I’m Valerie, author of The Green Left Hand blog. I’m currently based in Heidelberg, Germany, where I work in adult education, translation and editing. Outside work my main interests are research and writing. Parallel to work, I completed my PhD ‘Understanding the performance of the Left Party (Die Linke) in western Germany: a comparative analysis of Cartel and Social Cleavage theories as explanatory frameworks’. As you might gather from that catchy title, I’m fascinated by German politics and the Left Party in particular. Undeterred by the long and often trying part-time PhD experience, I continue to delve deeper into some of my research interests, such as Left Party campaign strategy and policy, social class and democratic representation.
Home is in north London. Personal interests include left-wing, green and local politics (a special shout out to Barnet Green Party), animal rights, veganism, swimming and experiencing the joy of live music. I’m also an avid reader (from Murakami and Yehoshua to Le Carré and Kutscher). As for political issues close to my heart — these haven’t really changed. One of the first demos I took part in as a teenager was with CND at the Aldermaston nuclear weapons base. Over thirty years later, anti-nuclear campaigning is one activity I really look forward to giving up. Sadly, that’s not possible yet. I’m also resolutely pro choice. And it looks like there are plenty of battles ahead on that issue too.
contact
If you’d like to get in touch about something posted on the blog or about my research, please email me at thegreenlefthand@icloud.com. I’m also on Twitter: @GreenLeftHand1.
the green left hand 