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Daria Wiktoria Dylla: Warsaw’s strong support for a hegemonial position of Germany in Europe might at first be seen as the least expected behavior of a Polish government. However, a closer look at Poland’s the geopolitically difficult situation reveals that it should above all try to prevent a further disintegration of the EU. This requires accepting a dominant position of Berlin.
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Franco Pedroni: Germany, like its European partners, is supposed to stand for human rights, freedom, and dignity. But in its trade relationships with a Chinese system that exploits its people and uses them to profit on the world market, it caves to economic pressures and betrays its values.
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Memo 34: Europe’s defense sector needs reform. To cut costs and improve capabilities, states should consolidate national priorities to enhance political cooperation, streamline their administrative structures, further integrate their militaries and create an open defense market across the EU.
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Robert Helbig: Europe should integrate its national defense capabilities not only in training and deploying troops, but also in research, development and procurement. States must open their national defense markets to increase competition, lower equipment prices and make spending more efficient.
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Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: The idea of intra-alliance military specialization in Europe is attractive in theory, but problematic in practice. Instead, officials should pursue a two-tiered pan-European defense force, which would facilitate deployment beyond Europe and improve effeciency using economies of scale.
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Christian Mölling: Europe’s defense policy has reached a pivotal moment: states can either initiate comprehensive defense sector reform through the EU, or compromise their security long-term. Europe must link its national military capabilities to improve efficiency and stave off collective security decline.
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Arne Schoenbohm: The Internet has become a fifth ‘military battleground’ and poses a grave threat to governments and industries across the world. Some states have spent billions on cyber defense. Now others, notably Germany, must also take bold action to limit the damage of the growing cyber threat.
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Editorial Team: “Armadebton” and “Debtocalypse” are terms Jon Stewart has used to describe the US debt crisis. European commentators have not yet coined a name for their continent’s debt troubles as eurozone pessimism reaches new depths. Share your thoughts on the on-going sovereign debt crisis.
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Matthew Hulbert & Christian Brutsch: Berlin’s decision to appease voters and phase out nuclear power looks more problematic as energy giants from Germany and Russia merge. The EU is now even more dependent on Russian energy than before, just as Russia turns to Asian markets. As a result, the EU could be left in the cold.
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Birgit Hütten: Most Germans support replacing nuclear energy with renewables. But renewable energy is expensive, and many who live near production facilities oppose it. Now, Germany must reconcile the social desirability of green energy with individual citizens’ opposition to its enormous costs.
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Hans F. Bellstedt: Joschka Fischer’s call for “greater European political unification” will not help solve the EU’s ongoing debt crisis. The only way to regain the public’s trust and restore financial markets is strict fiscal austerity as a prerequisite for future sustainable growth.
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Editorial Team: Atlantic-community.org recently passed two milestones, breaking the 1000-‘like’ barrier on Facebook just days after tallying 1000 followers on Twitter.
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R. Andreas Kraemer: Economics, risk assessments and public pressure force many countries to halt nuclear power and shift to green energy. Without a “civilian” use of nuclear technology, a repeal of the Euratom Treaty, and reform of the IAEA and the NPT can be envisioned.
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Soeren Keil: It seems as if Merkel is more interested in what is good for Germany in the short-term than what is good for the EU and consequently Germany in the long-term.
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Editorial Team: The media in the United States and Germany has been awash with speculation over the future of transatlantic relations as Obama tries to charm Europe’s strongest leader with a Medal of Freedom. Can Obama’s charm offensive convince Germany to show more global leadership?
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Dustin Dehez: When President Barack Obama addressed the nation to explain what he hoped the United States would achieve in Libya, he noted: “Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries…” Some nations, it appears, no longer only applies to China and Russia but also to Germany.
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Florian Neutze: A closer look at the political discourse hints at an astonishing reluctance of German politicians to encourage a broad societal debate on Germany’s role and responsibility in Afghanistan. Political leaders across party lines will have to come up with an answer to the “Why?” of the German involvement, rather than focusing on the “When?” of the withdrawal.
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Editorial Team: Foreign policy makers and experts around the world criticize Germany’s position on Libya. However the majority of Germans seem to approve it. What do atlantic-community.org members recommend to the German government?
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Marcel Lewicki: Many important issues currently facing the West such as energy security and terrorism, can be resolved more easily with the help of Russia. Germany should play a key role in drawing Moscow closer to Europe in order to do so.
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Benjamin Hanke: Germany’s economic interests are the key obstacle to a closer link between Russia and the West. Berlin is following an appeasement policy towards Moscow due to a need for energy. What Germany needs to do is to revive its European vision and spearhead a common EU approach to Moscow.
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Philipp Johannes Große: The West needs to promote accountability and the rule of law in Russia. Focus should be on reaching out to the general population, not self-declared elites. Germany’s position should be firmly rooted in the West, not midway between Paris and Moscow.
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Eva Maria Krockow: European approaches towards the integration of immigrants have resulted in inter-cultural clashes. More flexible strategies based on mutual respect whilst upholding a national leading culture are necessary for successful integration.
