ZDF broadcasts election night

The view from the inside of an election campaign can provide real insights as two CCGES students found out during the run-up to the recent German federal elections. Ben Bryce (PhD candidate, History) and Frederick Peters (PhD candidate, Political Science) were selected to take part in the one-week trip for international graduate students organized by CCGES’ sister-Centre, the Duitsland Instituut/Amsterdam, and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service. In addition to meetings with experts and election staff at which they parsed the issues and positions central to the campaign, the group’s itinerary also included the final Berlin rallies of all the major parties and an election evening event from which Germany’s large public broadcaster ZDF reported on the vote results.

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Since the turn of the century hedge funds – largely unregulated institutional investors of Anglo-American origin – have forced a number of German publicly listed companies to focus on short-term shareholder value. This is diametrically opposed to the “patient capital” paradigm that had been traditional to German capitalism, which emphasized stability and long-term strategies. Hence, a German politician has termed them “locusts”, which in the opinion of many German commentators plunder the firms and then move on.

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In the wake of Germany’s Federal election on September 27th, CCGES assembles a panel to read the tea leaves and offer perspectives on the results and what they mean for the future of Europe’s most populous nation. Is social democracy on its deathbed? Does the “Left Party” constitute a viable alternative? Are the Greens destined to be shut out of power again? Join Professors Roger Keil, Heather MacRae and Sabah Alnasseri as well as Ingar Solty (PhD, PoliSci) as they discuss these topics and more.

All are welcome!

Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Location: Lounge, 7th floor, York Research Tower (building #95 here!)
Note: The entrance to the YRT opens to York Commons.

CCGES is pleased to announce that Roger Keil has been appointed Centre Director for 2009-10 academic year. Keil’s experience as a long-time resident affiliate of CCGES recommends him for this appointment as does a resumé which includes periods of study and teaching at Canadian, American and German universities.

A professor in York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, Keil received his PhD in Political Science from Frankfurt’s Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, where he also studied German and American Studies.

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As of Monday, September 15th, CCGES has moved to new offices on the 7th floor of York’s new Research Tower. Our new mailing address is:

The Canadian Centre for German & European Studies
7th Floor, York Research Tower
4700 Keele Street
Toronto ON
M3J 1P3.

The York Research Tower (YRT) is found at the east end of York Lanes, our previous domicile. The YRT is building #95 on the map found here and the entrance to our office opens to York Commons.

Please note, both our telephone number (416 736 5695) and email address (ccges@yorku.ca) remain unchanged.