The news that Volkswagen would lay off 100,000 employees has had a significant psychological impact on Germany. Mainstream analysis attributes this to the fact that Chinese cars, especially electric vehicles, are inexpensive and of high quality, causing traditional automakers like Volkswagen to lose their global competitiveness.
One of the most hotly debated topics in German public discourse recently is: with the rise of Chinese competitors across industries, will Germany’s „Wohlstand“ (wealth) cease to exist? [In German public discourse, „der deutsche Wohlstand“ often refers not only to national wealth, but also to a lifestyle built on industrial competitiveness, high wages, stable employment, and comprehensive social welfare and public services.]
How should we view this German narrative? On August 29th in Hanover, renowned historian Professor Qin Hui will analyze and address this issue from the perspective of globalization.
As a prominent contemporary Chinese scholar and thinker, Professor Qin, with his profound historical vision and keen social insight, offers many insightful perspectives and delves into the important issues facing the world and China today.
Speaker
Qin Hui is a renowned historian and one of the most influential thinkers in contemporary China. He was formerly a professor and doctoral supervisor in the Department of History at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, and a visiting professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Qin has long been dedicated to the study of agricultural history, economic history, intellectual history, and comparative modernization, proposing a series of profoundly insightful academic viewpoints such as „low welfare and low freedom“ and „the uniqueness of the Chinese model.“ His works, including *Saving Mr. Democracy*, *After Nora’s Departure: A Century of Reflection on Chinese Feminism*, *The Mighty Dragon Unleashed: The „Anti-Localism“ Movement Before China’s Reforms*, *Lectures on Qin and Han History*, and *Leaving the Imperial System*, provide highly insightful research perspectives for understanding contemporary China and the changes brought about by globalization.
Event Information:
Date: August 29, 2026, Saturday;
Time: 15:00 – 17:00;
Location: Kino im Künstlerhaus, Sophienstraße 2, 30159 Hannover;
Language: Chinese
Entry is free. Please scan the QR code below to register at Eventbrite.
Important Notes:
- Adults and children aged 12 and above are welcome to register.
- If you are unable to attend after registration, please cancel your registration promptly to allow others to participate.
- Successfully registered participants are requested to arrive no later than 5 minutes before the lecture begins.
- Recording is prohibited during the event. Thank you for your understanding.
- Photos will be taken during the event and will be used internally by the Blue Book House Foundation. Please inform us in advance if you have any objections.