Yesterday, I wrote about Angela Merkel's concerns regarding Elon Musk's involvement in Trump's administration. Now, Merkel’s newly released memoir, Freedom: Memoirs 1954–2021, has taken center stage, drawing widespread attention and sparking debates, much like the Chinese saying “一石激起千层浪” (yī shí jī qǐ qiān céng làng), meaning "a single stone can stir up a thousand waves." The book has caused ripples far beyond the literary world, provoking discussions about her legacy and the challenges of modern leadership.
The memoir chronicles Merkel’s remarkable journey from life in the surveillance-heavy East Germany to becoming Germany’s first female chancellor and one of the most influential leaders in recent history. It highlights her resilience, pragmatic decision-making, and steady leadership during crises like the eurozone debt turmoil and Trump’s erratic presidency.
Merkel’s cautious and deliberate approach, shaped by her early experiences in a repressive regime, helped her navigate the complexities of governance on a globalized stage. In the same cautious non-nonsense style, Merkel's memoir is a carefully fact-checked narrative that reveals her thought processes in times of crisis, rather than pages of small talks, dramas and vengeance.
Merkel reflects on pivotal moments in her career, such as her bold critique of Helmut Kohl's financial scandals and her delicate handling of relations with Russia under Vladimir Putin. While her tenure was marked by controversial decisions—such as welcoming over a million refugees in 2015 and phasing out nuclear energy—her actions often reflected a careful balance between moral imperatives and geopolitical realities. The memoir also defends her stance against NATO expansion, emphasizing the historical, realistic and strategic reasons behind her cautious approach. She knew back then that it’s a dangerous move to challenge Russia by NATO expansion.
Merkel's insights resonate deeply as Donald Trump prepares to reenter the White House. Her reflections on leaders drawn to authoritarian tendencies, contrasted with her unwavering commitment to democratic principles, offer a vital lens through which to view the current political landscape. As global challenges are mounting, Freedom serves as a timely reminder of the need for restraint, pragmatism, responsibility, and the enduring value of democratic ideals.