Associate Professor in Political Science
Horst Mewes grew up in Germany after the second world war. In 1955, at age 15, he immigrated to the United States with his parents.
鈥淎fter the war, Germany was heavily destroyed, so it was rebuilding,鈥� Mewes said. 鈥淲hen we came to the U.S., it was a big difference. My parents were probably lower-middle class in Germany, but when they got here they got good jobs.鈥�
Mewes was made aware of聽twentieth century German history and the importance of democracy after coming to the United States. He had teachers in both high school and college who got him interested in political science, and he decided in college to pursue a degree in the field.
鈥淚 got more and more of an impression of how important politics is,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f democracy is destroyed, politics can create enormous damage. The defense of democracy has always been my main concern because of my own experience.鈥�
He went back to Germany as an undergraduate and graduate student and later earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. In writing his dissertation, he met Bill Safran, a professor at CU, who suggested he apply to an o
pening at CU.
鈥淥nce I learned about Colorado and Boulder, I wanted to stay, and I never left,鈥� Mewes said. He has been at Boulder for more than 40 years now and currently teaches courses on democracy in the EU and political philosophy.
鈥淚 have a lot of memories, since I鈥檝e been here for a long time. I want to get the students interested in politics because I think it鈥檚 so important,鈥� he said. 鈥淒emocracy always has to be protected and fought for, it doesn鈥檛 live by itself.鈥�
Mewes has traveled back and forth between Germany and the United States frequently throughout his life, and has been very impressed to see Germany become such a stable democracy. 鈥淚鈥檓 very much supportive of what is called the Atlantic Community between Europe and the U.S.,鈥� he said. 鈥淕ermany plays a very important role in that, so I have kept up my interest鈥攂ut my main interest now is Europe as a whole, not just Germany.鈥� He has also been teaching in Portugal and is excited to get to know another nation.
The professor鈥檚 many accomplishments include several articles he鈥檚 written in Germany and a book in German about American politics and American constitutional law. He continues to write on European philosophies and democracy in the European Union.
Mewes uses his experience to fuel his passion. 鈥淚 could have retired a long time ago,鈥� he said, but he continues to teach because he recognizes the importance of encouraging students to get involved in politics.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I really enjoy Boulder, because I think the department has a very important role to play,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I want to contribute to that.鈥