German Philanthropy in Transatlantic Perspective

This volumeexamines philanthropic practices against the backdrop of the continuities, disruptions andchanges in twentieth century German socio-political relations. It presents a differentiated understanding of therelationship between philanthropy and civil society that traces this connection from Germany'sfirst democracy, the Weimar Republic, through the Nazi dictatorship and Soviet-style rule inCommunist East Germany to the stable democracy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Whileconcentrating on Germany, this volume places German philanthropy in a triangularrelationship with the United States and the developing world, primarily through Africa. In particular, thecontributions to the book demonstrate that despite many transatlantic exchanges between German andAmerican philanthropic organizations, these relationships should not be reduced to bilateral exchanges but rather seen in the context of a globalizing world. More generally, this transnational study is a reminder that philanthropic activities need to be placedinto their specific historical contexts. Such an analytical framework allows for more dynamic understanding of the meaning of philanthropy in society, illustrating both enduring and changing practices.