Helmut Kohl's quest for normality : his representation of the German nation and himself / Christian Wicke.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wicke, Christian, author.

Series:

Making sense of history ; v. 20.

Making sense of history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kohl, Helmut, 1930-2017.

Kohl, Helmut.

Prime ministers--Germany (West)--Biography.

Prime ministers.

Prime ministers--Germany--Biography.

Nationalism.

Germany.

Germany (West).

Germany (West)--Politics and government--1982-1990.

Politics and government.

Germany--Politics and government--1990-.

Nationalism--Germany--20th century.

Political science.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xi, 249 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Berghahn Books, [2015]

Summary:

"During his political career, Helmut Kohl used his own life story to promote a normalization of German nationalism and to overcome the stigma of the Nazi period. In the context of the Cold War and the memory of the fascist past, he was able to exploit the combination of his religious, generational, regional, and educational (he has a PhD in History) experiences by connecting nationalist ideas to particular biographical narratives. Kohl presented himself as the embodiment of 'normality': a de-radicalized German nationalism which was intended to eclipse any anti-Western and post-national peculiarities. This book takes a biographical approach to the study of nationalism by examining its manifestation in Helmut Kohl and the way he historicized Germany's past"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction

Approaching nationalism : conceptual frameworks

Kohl as Catholic nationalist

Kohl as liberal nationalist

Kohl as romantic nationalist

Kohl as nationalist historian

Conclusion : a synthesis of Kohl's personal nationalism.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781782385738

1782385738

OCLC:

894183588