Conceptualisations of German national identity during the COVID-19 pandemic

In this chapter, an analysis is undertaken of public discourse in relation to the COVID19 pandemic in Germany, with a view to identifying attitudes and approaches that can be seen as indicative of conceptualisations of German national identity. The following salient themes emerged from the analysis: (1) a strong commitment to the federal system of government, with significant and continuous efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the system; (2) a strong commitment to the rule of law in managing the federal system and in relation to public responses to the crisis; (3) a firm reliance on social cohesion and comprehensive state interventions, encapsulated in the word 'solidarity'; (4) a strong commitment to the European Union as the higher-level framework for the implementation of these principles; (5) a rational approach to the crisis and a commitment to minimising the impact of irrational reactions within society. In addition, despite Germany's relative success in managing the crisis, there was a marked absence of strong expressions of national pride in this achievement.