After Merkel: Germany from Peace to War
Journal: LSE Public Policy Review
Year: 2023

In the autumn of 2021, after Angela Merkel retired, her successor, Olaf Scholz, assumed power as head of a new coalition consisting of Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats. Scholz had an ambitious agenda to reform Germany. Yet, within months, Russia launched its brutal military invasion of Ukraine. Overnight Scholz had to adapt to a Europe at war, which raised profound questions about Germany&rsquo;s international role. Was its post-1945 &lsquo;civilian power status&rsquo; still viable?