For many years, the post-war recovery of Germany was an inspirational story; all of Europe looked on with admiration and envy as the nation rebuilt itself and set the standards for the rest to follow. Companies such as Mercedes Benz, Siemens and Bayer were global titans, while the nation's political leaders were respected around the world.
But now the picture has become clouded. The scandalous revelations of Volkswagen's emissions fraud tainted its industrial reputation; after a tsunami hit the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, Germany became dangerously reliant on Russia for its fuel; and the nation's decades-long political consensus began to break down with the rise of the far-right AfD party.
Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes tell the compelling story of how it all went wrong. As vital elections loom in 2025, Broken Republik is an essential snapshot of a nation at a crossroads that has huge implications for us all.
But now the picture has become clouded. The scandalous revelations of Volkswagen's emissions fraud tainted its industrial reputation; after a tsunami hit the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, Germany became dangerously reliant on Russia for its fuel; and the nation's decades-long political consensus began to break down with the rise of the far-right AfD party.
Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes tell the compelling story of how it all went wrong. As vital elections loom in 2025, Broken Republik is an essential snapshot of a nation at a crossroads that has huge implications for us all.
"Although a new government has been installed since this book was released, the authors nonetheless provides a deeply insightful and fresh view of the challenges Chancellor Friedrich Merz will need to overcome if he is to correct Germany's trajectory" -Financial Times
"A splendid book by authors who long ago detected Germany's fragility - and aimed at readers who take no pleasure in the sight of its precipitous decline" -Yanis Varoufakis
"The best polemic yet ... The book's charge sheet is long and unforgiving [and they] prosecute their case with vigour and a terrific eye for detail. The book is especially good on the country's near-belle epoque levels of wealth inequality and social immobility" -Oliver Moody, The Times Book of the Week
"Reiter and Wilkes debunk several long-standing myths about Germany...the authors' in-depth analysis digs deep into the crisis without being defamatory. The analysis of the German mentality is sure to provoke some readers.But that's precisely where its strength lies: the authors avoid being easily categorised, which is often what stifles open-ended debates" -Die Welt
"A splendid book by authors who long ago detected Germany's fragility - and aimed at readers who take no pleasure in the sight of its precipitous decline" -Yanis Varoufakis
"The best polemic yet ... The book's charge sheet is long and unforgiving [and they] prosecute their case with vigour and a terrific eye for detail. The book is especially good on the country's near-belle epoque levels of wealth inequality and social immobility" -Oliver Moody, The Times Book of the Week
"Reiter and Wilkes debunk several long-standing myths about Germany...the authors' in-depth analysis digs deep into the crisis without being defamatory. The analysis of the German mentality is sure to provoke some readers.But that's precisely where its strength lies: the authors avoid being easily categorised, which is often what stifles open-ended debates" -Die Welt
Although a new government has been installed since this book was released, the authors nonetheless provides a deeply insightful and fresh view of the challenges Chancellor Friedrich Merz will need to overcome if he is to correct Germany's trajectory







