Thomas Zimmer, assistant professor of history at the University of Freiburg and incoming BMW Center visiting professor, participated in a recent virtual BMW Center event on pandemics. He explored the ways in which large-scale epidemics have influenced the political, social, and cultural history of the 20th and early 21st centuries, from the infamous "Spanish flu" during the late 1910s to the present day coronavirus pandemic.

This event was recorded on Zoom on April 3rd, 2020.

The Europe Desk is a podcast from the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It brings together leading experts working on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and transatlantic relations today.

Music by Sam Kyzivat and Breakmaster Cylinder

Production by Emily Traynor Mayrand and Alistair Somerville

Design by Sarah Diebboll

Communications by Laura Rodriguez and Charlie Fritz

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Bonus: The Age of Pandemics and the Politics of Global Health