Book Recommendation: “Overloaded, Overwhelmed, Overrun” by Claassen & Guise-Rübe

The picture that Utz Claassen and Ralph Guise-Rübe paint of the Federal Republic of Germany in their book “Überlastet, Überfordert, Überrannt” (“Overloaded, Overwhelmed, Overrun”) is a sobering one. The subtitle – “Our Constitutional State on the Verge of Collapse” – sounds equally dramatic. Nevertheless, Prof. Radermacher recommends reading the book, as it addresses many issues that have long been close to his heart.

Among the topics discussed are the challenges of global population growth, the near impossibility of achieving the 1.5°C or 2°C climate targets, and Germany’s misguided focus in climate policy. The book also criticizes excessive restrictions on personal freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the lack of appreciation among citizens for the high standards that should apply when filling political offices. Another key point is the underfunding of the judicial system, contrasted with wasteful spending in other areas. A major focus of the book is on how digitalization and artificial intelligence are set to transform the nature of the legal system in the future.