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Editorial Team: In view of a declining and aging population, German businesses will increasingly need to attract young talent and professionals from abroad, lest they risk Germany’s competitive position in world markets. Against this backdrop, the controversy that erupted over Thilo Sarrazin’s book carries far greater significance than might be apparent at first. How Germany deals with its immigrant population will determine not only its internal stability and economic prosperity, but also how well the country will be poised to deal with foreign policy challenges arising from parts of the Muslim world, be it Afghanistan or the question of Turkey’s EU accession.
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Editorial Team: The most important political event in September was the German Government’s publication of its “revolutionary” energy program draft. The plan intends to set the tone for German energy policy up to the year 2050. The controversial extension of running times for nuclear power plants aims at preserving nuclear energy as a bridging technology, paving the way for the full-scale deployment of renewables. The goal is to eventually have green technologies provide for up to 80 percent of Germany’s energy needs. The “energy concept” is key to Germany’s international competitiveness and profoundly affects the country’s global leadership in the sphere of renewable energy.
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Editorial Team: A meeting at the German Foreign Office brought together the heads of its 228 foreign bureaus and leading members of the German business community. The reunion highlighted the central importance of exports for Germany’s economic health and foreign policy posture. As a resource poor country, Germany must rely heavily on the strength of its export sector to remain competitive internationally. Indeed, in spite of the financial crisis, German firms have performed astonishingly well: With the annual GDP growth rate expected to reach 3.5 percent, Germany’s economic strength remains the motor behind Europe’s political salience on the world stage. It is also crucial to Germany’s continued attractiveness as a reliable partner for U.S. policies.
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Editorial Team: Germany is ready to take on its share of responsibility in matters of international security. Not least to this end, the country’s military is to be reformed and turned into an all-volunteer force. That is easier said than done, however, since conscription constitutes an integral part of Germany’s post-war identity. Not surprisingly, the Bundeswehr reform proposed by the Minister of Defense zu Guttenberg is turning into a passionate debate on the country’s role in an increasingly globalized world and its vision of the future.
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Editorial Team: President Obama’s popularity in Europe does not translate into more support for US policies. According to Transatlantic Trends 2010 differences in public opinion remain on Iran and Afghanistan. Europeans are much more pessimistic than Americans regarding the ISAF mission, but they share US support for NATO being prepared to act outside of Europe.
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Editorial Team: The Chancellor’s advisor on Africa Guenter Nooke has responded to the policy recommendations generated by Atlantic Community members for Atlantic Memo 24: Better Aid. In particular, Nooke is enthusiastic about the idea of an online index of aid effectiveness.
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Editorial Team: A German soldier stationed in Afghanistan shares his thoughts on the “Feldpost” campaign launched by Atlantische Initiative e.V. and Bild.de. He comments on the political debate in Germany surrounding the ISAF mission and what it means to the soldiers in the field.
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Stephen Szabo: Europe is proving a foreign policy disappointment to the Obama Administration as it struggles to propound a clearer strategy toward Russia. Washington now recognises that only Berlin has the key to a new relationship with Moscow.
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From the Editorial Team: The Atlantic Initiative has teamed up with Germany’s best-selling daily newspaper BILD to encourage readers to write personal messages of support to German soldiers stationed in Afghanistan in an effort to boost morale.
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Ulf Gartzke: General McChrystal’s “Rolling Stone” controversy may have caused shock, disbelief, and outrage across the United States, but to those following the former top US commander in Afghanistan since the beginning of his tenure, his downfall should not be a complete surprise. After all, in terms of mishandling the media, McChrystal is a repeat offender.
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Russell Miller: Joachim Gauck should be elected Germany’s next President. These turbulent times are precisely the moment when Germans need the steadying hand and inspirational vision of a good President. Gauck embodies competence and vision in leadership.
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Dirk Messner et al.: Germany needs to revitalise the multilateral climate process. Policy makers and civil society in Europe must take on a self-confident leading role in global alliances with selected ‘climate pioneer’ countries. Civil society initatives deserve greater support.
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Dirk Schuchardt: Germany’s main interest in NATO enlargement lies in creating a stable European security order, while preventing a confrontation with Russia. Therefore, from the German perspective, Ukraine and Georgia should not join the Alliance.
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Josef Braml: The US will no longer give Germany a free-pass on sharing “the burden of global responsibility.” As skepticism of American foreign commitments broadens at home, and with Chancellor Merkel’s address before a joint session of Congress, Germany is no longer in a position to drag its heels on issues that the US finds most important. Furthermore, if Germany hopes to have any future sway in US politics, fulfilling expectations now is necessary.
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Anne Applebaum: The international community is not worried that Germany is heading towards a Fourth Reich because Angela Merkel is at the helm. It is the Chancellor’s dull-pragmatism, her “anti-Obama” demeanor, which has allowed her to quietly increase Berlin’s influence, while being roundly applauded.
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Editorial Team: In yesterday’s general elections the German people voted for a new government. We, the Atlantic-Community.org Editorial Team, are interested in your opinion on the election! What are the repercussions of the election results for transatlantic relations?
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Bohnen & Kallmorgen: The political decision-making process, and thus our very democracy, will change rapidly in the next few years. New technologies will make participation among citizens and other actors much more common and important.
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Ian Davis: Criticism of Germany as an unreliable military ally is widespread and growing. But rather than deregulating the rules of German military engagement, we should be looking to include similar non-aggression clauses in the national legislation of other NATO member states.
