Abstract:
When the German Empire sought to become a world power following the founding of the nation-state in 1871, China was simultaneously seen as a target of imperial ambitions and as a threat. The slogan of a “Yellow Peril” was gaining traction. This lecture outlines the origins and function of this concept and describes its continuities up to the present day.

Biography:
Jürgen Zimmerer is Professor of Global History at the University of Hamburg. His research focuses on German colonial history, memory politics and mass violence. From 2015 to 2025 he served as director of the research centre “Hamburg’s (post-)colonial legacy”.