Episode 85: Addressing Germany’s Colonial Legacy

Germany is well-known for its robust memory culture that deals with the crimes of National Socialism and the Holocaust; however, it has only recently begun to address legacy of its colonial past. Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Katja Keul joins AGI President Jeff Rathke and Senior Fellow and Society, Culture & Politics Program Director Eric Langenbacher to discuss the German government’s approach to reconciliation with former colonies. How do policies differ from country to country? How do Germany’s reconciliation and restitution fit in its broader foreign policy, both in former colonies and with European partners? Is there a broad consensus in Germany among policymakers, cultural institutions, and society about how to repatriate stolen cultural objects? Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Katja Keul, Minister of State, German Federal Foreign Office Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director of AGI’s Society, Culture & Politics Program