German Chancellor Angela Merkel helped steer the EU through crises for 16 years. Once nicknamed the Queen of Europe, opinions on her legacy are diverse. Crisis manager or visionary? This session explores the ‘tales of two Merkels’ and who decides on a leader’s legacy.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Merkel legacy: EU's queen with a tarnished crown, BBC News
• What is the legacy of the Angela Merkel era?, The Guardian
• Germany agonises over Merkel’s legacy: did she hand too much power to Putin?, The Guardian
• Angela Merkel: Six legacies that defined her era as Germany's chancellor, Euronews
• Angela Merkel: Four expert verdicts on a contested legacy, BBC News
• Angela Merkel Didn’t Just Save Europe. She Also Made It More Resilient, Time

COURSE OUTLINE

• Merkel & her trajectory of being first woman Chancellor to Germany; Her legacy to Germany and criticisms; How did corresponding world events impact on Merkel’s decision making?
• Merkel’s global legacy and criticisms; How did corresponding world events impact on Merkel’s decision making?; Group discussion – how are legacies determined?

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand key events and context during the Merkel years
2. Identify Merkel’s legacy
3. Assess various critiques
4. Reflect on how ‘legacies’ are determined