Over recent decades much has been written on the complexities of Imperial Germany. More is known today about the politics, society, economy and culture of the German Empire than ever before. However, the sheer volume of new scholarship makes it increasingly challenging to synthesize all the available information.

This book provides an up-to-date and accessible guide to the diversity of current thinking about the German Empire, from unification in 1871 to collapse by the end of the First World War. It offers a historiographical overview, spanning more than a century of research and writing on the subject. Matthew Jefferies guides readers through the main schools of thought and approaches, and provides pointers for future developments in the field. The controversial historical reputations of Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II are explored, as are varying perspectives on gender, cultural history, foreign relations, colonialism, and war.

Written in clear and concise language, Contesting The German Empire reflects the wide range of opinions on Imperial Germany held by historians today.