Introduction: writing unbound German histories -- 1. Worldly provincials -- 2. Cultural nation -- 3. Emigrant nation -- 4. Binding Germany history -- 5. Recasting the emigrant nation -- 6. Vectors of indoctrination -- 7. Persistent postwar interconnections -- Epilog.
Summary:
"A polycentric German history that pointedly decenters the nation-state. It includes communities of Germans far beyond its borders, and it emphasizes that for generations many who considered themselves to be German also felt themselves to be other things. Taking up a decidedly counter-hegemonic position, Glenn calls for a greater integration of mobilities, migration flows, and pluralities of belonging into our narratives of Germans' histories. He also argues for greater attention to the transcultural spaces many Germans helped to fashion and the various networks that tied them together."-- Author's web page. What is German history? Where did it take place? And what role did Germans living outside of Central Europe play in in? This polycentric history offers a new vision: It uses communities of Germans, from Austria to Chile to Russia, to rethink our narratives of modern German history. Focusing on the great plurality of Germans, and their interconnections around the world, it pointedly de-centers the nation-state while arguing that resisting its dominance in our historical narratives has high intellectual and political stakes. For within an unbound German history there are characteristics, clues, models, and precedents that can do much to undermine the return of violent, exclusionary nationalism. To that end, this book calls for a greater integration of mobilities, migration flows, different ways of belonging, and transcultural places into our narratives of Germans' histories. Ultimately, it reveals how embracing a range of narratives can help us to better understand people's actions, intentions, and motivations in particular historical moments--back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.