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Péter Marton: Euro-discourse often derides Americans for not recognizing “complexity” around them. The opposite is true in Afghanistan. The European countries present in the North are not particularly interested in learning a lot about the social context they are operating in, and they are generally slow to adapt to changes in their area of operations.
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Hans Kundnani: In a sense, the central question of Germany’s post war identity is of whether it constitutes a part of the West or not. As the historian Heinrich August Winkler tells it, Germany has completed its long westward journey. However, the reality is more complicated considering the increasing shift of the Federal Republic’s foreign policy towards Moscow.
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Dieter M Dettke: Germany must take on more responsibility to shape a global system without nuclear weapons as it is in Berlin’s national interest to do so. Beginning with European & US disarmament the West can gain the moral authority it still needs to enforce the NPT regime.
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Editorial Team: Prior to Chancellor Merkel’s trip to Washington DC both US and German journalists described a strained personal relationship between President Obama and Chancellor Merkel. Do you believe the two leaders’ different personalities and rhetorics have a negative effect on US-German relations?
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André Budick: Russia has an ongoing fear of being encircled and slowly pushed back by the West, making it difficult for other nations to have valuable relations with Moscow. Should the West even pursue a partnership with such a paranoid regime, even though the alternative is very unpleasant?
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Constanze Stelzenmueller: Germany is a bridge between Russia and the West, and how Berlin chooses to deal with Moscow will set the tone for how the United States and the rest of Europe manage their own relationships with Russia.
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Tyson Barker: Biden’s historic first visit to Germany underscores a new reality in trans-Atlantic relations when the US is looking for partners on the tough economic and political questions, the road to Europe goes through Berlin.
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David Neil Lebhar: “Germany – Land of Ideas,” with the patronage of the Federal President of Germany and Deutsche Bank, honors organizations demonstrating innovation and civic engagement. Atlantic-community.org was selected, and the award ceremony was accompanied by a panel discussion regarding the role of online platforms in politics.
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Marcel Reichart: German political parties were no doubt transfixed by the campaign revolution executed by Obama via the internet. To stay abreast of changing social dynamics, German political parties must harness creativity and expertise, inspiring the internet savvy to political participation.
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Stanley R. Sloan: The hegemonic behavior of the Bush administration during its first term almost led to the end of the transatlantic partnership. The US will not be able to face the challenges of this century without its allies and NATO. A closely coordinated US-EU-NATO cooperation is essential to attain shared interests.
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Interview with John C. Kornblum: The former US ambassador to Germany outlines the role of states, institutions and high-level political leaders in the transatlantic relationship at a conference hosted in Berlin by the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS).
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Interview with Jackson Janes: The executive director of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies tells Atlantic-community.org that Russia, energy security, climate change, Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the financial crisis are all pressing issues to be addressed jointly by Germany and the United States under an Obama administration.
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Memo 9: Afghanistan needs a continued international commitment to ensure its security and assist in economic and social development. The US, EU and Germany must focus on training local authorities. Cooperating with Iran and the Taliban remains a point of debate.
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Simon K. Koschut: President-elect Obama faces a tough challenge once he takes office. The world is expecting change from America, but they shouldn’t hope for too much, too fast. Instead, in countries like Germany, the question needs to be “what can we do for the United States?” Likely topics of discussion will regard burden sharing in Afghanistan and possibly even Iraq.
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Florian Broschk: Extending the German ISAF mandate requires a broad public debate on the mission’s goals and strategies in Afghanistan. Germany must recognize the importance of counterinsurgency and improve a variety of its tactics - human intelligence, language training, and a greater troop presence.
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Julianne Smith: The next US president will ask NATO allies for more troops in Afghanistan. Europe should respond by at least providing more police trainers, civilian reconstruction experts and new diplomatic initiatives.
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Thorsten Benner & Lars Zimmermann: Germany lacks an informed and responsible debate on the country’s engagement in Afghanistan. The looming populism of the 2009 election year is set to make matters even worse. Politicians and the media must prevent this from happening.
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From the Editorial Team: The current financial crisis has sent economists, politicians, and citizens alike scrambling to find solutions. In the US and Europe, expert opinion is divided on how to revamp the economy. How should the United States, the EU, the private sector, and others respond to this international situation?
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Atlantik-Brücke’s Young Leaders: The Atlantic partners must jointly address the economic slowdown, competition over scarce resources and energy dependence. Moreover, the transatlantic relationship faces an immediate, critical test in Afghanistan. Success there is needed as a demonstration of our ability to effectively address common security threats.
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From the Editorial Team: Former German foreign minister Fischer criticizes the attitude of German politicians who refuse to send troops to the south of Afghanistan. He accuses Germany of conducting a security policy of “free riding.” What do you think? Is he right?
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Heinrich Bonnenberg: The need to reduce CO2 emissions, manage price increases, and deal with resource shortages is causing the energy economy to change. Electricity should eventually replace oil and gas. Nuclear power will have to play an increasingly important role in the new electricity economy.
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David Francis: Obama’s popularity should not be interpreted as a shift in German policy towards the United States. Many officials I spoke with while reporting from Berlin earlier this year said Germany will continue to act in its own interests no matter who is in the White House.
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Rüdiger Lentz: Obama’s speech at the Victory Column in Berlin, impressive as it was, contained more empty slogans than substance. This was not the radical change he promised during his primary campaign. His charisma might not be enough to win the elections.
