Abstract
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) can serve as a powerful vehicle for cultural diplomacy. This chapter argues that Germany uses the contest to disavow a distinctly German form of national identity, to craft a post-national identity and to embrace ideas of European citizenship. This manifests itself in the idea of Germany as a ‘Good European’ both in the context of the EU and NATO and the ESC. Germany has used a discrete style of nation-branding through the history of its participation in the ESC, and seeks to be a ‘good sport’ in the competition when it loses. In return, the ESC offers ample opportunity for Europe to either affirm or deny Germany’s self-image as the Good European, through voting and placings.
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Lewis, A. (2019). Germany as Good European: National Atonement and Performing Europeanness in the Eurovision Song Contest. In: Kalman, J., Wellings, B., Jacotine, K. (eds) Eurovisions: Identity and the International Politics of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1956. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9427-0_2
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