Germany/ Die Industrialisierung in Deutschland
Economic Changes in Germany after 1800/ Wirtschaftliche Veränderungen in Deutschland nach 1800
Societal Changes in Germany after 1800/ Gesellschaftliche Veränderungen in Deutschland nach 1800
Conditions of the founding of the German Reich/ Voraussetzungen für die Reichsgründung
Germany on the way to a national state/ Deutschland auf dem Weg zum Nationalstaat
Enjoy!