“My fellow citizens, we stand at the threshold of a new decade. The 2020s can be good years.“
A few hours before the strike of midnight, German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed her country with a speech embued with determination and hope.
In this speech, Angela Merkel exemplifies the strength that has characterised her leadership. She projects power without authoritarianism and solidarity without slogans.
In contrast with other leaders around this time of year, she stands out as a grown-up, evolved, rational version of a democratically elected western leader.
Less is More
The context of this speech is common the world over. The new year’s address is an opportunity for reflection and inspiration. Directly speaking to the citizenship (and the world) on the eve of a new year, in this case, a new decade, affords the leader an opportunity to elevate their message above the chaos of daily politics. In this speech we expect the leader to step back, then forward to signal hope and conviction.
Without naming names, let’s pause to consider what Angela Merkel did NOT do in her address:
- No self-aggrandisement
- No laundry list of personal achievements
- No dog-whistling to shameful supporting factions
- No cheap tricks (children, babies, adoring spouses)
- No hyperbolic national cheers
- No vainglorious allusions
- No false modesty
And just for fun though admittedly shallow:
- No purposely tousled hair
- No tragic comb-over
Just a subtle, heartfelt, high-minded address. How refreshing.
‘We’ and ‘Us’ – Inclusive Language
Signalling an inclusive message, Merkel uses ‘we’ and ‘us’ language throughout. From the outset, she puts herself with the audience. She has a positive frame, then quickly moves to a message of collective commitment. The German people will have a positive decade in the 2020s if they leverage their intrinsic strength.
My fellow citizens. This evening we will be greeting not just a new year, but also a new decade. I believe we have good reasons to feel confident that the 2020s, the decade that will begin in a few hours, can be good years – if we draw on our strengths, if we focus on the things that unite us, and if we remember how much we have achieved in recent decades.
A logical hop step
Merkel uses this platform to signal some of the key components of her strategy — education, employment, elder care… one is certain Germans are familiar with this refrain. She cleverly links these generally accepted precepts to the more contentious issue of sustainability.
Happiness = good education, jobs, good retirement
These things are only possible if we think in new ways
The new ways will work because they have to work (logical fallacy evident here)
Merkel performs a verbal twist & turn that we will see again before this short address is over.
Ethical conviction
Perhaps we can overlook the somewhat abbreviated logic, given the context and focus on the ethical conviction that is evident throughout this speech. Once she has made the link to global warming she speaks clearly and directly about her commitment.
Merkel references her Climate Action Programme and craftily signals that it is a policy of moderation – some will feel it goes too far and some will feel it does not go far enough. The unsaid takeaway? It must be just right.
She signals the link to a higher purpose – this policy is not driven by personal gain, after all, personal gain is not even possible in this case:
“As a 65-year old I won’t personally see the effects of climate change that will occur if politicians fail to act. Our children and grandchildren are the ones that will have to live with the consequences of what we do now – or fail to do.”
The Sandwich Technique
Angela Merkel uses this opportunity to thank certain groups of people for their contribution and services.
Interestingly, she begins by thanking the politicians, especially those at the local level. She moves on to volunteers, police officers and firefighters.
In another logical hop-step, she links their contribution to the very foundations of democracy, then she quickly spins around to the importance of European Unity and relations with China and Africa.
Then back again to local praise – this time for soldiers, police and international aid workers.
This is the second time in this speech we see Merkel making some significant statements when they don’t quite follow. Perhaps that is the point – gentle signalling of conviction without the invitation of counter-argument. After all, this is a feel-good message not a debate.
The Threshold of a New Decade
Overall, this is a restrained but buoyant message of hope and conviction from a leader who seems to embody the very characteristics she espouses.
Strong marks for ethos Chancellor Merkel.
My fellow citizens, we stand at the threshold of a new decade. The 2020s can be good years. Let’s surprise ourselves again with what we can do. Changes for the better are possible if we embrace the new with openness and resolve.
Here is the full version (with English subtitles):
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A Speech a Week Series
Words have the power to change the world. Speeches are used by leaders, revolutionaries and evangelists to persuade people to think differently, to feel something new and to behave in remarkable ways.
In this series we will examine one notable speech per week. We hope to cast a wide net – including politicians, business leaders, preachers, entertainers and philosophers. These articles will consider matters of content and style to uncover the secrets of oratorical success.
By examing the components of speechcraft we can improve our own powers of persuasion. We will come to appreciate the craft of eloquence – guarding against silver-tongued miscreants whilst gradually building our own expressive capability.
If you would like to contribute to the series by suggesting a speech, please send us a message via the mojologic website.
