Angela Merkel’s time in office marked the depoliticisation of Germany. Under her leadership, politics became less about upholding values and more about managing interests. Today, policymakers and business leaders in countries closely tied to Germany’s economy view its position with dread, fearing they too could be dragged into the abyss alongside Europe’s largest economy.

The crises facing Germany today – the disastrous energy transition, the dependence on Russian resources, the flawed migration policies, the erosion of democracy, the restrictions on civil liberties, the unsustainable use of natural resources, and the collapse of healthcare, public safety, and infrastructure – all have roots in Merkel’s extended tenure as chancellor. Her legacy is a country in decline, riven with deep divisions.

Since her departure from politics, Merkel’s missteps have been recast as triumphs through a concerted propaganda effort. Klaus-Rüdiger Mai, in his critical biography of the former chancellor, challenges these myths with facts, asking a vital question: why did Angela Merkel govern as she did? His analysis is neither an attempt to demonise her nor a nod to conspiracy theories, but rather a sober and incisive historical examination.

At the heart of Mai’s exploration is Merkel’s defining passion: her love of power. Understanding and demystifying this, he argues, is key to moving forward. Only by confronting and overcoming the "inner Merkel" can Germany hope to recover, regain its strength, and build a future worthy of its potential.

Klaus-Rüdiger Mai, PhD, born in 1963 in Staßfurt, is a Germanist, historian, and philosopher. His expertise lies in the artistic, philosophical, and economic cultures of Europe, both past and present, as well as the history and contemporary realities of East Germany and Eastern Europe. He is a successful author of novels and non-fiction, an essayist, and a publicist, and he lives with his family near Berlin.