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Election 2005: The Other Perspective

August 12, 2005

As Germans prepare to elect a new government on Sept. 18, DW-WORLD is asking English speakers living in Germany to share their views on the country's state and what's best for its future.

https://p.dw.com/p/71pV
Taking a close look at GermanyImage: ZB - Fotoreport

The current state of Germany's economy is likely to play an important role in voters' decisions when they head to the polls for elections scheduled to take place Sept. 18. The country's high unemployment and sour economic outlook make it unlikely that Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his coalition government of Social Democrats and Greens will remain in power.

But how do those looking at the country with an outsider's perspective view Germany's state of affairs? Are things really as bad as they seem to many Germans? Are people complaining too much about problems and fail to see the positive things as a result?

DW-WORLD has asked English speakers for their perspective on Germany today. Some have lived here for years, others only visit the country occasionally for business reasons. Some seriously critique the way things are run in Germany while others decided to take a lighter approach in answering the questionnaire.

Click on the links below to get the "other" perspective on Germany's 2005 election.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Jeffrey Gedmin

Jeffrey Gedmin is director of the Aspen Institute Berlin, an independent non-profit and non-partisan organization for international affairs and transatlantic relations.
August 15, 2005

Francis Hartnett

Francis Hartnett offers sightseeing walks and bike tours in Berlin. Ahead of Germany's election, the native Australian shares his views on the country's state and voices his annoyance with a pervading pessimism.
August 19, 2005

Cynthia Barcomi

Cynthia Barcomi is the owner of two American-style coffee shops and delis in Berlin. DW-WORLD talked to her about Germany's state of affairs, the upcoming elections and the country's future.
August 16, 2005

Susan Neiman

Susan Neiman is the director of Potsdam's Einstein Forum, which encourages the exchange of ideas in open workshops, lectures and seminars. DW-WORLD talked to her about Germany in light of the upcoming election.
August 19, 2005

German Election: A Chance for Transatlantic Ties?

The outcome of elections likely to take place in Germany on Sept. 18 is bound to shape future US-German relations. DW-WORLD talked to Jackson Janes, an expert on transatlantic ties.
August 16, 2005

Peter Murphy

Originally from Britain, Peter Murphy heads the Bonn International School for students aged 3 to 19.
August 12, 2005

The Foreign Media's Take on Germany

DW-WORLD has talked to foreign correspondents based in Germany about their impressions of the country and society ahead of the upcoming election.
September 1, 2005

Frank Mosher

American by birth and German by choice, Mosher has lived in Bavaria for 30-odd years. A long-time McDonald's employee, he bought his first two restaurants in Regensburg in 1987 and has since opened 10 more in the region.
August 12, 2005

Gayle Tufts

Billed as the "German Bette Midler" and "queen of Dinglish," her very own mixture of German and English, entertainer Gayle Tufts talked to DW-WORLD about problem child Germany and the upcoming general elections.
August 12, 2005