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E. Ben Heine: The majority of Germans support Barack Obama for the US presidency, not because they believe he will radically change US policy, but because he is expected to return it to the familiar pre-Bush trajectory.
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Anne Applebaum: Obama’s visit to Europe signifies a change in America’s political culture – it shows American voters are aware of the damage the current administration has done to America’s image and are not indifferent to how their country is perceived abroad.
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David Francis: Germany is not only comfortable with Russia as an energy partner, it is comfortable with Russia as a strategic partner. This is at odds with the Bush administration, which views Russia with suspicion. Germany’s position has exposed an ideologically divide in Europe.
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From the Editorial Team: Read about the Amerikafest and watch and listen to reactions from the crowd. Find out what the people atlantic-community.org interviewed in Berlin think of America and expect from future of transatlantic relations.
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Marek Swierczynski: One crisis is rapidly spiralling to another. The Irish “No” to the Lisbon Treaty spoiled the mood among the EU big players so much that they’ve threatened to halt enlargement plans. And it is not Ireland, they’re threatening but Eastern European new member states.
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Heinrich Bonnenberg: Germany and the EU must give stronger credit to Ukraine’s emergence as an independent democracy in the tradition of Europe’s historic liberal movements. The EU should quickly enable Ukrainian accession, but NATO membership should not be pursued, as this would likely exasperate tensions with Russia.
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Eckart von Klaeden: The “strategic partnership” between the EU and Latin America must be followed up with concrete and substantive political initiatives. The European Union, Latin America, and the United States must work towards a trilateral dialog.
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Mark Brzezinski: A special exhibit focused on the Holocaust opened recently on Ellis Island in New York City. It celebrates those who chose not to be indifferent. The National Park Service joined the nonprofit group “Visas For Life” to honor diplomats who rescued Jews before and during World War II.
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Andreas Umland: A conspirological form of anti-Americanism has become Russia’s new foreign policy doctrine. Paradoxically, the Russian elite, at the same time, wants to build closer relations with the US’s major partner in continental Europe - Germany.
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David Francis: Why is everyone outside of Germany worried about Nord Stream, while people in Germany seem okay with it? By looking at the United States, it’s apparent that it’s easier to ignore reliance on imported energy than it is to confront the problem.
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Frank-Walter Steinmeier: For the past 60 years the transatlantic relationship has been the world’s transformative partnership. America’s relationship with Europe - more than with any other part of the world - enables both of us to achieve goals that neither of us could achieve alone.
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Leon Hadar: The EU should put its money where its mouth is and work towards inviting both Israel and Palestine to join the EU. With the election of a new US president, Europe could gain more control in the Middle East, but only if it simultaneously accepts more responsibility.
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Robert Zoellick: The president of the World Bank expresses his concern regarding the German focus on bilateral aid programs in an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, head of the Deutsche Welle studio in Washington and executive director USA of the Atlantic Initiative.
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Volker Perthes: I admit that there is no simple checklist to determine how, when, or where German troops should be deployed abroad. But there are a number of valid questions that can be posed before soldiers are sent to peacekeeping and peace-enf
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Thomas Straubhaar: The oil price’s rise towards $100 per barrel is not a cause for concern over economic growth, but has many positive implications for the economy and the climate.
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Jan Techau: It is time for Germany to assert a leading role in world politics. The German public needs to overcome its aversion to international involvement and see today’s threats for what they are—because history isn’t waiting.
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Karsten Voigt: Shifting German troops out of the north of Afghanistan would be detrimental to the country. The troops should stay with their original mission, as they are providing significant support to the allied forces.
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David Vickrey: German businesses should take a cue from the vibrant start-up culture in the United States and be more open to the radical change that innovation can bring. There is no room for fear of failure if Germany is to achieve the sustainable economic growth that it so desires.
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Jan-Friedrich Kallmorgen and Andreas Beckmann: Germany should support the proposed US missile defense plan and broaden the plan through NATO. Though this issue is rarely understood in Germany, it is evident that the world faces a massive security problem as a result of Iran’s developing nuclear program.
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Daniel Fallenstein: Germans should learn from the strong American reaction to the Sudan genocide. The black-and-white US worldview is the only one that matters in such a clear-cut case of good vs. evil.
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Eckart von Klaeden: Europe and Germany need missile defense against the threat from Iran. Europe has long neglected the new strategic threats arising from missile proliferation.
This is the first of a two-part series from the Atlantic Initiative Advisory Board Member.
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Karsten Voigt: I cannot foresee an end to the German and Allied commitment in Afghanistan as long as the Taliban pose a threat to the country’s stability. We cannot allow pro-terrorist groups to take over, and that good governance is a priority.
