Bernhard Blumenau
LightNews LightNews
bblumenau.bsky.social
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/
Posts Replies Media Videos
bblumenau.bsky.social
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
September 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
bblumenau.bsky.social
“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
May 13, 2025 at 7:01 AM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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.
nvondarza.bsky.social 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.
juliusk.bsky.social 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.
May 6, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Bernhard Blumenau
scga.bsky.social
@bblumenau.bsky.social and a great day it was too
March 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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
March 28, 2025 at 7:27 AM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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.
March 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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
January 31, 2025 at 8:11 PM
bblumenau.bsky.social
Welcome to Bluesky @cstpv.bsky.social !
cstpv.bsky.social CSTPV @cstpv.bsky.social · Jan 27
Our first post on bsky to share our upcoming event programme
January 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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...
January 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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.
November 15, 2023 at 11:39 AM
bblumenau.bsky.social
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
November 7, 2023 at 8:18 PM