Professor Andrei Markovits made an unusual trip to Chicago on March 14, 2012, to receive the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit, the highest honor bestowed on any civilian by the Federal Republic of Germany. On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Consul General Onno Hückmann honored Markovits with the prize at the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Chicago.

    “The President acknowledges the outstanding contribution you, Professor Markovits, have made in the study of the humanities and the social sciences, in promoting a modern understanding of Germany and your engagement with the German-American and German-Jewish friendships,” said Mr. Hückmann.

The Order of Merit, instituted in 1951 by Federal President Theodor Heuss, is the only honor that may be awarded in all fields of endeavor and is the highest tribute to individuals for services to the nation. The award recognizes achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for all kinds of outstanding services to the nation in the field of social, charitable or philanthropic work.

Andrei Markovits is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and the Karl W. Deutsch Collegiate Professor of Comparative Politics and German Studies. He holds appointments in Political Science, Germanic Languages and Literatures, and Sociology. He regularly teaches Political Science 140: Introduction to Comparative Politics, the year-long Senior Honors Seminar, and other courses in Political Science.

The University Record published an article about this extraordinary honor. Click here for details about the award ceremony and Markovits’ work.