Rivalry between Germany and UK due to tabloids, says academic

Tabloid newspapers play a central role in creating artificial tensions between Britain and Germany, an academic has claimed.

London, Aug.22 : Tabloid newspapers play a central role in creating artificial tensions between Britain and Germany, an academic has claimed.

German-born Dr Christian Schweiger, who has written a book on co-operation between the two nations, suggests that any antagonism that continued between Britain and Germany following the World Wars has gradually disappeared during the last 60 years.

"The role of the tabloid media is the main aspect behind Anglo-German tensions. The majority of British people today, especially the younger generations, perceive Germany as a partner country, and no longer hold any particular resentment about Germany and its people," The Telegraph quoted the Durham University academic, as saying.

"This legacy has lingered on and becomes particularly bad during football competitions," headded

In his book, Britain, Germany and the Future of the European Union, Dr Schweiger writes: "Even the negative portrayal of Germany during 18 years of Conservative rule in Britain, or the occasional screaming tabloid reference to the war years could not seriously damage the increasing cultural and political closeness between Britain and Germany."

ANI