American Academy Lecture

The Enigma of Angela Merkel

In this talk, author and journalist Kati Marton discusses her latest work-in-progress: a biography of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Marton is fascinated with many aspects of Merkel’s life: What role did her East German foundation play in her political ascent? How does gender figure in her leadership? How does Merkel see herself in relation to world leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, and Donald Trump? And why is she more popular in the United States than in her own country? Marton, the author of several bestselling books, and herself a product of Eastern Europe, will also describe why she feels she is well qualified to shed light on the enigma of Angela Merkel.