How Will Germany's Generous Response to Refugees Change the Country?

While other countries in Europe are building walls and setting up police lines, Germany is urging widespread acceptance of refugees. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Germans to brace for an influx of refugees — promising to accept a half-million new people every year for the next five years. It's a big change for a country not previously known for its generosity. Constanze Stelzenmüller is senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Federal Minster for Economic Affairs, Sigmar Gabriel

discuss Germany's overall strategy to deal with the rising influx of refugees

Photo: Bundesregierung/Bergmann