The German Melting Pot: Multiculturality in Historical Perspective

From medieval times until today Germany has been a cocktail of very different peoples and cultural groups. The components of the 'cocktail' have changed, but not Germany's character as such. The many cultural divides have often led to conflict, once even to genocide, but surprisingly often cooperation, or at least peaceful coexistence, has been the characteristic feature. Against the background of a graphic historical survey the author analyzes the factors which have made cooperation possible, or conversely, have produced conflicts.

WOLFGANG ZANK is an Assistant Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark. He studied history, sociology and economics at Bochum University 1973-79, and became a research fellow there. From 1984-91 he had various appointments at Danish universities and was a Senior Researcher at Aalborg University prior to becoming an Assistant Professor.