“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing”
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Limits of Stability
Reflecting on the past, contemplating the present, and pondering the future are not just the prerogatives of Germans themselves but also of the foreigners (Ausländer) who live in this country. It’s tempting to delve into philosophical musings about the “quality” of Ausländer and their various categories, but let’s draw some boundaries: we are talking about those who see themselves as part of this society, who care about the fate of the country where they live and work, pay taxes, and, in some cases, have built families with Germans. These are people who are already citizens or intend to become so. People for whom the German language has almost become native, and for whom the political and economic agendas of their home countries have taken a backseat. Their lives are now shaped by Germany’s own political and economic realities.
What, then, has Germany been to us? What sparked our interest in Germany, the country that graciously offered us the opportunity to live and work here, to contribute to its development? The answers are well-known: precision, discipline, and a deep-rooted commitment to structure. From engineering marvels to meticulously crafted bureaucracy, Germany’s national identity is inseparable from its belief that order forms the foundation of progress. This Ordnung was, indeed, what drew us here.
But order, while admirable, can become counterproductive when pursued as an end in itself. I believe many Germans would agree: when the quest for order overrides everything else, it risks stifling innovation and growth. And that is precisely what seems to be happening in Germany today. Its reliance on order and regulation is now suffocating its ability to innovate and thrive.
I feel this problem acutely. Having worked as a doctor in Germany for more than a decade, I’ve had plenty of time to experience the full spectrum of this nation’s character. Let me reiterate, not out of flattery but to underscore something vital: Germany’s systems are reliable and stable, and they deserve to be preserved. But this does not mean the cracks beneath their polished surfaces should be ignored.
Over the past 10–15 years, Germany has changed. Once an industrial powerhouse, it has increasingly become a country of emigration. Statistics reveal an alarming rise in the number of skilled workers and young professionals leaving Germany. Major companies are shutting down factories, relocating headquarters, and moving operations abroad. These trends are not coincidental; they are symptoms of a deep-seated crisis. I am likely stating nothing new to Germans themselves.
Excessive regulation paralyzes Germany’s ability to adapt to modern challenges. A cautious approach, coupled with a tendency to complicate rather than simplify, has reached absurd levels. The inclination toward moral self-flagellation has also gone too far. If one were to depict this in a brutally exaggerated form, Rammstein captured it in Deutschland. Expanding the boundaries of this self-flagellation further, one might turn to Ulrich Seidl’s Paradise: Faith for a stark and unflinching portrayal.
Seeing the log in one’s own eye
Before judging the country you live in, you should first look at yourself and your country of origin. Before expecting anything from the host nation, ask yourself: would the same be acceptable where you came from? I did this comparison. Could the people of Azerbaijan, for instance, tolerate even a fraction of the migration chaos happening in Germany? The answer is unequivocal—no. For a better understanding of Germans, one could draw comparisons to Hungary or Poland, which share similar contemporary realities.
Do Germans have the right to express dissatisfaction? Or, to put it another way—how many more generations of Germans must apologize for Hitler while witnessing the decline of their own nation? The migration crisis, ongoing for over two decades, has stretched state institutions to their limits: education, healthcare, the economy, and public administration are all struggling under the strain. Discontent among Germans is growing as the inefficiency of systems worsens and their quality declines.
A country once renowned for its punctual trains, world-class industry, and equitable economic structure now suffers from delays, systemic inefficiencies, and widespread dissatisfaction. Switzerland, for example, has taken drastic measures by refusing to integrate German trains into its network due to their chronic delays. Meanwhile, Germany’s tax system penalizes hard work while offering generous social benefits to those who have contributed nothing to the nation’s growth or prosperity.
On self-flagellation, once again
The entrenched sense of guilt developed after World War II and the profound desire to atone for the past are, of course, noble in intent. The war even touched a small nation like Azerbaijan, which suffered over 300,000 casualties. Where is Azerbaijan, and where is Germany? Why did Azerbaijanis have to die in European countries, taking Berlin? This is understandable, but what does it have to do with today’s Germans?
Who benefits from this guilt, which has morphed into an obsessive and sometimes blatantly artificial pursuit of moral purity, expressed through an obsession with control and regulation? Unresolved emotions and traumas tend to resurface, often in distorted forms. Germany’s unresolved past has led to an almost pathological fear of risk, innovation, and anything that challenges the established order.
In my view, Germany’s bureaucratic rigidity has led to stagnation, compounded by the migration crisis. Innovation, by its very nature, thrives on risk and change—qualities actively suppressed by Germany’s bureaucratic system. Startups face endless regulatory hurdles, while the implementation of new technologies is slowed by interminable political debates. This is paralysis. A typical stagnation, where too much is planned and too little is executed. A culture has emerged where the fear of failure outweighs the drive for success.
Schuldgefühl —”Sense of guilt”—requires reevaluation. Balancing historical reflection with a renewed sense of self-respect will, sooner or later, become a necessity.
Ordinary Trotskyism?
The same rigidity is evident in the political sphere, which also deserves attention. Germany’s battle with its far-right past has led to the demonization of any ideology associated with conservatism. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, despite addressing pressing societal issues and reflecting voters’ concerns, is treated as a pariah. Calls for a complete ban on the AfD are growing louder, exposing a paradox within German democracy: the fear of authoritarianism has fostered authoritarian tendencies.
I live in German society, hear what Germans say, and wonder why their voices find no reflection in traditional German media, which is fully aligned with a left-radical agenda. In essence, I’ve answered my own question. Contemporary Germany is beginning to show signs of ideological rigidity.
The erasure of individuality, the erosion of national identity, the rejection of traditional values, and the dismantling of social boundaries—these align well with the goals of Trotskyism. But let me caution you: the idea of endless revolution as a tool for erasing the old and replacing it with something new does not always lead to better outcomes.
It’s elementary
A nation incapable of loving itself cannot inspire, lead, or create anything truly new. Restoring national pride is not synonymous with glorifying the past. There’s no need to list the Germans whose contributions have shaped human civilization and whom Germany rightfully should and must be proud of.
The country must restore balance in its democratic discourse. The demonization of right-wing ideas stifles healthy debates and deepens societal divisions. Ignoring inconvenient truths about its political landscape is shortsighted.
In the economic and social spheres, it’s time to loosen the suffocating grip of overregulation. Innovation demands risk, flexibility, and experimentation. It’s time to overcome the fear of failure and reclaim Germany’s status as a leader in global industry and technology.
This is the challenge for Germany: to rediscover self-respect, to build a future without being trapped in the past, and to inspire the world not only with its history but also with its new achievements. This path is not easy, but it is challenges like these that shape great nations.
Dr. Orkhan Zamanli is a senior neurologist currently working at Medizin Campus Bodensee in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
