Editors' Note. Issue 4 (1st December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Is Part Of: German politics and society. Volume 37:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: iv
• Page End: v
• Publication Date: 2019-12-01
• Subjects: Germany -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Germany -- Politics and government -- 1945-1990 -- Periodicals; Germany -- Politics and government -- 1990- -- Periodicals; 943.005
• DOI: 10.3167/gps.2019.370401
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-5441

Abstract

Abstract : Working on this issue in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown is a tad surreal. One wants to resist the many voices who breathlessly proclaim that everything will be different "AC" (after corona). Besides the horrible health and economic aftereffects, things will likely be rather similar to the situation "BC" (before corona). Then again, maybe this will be some sort of turning point. For instance, western societies—particularly Germany—have long been oriented to the past. There were so many worthy anniversaries that some actually contemplated maintaining an "anniversary tracker" so as not to miss anything important. Suddenly, we are forced to be focused on the present and daunting future; and the near obsession with commemorations of various kinds appears to be coming to an end. Just months ago, many were looking forward to massive and internationally coordinated commemorations of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of WWII. Many countries indeed carried on with scaled-down events, but the coverage and resonance were minimal.