The Boxer Uprising in German newspapers

What is it about?

This essay examines the coverage of the Boxer Uprising in the German mainstream press in 1900 as a shaper and reflection of public opinion. Through comparative analyses of contrasting strategies of reporting in three major daily papers with different readerships, the "Kölnische Zeitung" , the "Frankfurter Zeitung" and the "Berliner Morgenpost", it shows how certain events emerge as ‘key experiences’, resulting in a surprisingly convergent, patriotic narrative for the literate German public.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The essay reveals a tendency in the relevant journalism to celebrate Germany’s rise to enhanced status as a colonial power by casting the suppression of the Boxer Uprising as a second foundation myth, elevating the nation to the eminence of a "Weltmacht".