German Colonialism and its first Genocide

As Europe rethinks its foreign policy amidst shifting global political relations, one question remains central: Can cooperation succeed without confronting colonial history?

This panel takes Germany’s first genocide of the 20th century in Namibia as a starting point to explore how colonial legacies continue to shape today’s global crises, from geopolitics and inequality to diplomacy and democracy. What does the “past in the present” mean for justice claims and Europe’s future role in the world?

With experts Henning Melber, Katharina Hacker, and Julia Manek, moderated by Heloise Weber, the discussion will connect postcolonial perspectives with today’s political challenges, including the rise of authoritarian populism as well as transnational efforts aimed at building relations of solidarity and ‘just repair’

Join the conversation and be part of a critical debate on history, responsibility, and the future of international cooperation.

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Panelists

Henning Melber
German-Namibian political scientist and African studies scholar

Henning Melber is a resident Associate at the Nordic Africa institute in Uppsala, Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein and Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Commonwealth Studies/University of London.
Julia Manek
Medico International

Julia Manek works in the political communication department of medico international, focusing on the violence of the neoliberal, colonial, and patriarchal systems. In the pursuit of justice regarding German colonial genocide, fostering solidarity and cooperation with the descendants of the Nama, Ovaherero, San, and Damara survivors is indispensable for for the doctor of psychology and human geographer.
Katharina B. Hacker
International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC)

Katharina B. Hacker is a doctoral candidate and scholarship holder at the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC). In her doctoral project, she is working on the changes in cultural and (trans-)collective memory structures of the Ovaherero and Nama genocide in light of the official recognition by the Federal Republic of Germany in 2021. Her research focuses on collective memory, colonial genocide, social relations, and groups as well as radicalisation processes from a sociological, cultural, and collective studies perspective. She completed her Bachelor’s in Political Science and German Studies and her Master’s in Criminology and Violence Research at the University of Regensburg. She is also a member of the editorial team of the Open Access Magazine on_culture.

Moderation

Heloise Weber
The University of Queensland

Heloise Weber is Associate Professor at the School of International Relations and Political Science, The University of Queensland. She is also a 2026 Fellow with the Academy of International Affairs, Bonn.”

Location: Academy of International Affairs NRW, Rheinallee 24, 53173 Bonn

Participation:

Please register here: Link

Event language: English

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