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Global Must Read Articles
European leaders must pay close attention to the “austerity vs. growth” debate. ++ Although there is much condemnation of Europe’s austerity cure, critics are unsuccessful in finding solutions to fund growth. ++ Debtors must become more competitive in the global market. ++ Spain cut unit labor costs by 8.5%, compared to its European counterparts, between 2008 and 2011. ++
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Why not exclude ethnic origins from reporting on the Eurocrisis? ++ Hardly a day goes by in Greece without Chancellor Angela Merkel being depicted in a Nazi uniform. ++ Germany will not see a good deal of the €130 billion it will give to the bailout fund again but is being treated like it is invading Europe again. ++ Germany is now the America of Europe, hated “because it is too successful,
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After the latest bond auctions and as French influence wanes, there can no longer be any doubt of what many have long suspected: Germany is the undisputed leader of Europe. ++ Germany should use this strength to guarantee the public debts of other Eurozone members, in exchange for debt limits and a new budgetary review. ++ In the 1980s, a strong German economic position was parlayed into what
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As Angela Merkel emerges as one of the biggest players in the ongoing Euro saga, opinion is mixed over her leadership qualities. ++ Her life and political career show a politician who is level headed and cautious, but also capable of shrewdly navigating the ideological waters of both East German academia and modern-day party politics. ++ Her domestic constituency sees her, favorably, as a
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The lack of a common fiscal policy is what allowed the Eurozone debacle to occur. ++ Europe has at the same time experienced extremely low levels of growth compared to the US and emerging markets, forcing it to accrue debt to prevent living standards from deteriorating. ++ Germany’s austerity plan will do little to stimulate growth in Southern Europe. ++ Europe requires wide-reaching structural
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Germany faces a choice in the eurozone crisis: allow the creation of a full-blown debt union, or let the euro fail. ++ Berlin has benefitted hugely from the currency union, with the economic surge of the last decade attributable largely to exports to other eurozone countries. But there is also much skepticism about the “morality” of bailing out Southern European countries. ++ The
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Thursday’s emergency EU summit created an immediate rescue package for Greece and a sliver of hope for Italy and Spain, but the euro’s stability in the long run depends on the taxpayers. ++ The heavily devalued national bonds of indebted states should be replaced by collective eurobonds, backed by all eurozone governments, to stabilize and attract investment. ++ This is unpopular
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As the eurozone crisis groans on, a German-led Europe regains the stage as America’s most important foreign partner. ++ But this is more a matter of necessity than choice. “Openings to China and India have produced little. Relations with Russia, if improved, remain quixotic. And Obama now plays defense on the Middle East in this season of Arab revolt.” ++ Hoping to avoid a
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Germany’s economy is humming, its exports are at an all time high, and its corporations are among the most dynamic in the world. ++ And yet, Germany finds itself isolated from the global community. It sits on the sidelines while its closest allies intervene in Libya, it balks at helping Greece and it rejects Turkey’s bid to enter the EU. In other words, Germany is afraid of changing
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Germany’s decision “to ask Greece to offer its debt holders a seven-year term extension” draws more attention to the deep economic, social and political deadlock of the heavily indebted state. ++ Against the background of ingrained wide-spread corruption, loss of export competitiveness, enormous price rise, which entailed Greece’s accession to the EU, and the
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Mrs. Merkel should draw the right lessons from the lost state elections and follow her and Germany’s principles and larger interests. ++ “Although NATO has long been the linchpin of Germany’s defense plans, she ostentatiously removed German ships in the Mediterranean from NATO command to keep them clear of operations in Libya.” ++ Mrs. Merkel’s predecessors rightly believed that
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“The time for stumbling through the euro crisis is over.” ++ A radical, targeted effort is required to protect the future of Europe’s common institutions. ++ The path to this involves tough, yet practical solutions: the creation of Europe-wide bonds, harmonized tax rates and “haircuts” for the holders of sovereign debt. ++ Greater EU political integration is required for this. ++ Germany has been
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The current threat to the eurozone is the greatest challenge to German statecraft since the country was peacefully united 20 years ago, but at the moment they are not rising to the challenge. ++ Following Greece and Ireland, the next countries which could require bailouts are Portugal, and Spain. ++ If this occurs, there would be only two ways forward. ++ The first would be for the eurozone to
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The euro, the European Union’s boldest and most ambitious project, is under threat. ++ This has has damaged the EU’s reputation around the world. ++ However, the crisis has seen the emergence of a genuine EU leader in Angela Merkel. ++ This is not surprizing considering Germany’s current economic strength and recent trend of assertive diplomacy. ++ However, concerns have been expressed that
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1990s dreams of a unipolar European Order have failed, as hopes of a post-modern system without a balance of power have proven to be untrue. ++ Russia calls openly for a new security architecture. ++ Frustrated with EU membership talks, Turkey is pursuing its own foreign policy. ++ The US has its hands full and is no more a full-time European power. ++ The goal now should be to create a
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The German conservative government’s decision to prolong the operating life of the country’s nuclear plants “shows the way for other countries, in particular Spain.” ++ Spain also wants to keep its Garona plant running. ++ However, Berlin is risking a lot in political terms. ++ While nuclear reactors produce only 23 percent of Germany’s energy, half of its citizens are opposed to extending
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Starting in October, Berlin wants its troops to go on the offensive in northern Afghanistan in order to clear the area of insurgents. ++ This operation is intended to help make the handover next year go more smoothly. ++ This plan comes in response to allied misgivings that Germany “is too passive in the face of a growing insurgency.” ++ With its first major military engagement abroad
