Das amerikanische Beben

​In her book Das amerikanische Beben, historian and bestselling author Christina Morina reflects on her year in New York during Donald Trump’s return to power. Drawing on her expertise in democratic history, she examines the erosion of American democracy. What lessons can Germany and other democracies draw from it? This afternoon, she will be in conversation with historian, philosopher, and political scientist Ton Nijhuis.

Please note: the language of this event will be German.

​Historian Christina Morina lived with her family in New York for a year in 2024/25, as a visiting professor at the world-renowned New School for Social Research. From close up, she witnessed Donald Trump’s disastrous comeback and its devastating consequences for American democracy, reflected in people’s everyday lives. She had come to America to research and teach the history of democracy. Suddenly, she found herself witnessing a large-scale attempt to destroy it.

​In her book, she describes in a very personal way how Trump’s assault has shaken democracy to its core. At the same time, she places current events in a broader context: How do German experiences of democracy differ from those of Americans? What role do historical and contemporary developments play? How can a democratic order be protected against anti-democratic attacks? And what lessons can German democracy draw from the American upheaval? ​