1. Introduction: German Questions History 323 / Jan. 7, 2013

2. 1. Who are the Germans? (And who aren’t Germans?)

3. people who speak the German language?

4. Contemporary German language groups

5. 1. Who are the Germans? (And who aren’t Germans?) people who speak the German language? a category of ethnic descent?

6. 1. Who are the Germans? (And who aren’t Germans?) people who speak the German language? a category of ethnic descent? people who share in Germany’s “community of fate”?

7. 2. How important is German-ness with respect to other identities?

8. local / regional

9. 2. How important is German-ness with respect to other identities? local / regional dynastic

10. 2. How important is German-ness with respect to other identities? local / regional dynastic religious

11. 2. How important is German-ness with respect to other identities? local / regional dynastic religious class

12. 3. What political form, if any, should bind German lands together?

13. Empire

14. The Holy Roman Empire, ca. 1200

15. Otto III Holy Roman Emperor, A.D. 996-1002

16. 3. What political form, if any, should bind German lands together? Empire Federation

17. The German Confederation

18. 3. What political form, if any, should bind German lands together? Empire Federation Nation-state

19. Contemporary Germany

20. 4. What are the implications of German strength (or weakness) in the center of Europe?

21. German weakness gives outside powers a strategic interest in German affairs

22. 4. What are the implications of German strength (or weakness) in the center of Europe? German weakness gives outside powers a strategic interest in German affairs German strength tends to destabilize Europe

23. 5. What form of civilization does Germany represent?

24. Western civilization?

25. 5. What form of civilization does Germany represent? Western civilization? A unique (and allegedly superior) culture?

26. 5. What form of civilization does Germany represent? Western civilization? A unique (and allegedly superior) culture? Proletarian consciousness?

27. 5. What form of civilization does Germany represent? Western civilization? A unique (and allegedly superior) culture? Proletarian consciousness? Cosmopolitan Europeans / citizens of the world