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Conservative governments across Europe are implementing austerity programs that “are creating the conditions for a recession across the continent.” ++ The absence of any type of coherent plan for exiting the crisis has led to “the resurgence here and there of anti-European nationalism.” ++ The conservative agendas have also hurt Franco-German relations. ++ Socialists in
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The finance ministers of the euro zone “sentenced” French Minister Lagarde to pass a verdict on Germany’s economic course. ++ While it is customary that one EU country assess the economic policy of another, this assignment is not void of a certain “sense of irony… which the finance ministers of the Euro countries have not been known for up to now.” ++ Lagarde
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The industrial economies of Germany and China have weathered the global financial crisis much better than their high-consumption, post-industrial American competitor. ++ American capitalism has abandoned its manufacturing sector and promotes a detached and irresponsible financial sector. ++ The result is a competitive disadvantage and the offshoring of America’s most productive jobs. ++
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The affair surrounding Bishop Mixa clearly demonstrates that the Catholic Church is far too preoccupied with its own internal problems. ++ “Things do not look good for the Catholic Church in Germany.” ++ Scandal has become the only means of communication within the Church, where frozen hierarchies prevent much-needed dialogue. ++ The Church’s social graces do not impress much
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The German soccer team is Chancellor Merkel’s last great hope for salvaging the political fortunes of her coalition government. ++ Only if the German team wins the world cup, “the whole country will party relentlessly and nobody will worry anymore about the disastrous government.” ++ The government’s coalition partner, the liberal FDP has turned into its worst nightmare,
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“Both Greece’s calculation errors and the diva-like reluctance of the German government to help Athens are nothing more than an invitation to speculators to bet on the demise of the southern European country.”++ When Germany failed to act quickly, speculators profited by betting on greater chaos from the fall-out. The pandemonium that ensued is encouraging risky business practices. ++ “In the
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The “German Question” has returned, only this time the concern is not over an aggressive, expansionist state in the heart of Europe, but of an introverted power overly concerned with its own self-interest. ++ Chancellor Merkel’s hostility toward a German bail-out for Greece is evidence that Germany is seeking to define its interests more narrowly. ++ “Whether it is economics or foreign affairs,
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Germany has failed to keep its aid pledges to developing countries. ++ It has fallen short of both EU and UN aid requirements. ++ “In the international community, Germans are now seen as masters of the empty promise.” ++ Aid in Germany is no longer seen in terms of moral values but rather in terms of buying support for global challenges like security and climate change. ++ This frugality could
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After the first 100 days of her second term, Angela Merkel is receiving poor reviews from both the German public and the media. ++ The new “political dream team” of the Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats is quickly turning into a nightmare. ++ Many argue that the Christian Democrats’ vague campaign has translated into a dull second term agenda. ++ “She has been
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Guido Westerwelle, leader of the new governments coalition partner FDP, should break with tradition and not become foreign minister but finance minister instead. ++ Westerwelle lacks experience in foreign policy “and his public statements on international issues do not add up to a coherent Weltanschauung.” ++ In contrast, the FDP leader has good ideas and a strong position on economic policy and
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The responsibilites are enormous and ruling the country will become a tough job for Germany’s new center-right coalition. ++ Difficulties could increase because of the parties differing agenda. ++ Although it seems the perfect party constellation, the conservative CDU and the market liberal FDP vary much more in their political programme than broadly assumed. ++ It is very likely that the
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Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel will probably remain in office after the upcoming general elections on September 27 - a good thing. ++ After the Schröder-era Merkel managed Germany’s realignment in a good working relationship towards Washington, Russia, France and the rest of Europe. ++ With the legacy of the economic crisis, the war in Afghanistan, and North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear
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Germany’s social democrats, the SPD, are too much caught in the left wing. ++ If the SPD wants to be part of the next legislative period’s government, they have to prevent a coalition between the liberals (FDP) and the conservatives (CDU) - with the aim to become at least part of a big coalition (SPD and CDU). ++ Thus, if Germany’s social democratic party don’t want to go down in the upcoming
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The success of the left in Germany’s recent state elections does not mean a shift to the left for the country politically but rather that Chancellor Merkel’s time is over. ++ There is no “new strength” of the left but instead an obvious weakness in the German traditional majority parties of the CDU and SPD. ++ If Angela Merkel wants to bounce back in the federal election campaign, she must have
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The constitutional court decision lets Germany ratify the Lisbon treaty but blocks all further integration. ++ It does not view the European parliament as a genuine legislature, thus states retain all sovereignty and responsibility for major issues like fiscal policy. ++ “It is difficult to conceive of a [future] European treaty that could be both material and in line with this ruling.” ++
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A push for Wall Street banks to be turned into heavily regulated, “talent-deficient” public utilities would see them take fewer investment risks, leading to lower economic growth and higher long-term unemployment. ++ A no-risk system fails to support start-up innovators and small businesses. ++ A push for simplified capital markets ignores the fact that today’s system solved a decade of
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The Munich Security Conference revealed to Germany the price it will have to pay if it wants to be America’s dear friend: increased troop deployment in Afghanistan and a preparedness to stand by the US if Iran remains uncooperative. ++ But while the US is extending the hand of cooperation to Germany, the latter seems nostalgic for the “era before the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
