The Latest at Goethe

The relationship between Germany and Spain is ambivalent: Scepticism in Spain towards the supposed German superpower is balanced out by respect for the success of the EU partner. But, leaving the Champions League was painfully symbolic. By Marc Borneis

“Alemania quiere ser España” (“Germany wants to be Spain”) was the partly ironic, partly proud title of an article in the Spanish newspaper El País on 21 April. The subject was the upcoming Champions League semi-finals, where Real Madrid would meet up against Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona against Bayern München. It was about the international example of Spanish football, one of the great athletic, media and success stories of recent years. A few days later even this self-image was given a painful fissure: the Madrid and Barcelona teams suffered shattering defeats and the German teams will battle one another at the final match of the Champions League on 25 May.

In different times, before the crisis now shaking Europe and threatening to divide it into a successful “north” and a marginalized “south,” this would have simply been perceived as a sporting event. At the moment, however, much is being read between the lines. Topics such as football are more politicized than before. As a German-Catalan working in Barcelona as director of the language department of the Goethe-Institut, I am following these developments very closely. We must react to them calmly and unperturbedly, but with more sensitivity. For no matter if it’s small talk with friends or negotiations with institutions and companies interested in German courses for their employees: Germany is presently the talk of the town, both in a positive and negative sense.

Let’s begin with the negative: I have finally given up trying to count the number of articles and commentaries in Spanish media that make Germany, that is to say “Berlin,” in other words “Angela Merkel,” responsible for the present course of the euro crisis. Regardless whether it’s the austerity policy of the European Union or the course taken by the northern EU states towards the south, there is almost always a direct reference to the country that is growing nolens volens to a superpower in Europe in the course of the crisis.

Even Germany has its tax evaders – thank goodness!

Although the self-critical element of the public in Spain is aware that countless causes for the misery lie in internal faults – bringing to mind words like corruption, real estate bubble, etcetera – general dissatisfaction is limited not only to the crisis management of the government of Mariano Rajoy, but is increasingly aimed against “the politicians” in general, as opinion polls and countless demonstrations and social mobilizations show. At the same time, the tone of moral superiority and self-righteousness that can be heard in the discourse of many politicians, business people and commentators from northern Europe is not welcome. So, when a tax evasion scandal like that concerning Bayern München’s president Uli Hoeness shows that not everything is done correctly even in Germany, some find this almost a relief...

Nonetheless, the Spanish media repeatedly point at Germany when citing positive or path-breaking examples of reforms. These include the German reduced working hours model to fight unemployment, the dual vocational training system as a model of non-university qualification of young people, federalism as an alternative to the possible secession of regions such as Catalonia, or the willingness of German politicians to step down when cases of forged academic titles or fiddling with chummy entrepreneurs come to light. Even the highly disputed Hartz-IV reforms that were highly disputed ten years ago in Germany are usually portrayed in the Spanish media as a bitter, but necessary step that have helped the country to survive the current crisis relatively unscathed.

Germany is also seen positively in other areas. For example, for many young people Berlin is one of the coolest, most liberal cities in Europe where – except for the weather – it’s a great place to live, also thanks to the affordable rents compared to Spain. Unemployment in Spain has reached 27 percent, among young people even 57 percent. This lack of prospects drives many to seek work abroad. The run on German courses that we have experienced at the Goethe-Instituts in Spain for more than two years is not only due to our good work, but also has a great deal to do with this situation. Unlike many cultural institutions here, we have not fired anyone recently, but have been able to hire a number of new colleagues. While “To Let” signs are hanging in countless shops in Barcelona, we need to rent additional rooms outside the institute and still cannot satisfy the demand.

Come to Germany, Pepe!

We are constantly developing new modules for job application trainings, or German for specific vocational groups – from health technicians to lorry drivers. We also set up a division called “Working in Germany” that acts with educational institutions, employment agencies and companies in Spain and Germany and at the European level. Its activities are taking up a pilot function internationally.

We are not only in demand as providers of language courses, but also as cultural mediators. For a large part of the Spanish population, for decades Germany has been synonymous with economic progress and prosperity. “Vente a Alemania, Pepe” – “Come to Germany, Pepe” was a classic film in the 1960s in which the protagonist moved to Germany as a guest worker. At present, many are feeling an odd déjà-vu. At the same time, the Spanish media repeatedly point out that the present situation can only be compared to those days in a limited way. Today, Germany is seeking primarily highly skilled workers.

The present wave of emigration from Spain to Germany need not lead to a brain drain, however. Rather, it has the potential of being fruitful and enriching for both sides. The key word here is mobility. Skilled workers need to be given the opportunity to gain international work experience that enhances their personal horizons and can also benefit Spanish society in the long run. Both those who return to Spain once the crisis is hopefully soon over and those who remain in Germany will be living links between the two cultures. And there can never be enough people who feel at home in a number of countries. We therefore, coming back to football, are looking forward to the move by the former “Barça” coach Pep Guardiola to Bayern München and are crossing our fingers for him.