Politics undergraduates take part in twelfth annual Berlin trip
By: Eleanor Griggs
Last updated: Monday, 23 April 2018
A group of undergraduate students from the Department of Politics have taken part in Professor Dan Hough’s annual trip to Berlin.
The trip, which is now in its twelfth year, provides second year students taking the Politics of Governance: Germany module with an opportunity to visit the country as part of their studies.
This year, 21 students travelled to the German capital, where they discussed some of the challenges Germany faces with MPs from the Green Party, the Social Democrats, the Left Party and the Free Democrats, as well as a representative from the newly formed Alliance for Germany.
The group grilled MPs on a range of matters. German responses to the Eurocrisis were put under the analytical microscope, as were attitudes and behaviour towards the large number of refugees that have recently arrived in the Federal Republic.
Unsurprisingly, Brexit – and German attitudes to it – also reared its head on a number of occasions, as did foreign policy issues in Syria.
As well as meetings with representatives from the main parties, the group of students also spent time with Nick Leake from the British Embassy in Berlin.
The nature of the post-Brexit Anglo-German relationship was discussed, as was the role of the Embassy in trying to smooth discussions in other policy areas.
Finally, the students also spent time discussing the role of political foundations in Germany with Cornelia Hildebrandt from the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation.
There was also time for a little recreation: the delights of the German kebab scene were enjoyed by many of the students, and the fantastic weather encouraged the group to get out and enjoy Berlin’s social scene.
Speaking after the group had arrived back on British soil, Professor Hough said: “All in all, the trip was an overwhelming success – bring on 2019!”