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Bernhard Blumenau

@bblumenau.bsky.social

290 followers 170 following 11 posts

Historian (terrorism, intern. cooperation, diplomacy & German foreign policy). Senior Lecturer at CSTPV/ School of IR, University of St Andrews. Young Academy of Scotland Member.Views my own https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/international-relations/people/bb57/

www.st-andrews.ac.uk

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Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · 19d

Is Germany back? In this short paper, I take a look at the first months of Merz’s foreign policy and reflect on what has changed — and what has not.
Spoiler: some differences, esp. in tone and the conduct of foreign policy compared to his predecessor.

www.fondation-pierredubois.ch/wp-content/u...

www.fondation-pierredubois.ch

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · May 13

“Eighty years ago, Europe feared a strong Germany. Today, it can ill afford a weak one.”
My piece in today’s @scotsman.com

@cstpv.bsky.social @standrewsir.bsky.social

www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

How Germany has gone from hated world war foe to indispensible ally

Europe once feared a strong Germany, now it needs the continent’s biggest economy to rise to its defence

www.scotsman.com

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Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · May 6

This is probably as much a slap in the face of Merz as it is in the face of SPD leader Klingbeil. Or maybe even more so.

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · May 6

For historic comparison. Already the worst start for any Chancellor to fail to be elected on the first vote.

For me, strong echos of the secret ballots that stopped Heide Simonis from becoming PM of Schleswig-Holstein in 2005.

Can't see Merz surviving long if he fails a second vote.

Julius Kölzer @juliusk.bsky.social · May 6

That's history. Die bisher knappste Mehrheit bei einer Kanzlerwahl hatte Konrad Adenauer im Jahr 1949, als er genau die erforderlichen 202 Ja-Stimmen erhielt.

Reposted by Bernhard Blumenau

Scottish Council on Global Affairs scga.scot @scga.bsky.social · Mar 28

@bblumenau.bsky.social and a great day it was too

2 3

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Mar 28

Happening today! Looking forward to insightful discussions at the workshop on the current situation in, and future of, Europe @uniofstandrews.bsky.social @scga.bsky.social @archisturrock.bsky.social
@standrewsir.bsky.social

scga.scot/2025/03/11/e...

The Futures of Europe

Many longstanding policy strategies of the EU, its member states, and its close neighbours—not least the UK and its constituent nations—now require reassessment.

scga.scot

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Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Mar 26

Looking forward to having you join us in Edinburgh!

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Mar 4

Excellent news—another #Zeitenwende in the making. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures (and investment). No time to lose now to swiftly form the new government.

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · Mar 4

Germany’s Merz strikes debt deal to fund defence and infrastructure

https://www.ft.com/content/316ef73e-cf54-4d38-af5b-7166c684a13a

Germany’s Merz strikes debt deal to fund defence and infrastructure

Chancellor-to-be moves to relax debt brake in ‘sea change’ from country’s conservative approach to borrowing

www.ft.com

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Jan 31

Why indeed?

Scotland knows Brexit is holding Britain back. Why won't Labour admit it? | John Swinney

Five years after we left the EU, people are still paying the price. We’re ready to work with Westminster to forge closer bonds with Europe, says Scotland’s first minister John Swinney

www.theguardian.com

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Jan 27

Welcome to Bluesky @cstpv.bsky.social !

CSTPV @cstpv.bsky.social · Jan 27

Our first post on bsky to share our upcoming event programme

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Jan 8

Happy to see my recent short paper on 'When the Traffic Light Fails: Olaf Scholz, Germany’s Political Crisis, and the Road Ahead' published by the Pierre du Bois Foundation for Current History: www.fondation-pierredubois.ch/wp-content/u...

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Nov 15

Happy to be back at the University of Padua already (albeit remotely) to talk about the history of state terror for their DSPGI’s Permanent Seminar on International Politics.

Bernhard Blumenau @bblumenau.bsky.social · Nov 7

Happy to be back and representing CSTPV at the fourth edition of the University of Padua’s Fall School on “Memory & Oblivion: Political Violence and Organised Crime” to continue our cooperation on studying terrorism, international politics and security