Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24.
The AfD is not the only populist party that has been able to celebrate spectacular successes. The newer left-wing populist party, the BSW, has also managed to overtake the government parties in recent elections – winning over 10 per cent of the votes from a standing start. The established parties, meanwhile, are struggling to secure majorities. As the economy is faltering and the government continues to pursue its immensely costly aim of Net Zero, more people are beginning to feel the squeeze in living standards.
To many Germans, it seems as if the good times are over. Apart from the economic problems, there are also political issues. One of these is mass migration. But polls show that very few voters trust the established parties to really solve these problems.
Will Germany become the sick man of Europe? And if so, what will this mean for the rest of the continent?
The speakers in this debate are:
Alexander Horn - economic commentator; management consultant
Lysia Leal - student of City & Regional Planning, Technische Universität Berlin
Dr Patrik Schumacher - principal, Zaha Hadid Architects; author, The Autopoiesis of Architecture and Tectonism – Architecture for the 21st Century
The chair is:
Sabine Beppler-Spahl - chair, Freiblickinstitut e.V; CEO, Sprachkunst36; Germany correspondent, spiked
These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
#GermanyPolitics
#PopulismInGermany
#MassMigration
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24.
The AfD is not the only populist party that has been able to celebrate spectacular successes. The newer left-wing populist party, the BSW, has also managed to overtake the government parties in recent elections – winning over 10 per cent of the votes from a standing start. The established parties, meanwhile, are struggling to secure majorities. As the economy is faltering and the government continues to pursue its immensely costly aim of Net Zero, more people are beginning to feel the squeeze in living standards.
To many Germans, it seems as if the good times are over. Apart from the economic problems, there are also political issues. One of these is mass migration. But polls show that very few voters trust the established parties to really solve these problems.
Will Germany become the sick man of Europe? And if so, what will this mean for the rest of the continent?
The speakers in this debate are:
Alexander Horn - economic commentator; management consultant
Lysia Leal - student of City & Regional Planning, Technische Universität Berlin
Dr Patrik Schumacher - principal, Zaha Hadid Architects; author, The Autopoiesis of Architecture and Tectonism – Architecture for the 21st Century
The chair is:
Sabine Beppler-Spahl - chair, Freiblickinstitut e.V; CEO, Sprachkunst36; Germany correspondent, spiked
These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
#GermanyPolitics
#PopulismInGermany
#MassMigration