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Obama’s presidency is causing political divisions in Berlin. ++ Merkel is patiently waiting to see Obama’s actual policy plans before giving her unconditional support. ++ FM Steinmeier, on the other hand, has enthusiastically joined “Obamania,” perhaps thinking that this attitude might gain him popularity votes in the 2009 election. ++ But at the end of the day,
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Iraq has only confirmed the souring of German-US relations. ++ The golden years of friendship following WW2, characterized by the Marshall Plan and lasting until German reunification, seem distant. ++ Even Obama does not appear to have Germany as a priority: “that’s a pity. Germany is important to the US right now.” ++ A strong Europe is indispensable to help the US recover from the current
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2009 will be a challenging year for EMU and Franco-German relations regarding which economic policies to adopt. ++ The two countries traditionally differ on their stance vis à vis the role of the ECB, namely its degree of independence. ++ The French have often accused their neighbor of gleaning “unfair economic advantage from the EU.” ++ Criticism has risen under Sarkozy and culminated
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Berlin witnessed the end of a stalemate between the Christian and Social Democrats on a 31-billion-euro economic stimulus package, but “Germans may find that the chances of their country’s economic recovery were higher when the grand coalition was still paralyzed.” ++ An additional 100 billion euros will go to rescue failing companies. ++ Both parties are positioning themselves for upcoming Fall
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Germany is getting ready for a year rich in elections at every level, concluding with the September legislative duel between Chancellor Merkel and FM Steinmeier. ++ A recent survey places Merkel in the lead; however, the financial crisis and its social repercussions make every prediction highly precarious. ++ The two candidates have therefore opted for officially starting the electoral campaign
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One of the conditions of Germany’s rescue package stating that salaries of top management ought to be limited to €500,000 a year found itself at the origin of several critiques. ++ Contested is the fact that “one cannot give the banks the freedom to decide whether to accept help and at the same time threaten managers with salary cuts.” ++ Dropping this restriction ought to be envisaged
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Germany’s increasingly unilateral foreign policies are causing unrest within the EU and Atlantic alliance. ++ The US, UK and France are frustrated by Berlin’s reluctance to impose sanctions on Iran as well as its limited efforts in Afghanistan. ++ The impending election is a partial explanation for this refusal to engage in bold policies. ++ The generational shift means that
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Germany’s persistent boycott of a coordinated European response to the economic crisis has serious implications both nationally and for the EU. ++ There will be no decision about a German stimulus package until February 2009 at the earliest – clearly too late. ++ Chancellor Merkel and Finance Minister Steinbrück are heading for a self-made depression. ++ The correct response would be
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Yesterday, German entrepreneurs met to discuss how to intensify business with Iran. ++ Bank Melli’s connection to Tehran’s nuclear program has given the EU reason to freeze assets of Iran’s largest bank, but Germany refuses to go “beyond the relatively soft UN trade restrictions.” ++ In view of rising exports, Germany has become the largest European exporter to Iran.
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Germans now lament eschewing the “glorious era” of state ownership of banks. ++ They are missing a cardinal fact, though: The European Central Bank’s independence “enabled it to serve as a corrective to governmental policies and powers,” whereas the US Federal Reserve implemented “interest rate and money supply strategies configured to meet the needs of the US
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Merkel’s uncertainty regarding the financial crisis is becoming increasingly evident. ++ Recently, three “Merkel myths” have been dispelled: the CSU loss in Bayern ended the idea of Merkel’s electoral invincibility; her rejection of an EU financial rescue plan proves she is not a European; and political vacillation has cast doubt on her leadership abilities. ++ As the
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Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia does not correlate with universal approval, and an international dialogue concerning the status of Georgia is set to begin. ++ Europe has proven itself too dissolute to confront Russia openly: Sarkozy has advocated global mediation, emphasizing Georgia’s weakness, and Merkel speaks of “Georgia’s core territory,” nearly cow-towing to the Russian
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By talking about terrorism instead of the financial crises in front of the UN, Bush has staged himself as “yesterday’s man.” ++ Even Germany - one of America’s closest allies - is distancing itself from the US and blames the state for opposing tighter international market controls. ++ German politicians do not see the US as the “superpower of the global financial system” anymore. ++ The view
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This past weekend, three in ten Austrians voted for far-right parties; Bavaria’s CSU dipped beneath the 50 percent mark; and Lithuania’s populist parties, despite links with the Kremlin, polled strong. ++ This is what happens when mainstream parties build coalitions - voters are driven to the fringes. ++ The lesson for “Europe’s mainstream politicians is to compete, not to collaborate.” ++ Voters
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China’s emergence as a global power bears eerie resemblance to Germany during the Bismarck era. ++ The reaction back then was World War I, but will the world react better this time? ++ China’s military in Asia does not compare to Germany’s in 1914, but Chinese military spending has vastly grown. ++ This might encourage neighbors to adjust their defenses, as Europe did before World War I. ++ The
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Two of the EU’s key assumptions towards Russia have been proven wrong: firstly, Russia obviously does not share the Western values and secondly, Russia does not oppose Iran going nuclear. ++ Moscow can assume that a nuclear Iran will hurt Western interests more than Russian and will shape balance of power favorably for Russia. ++ Yet, there is still a chance for the EU to pressure Iran through
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Dr. Jackson Janes has been engaged in German-American and European affairs for more than three decades. He is the executive director of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.
