GHIL Lecture

Christine Krüger

Analysing Reconciliation and Irreconcilability from a Historical Perspective

The Example of Germany and Britain

25 April 2025

(0:50 h)

GHIL Lecture

Christine Krüger

Analysing Reconciliation and Irreconcilability from a Historical Perspective
The Example of Germany and Britain

Whether in a global political context or within society, irreconcilability seems to be the hallmark of our present times. This explains the growing interest in reconciliation processes. Since the 1990s, ‘reconciliation’ has been an established field of research in political science. Historians, however, have explored this field only to a limited extent, although the topic should be an obvious one for them, as the call for reconciliation always relates to the past. Political science analyses of reconciliation or irreconcilability usually concentrate on political explanations. They pay little attention to social or economic and even less to cultural factors. This is where historical research can contribute to a better understanding. The aim of the lecture is to shed light on the potential of historical reconciliation research, with a particular focus on the entangled history of Germany and Great Britain.

Christine Krüger is Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Bonn. She completed her doctorate in 2005 (University of Tübingen) and habilitation in 2015 (University of Oldenburg). She has been a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford, Sciences Po (Paris), the Pontífica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile), and the Colegio de México (Mexico City). One of her main areas of specialization is historical peace and conflict research.

Don't miss the accompanying interview: Host Kim Koenig and GHIL research fellow Pascale Siegrist talk to Christine Krüger about the potential of historical reconciliation research.