New Books in European Politics Andrew I. Port, "Germany" (Polity, 2025)
Mar 22, 2026
Andrew I. Port, professor of German history and author of Germany, explores postwar transformation from ruined, divided states to a unified powerhouse. He traces parallel East/West trajectories, the imposed division, 1990s resentments, and contemporary debates about rearmament and the far right. Short, readable history that highlights disunity, reckoning with Nazism, and surprising commonalities.
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How To Write For General Readers
- When writing for non-academic audiences, assume no prior knowledge and distill decades of scholarship into clear, lecture-style prose.
- Port recommends adopting the mindset he uses for undergraduates who often skip readings and need accessible, self-contained explanations.
Buying Wine Before The Currency Union
- Port recalled buying Bulgarian Grey Monk wine by train ahead of the 1990 currency union because he knew East stores would soon be restocked.
- He used the July 1, 1990 Deutschmark introduction in East Germany as an example of how sudden economic change filled previously empty shops.
Meeting Joschka Fischer At An ATM
- Andrew I. Port unexpectedly bumped into former Green politician Joschka Fischer at an airport ATM after years of unreturned interview requests.
- He attempted to hand a book to Fischer, who briefly acknowledged him with a raised hand but otherwise remained noncommunicative.