Before joining the AICGS, he served as a director of the German-American Institute in Tübingen and as a director of program development at the
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Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder stated in his article on China that the economic wealth will advance the democratic transformation of the country ++ But it is not that simple: the Communist party uses the economic success to justify its rule. ++ Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate German policy towards China with that of other Western powers. ++ Schröder in his article
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Obama’s popularity last
Thursday showed the desire for a responsible global power and the unwavering belief that the US should be that power. ++ But the charisma of the presidential candidate should not blur our view of the other Obama: the Realpolitiker. ++ In his speech, he made clear that neither can the US be an arrogant superpower, nor can Europe neglect its military duties, e.g. in
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The German magazine Der Spiegel featured articles about Barack Obama with such satiric headlines as “The Messiah Factor” or “Germany Meets the Superstar.” ++ These examples show that Europeans are far less excited about Obama than Americans, even if they are also looking forward to the end of the Bush administration. ++ The mocking undertone that accompanies most descriptions of Obama in the
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The German government welcomes Obama’s call for a renewal of transatlantic relations. ++ The
reactions of the public are heterogeneous: some expected a key speech and were disappointed afterwards while others liked Obama’s decision to speak as a citizen of the world. ++ Political scientist Langguth warned of a transfiguration of the US-German relationship. ++ No matter who will win the US
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With the exception of Germany, all major European goverments seek out US leadership on global issues. ++ Merkel remains inflexible regarding enlarging the NATO contingent in Afghanistan and adopts an indulgent approach to Russia which is only surpassed by Schroeder and Steinmeier’s disturbingly close ties to the Kremlin. ++ Since Russia tries to divide the West through Germany: “Any American
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The need for a renewal of transatlantic relations is widely felt among the German public and the expectations are high regarding Obama’s stance on climate protection, peace, and shared values. ++ But there will also be delicate issues arising such as economic relations between both countries and the German fear that Obama could enhance protectionism in the US. ++ Moreover, the canditates’ plan
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After the end of the cold war the world experienced a transition period of US dominance. ++ The new world order will be multipolar. ++ Therefore, we need Beijing to solve the global challenges
and it is up to Germany to promote an international integration of China. ++ The economic and the civil domain are the keys for the development of bilateral relations. ++ China’s internal liberalization
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Although countless events and demonstrations have taken place at the gate, Obama’s intention to hold a speech divides the German political elite. ++ Merkel’s disapproval is thought to be due to her closer ties to the conservatives across the Atlantic and her East German preference for “right-wing and rather gruff figures of American politics.” ++ Most Germans however would gladly see Obama be
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It did not take Iraq to spur dislike for Bush. ++ Yet by overstating his mistakes and cropping his successes, Germans acquired a sense of ease and superiority which they will lose when he goes. ++ The president’s catastrophic image made it possible to blame him rather than the terrorists for the situation in Afghanistan, dodge military commitments to NATO, and use Iraq as an argument to refuse
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President Sarkozy has announced that citizens of the 2004 EU accession countries will be permitted to work freely in France beginning in July. ++ This development contrasts sharply with Germany where “borders will remain firmly shut for another three years.” ++ While wage modernization and the boom enjoyed by export partners mean that the short-run looks bright for Germany, the country’s
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Thanks to its massive
workforce and low labor costs, China
has become the twenty first century’s leading global production plant. Even for
German companies, China
has long been a fundamental market for supplies. Yet an inquiry released by
PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals some astonishing facts: for many businesses, China is not as
cheap as one may think. Indeed, on some products, there is a
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17,000 respondents in 34 countries perceived Germany as the country that has the most “positive influence” on world affairs. ++ 18 percent gave a negative assessment of Germany, the lowest disapproval figure for any of the 23 countries rated in BBC World Service survey. ++ For the first time since 2005, the number of people abroad that view the US as a positive force has increased slightly, to 35
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Europe needs Russia for its oil and natural gas and Russia needs Europe for revenue from these resources. ++ This reciprocal relationship explains Europe’s opposition to granting Ukraine and Georgia NATO membership. ++ The issue of energy security is one of the few issues where central and eastern European countries agree with the US and are in conflict with Germany and France.
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Troops in Afghanistan amount to a mere 10% of the contingent needed. ++ Quarrelling over NATO policy issues is preventing gathering the necessary means to effectively tackle terrorism and the Taliban. ++ While French, German and Greek troops are comfortably in the North “where the main threat they face is boredom,” their politicians are willing to take charge, but not to shoulder the war’s
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NATO has always been a two-tiered alliance in which some countries shouldered more burdens than others. ++ This fact will not change, but it also does not invalidate the significance of NATO. ++ A two-tiered NATO even has certain benefits for the US, especially since the Eastward expansion of NATO serves as a safeguard against Russia. ++ NATO’s future, if centered on sea power and not combat,
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During Merkel’s visit, Israel needs to clarify that Germany must support tougher sanctions, break diplomatic ties, and end governmental trade subsidies with Iran. ++ Brown and Sarkozy are already supportive of more restrictive sanctions, but if Germany remains indecisive, effective action against Iran will be impossible. ++ Israel only further endangers itself claiming that Germany is doing
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Jan Techau and Alexander Skiba of the German Council on Foreign Relations criticize the German Government’s rejection of the US request for more German combat forces in south Afghanistan. There are at least three reasons for Germany to re-evaluate its current position: stabilizing Afghanistan is in Germany’s national interest; strategically it makes sense for Germany to carry more of
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Sub-national units — namely states or regions — are playing an increasing role in environmental policy-creation find R. Andreas Kraemer and Miranda A. Schreurs in “Federalism and Environmentalism in the United States and Germany”, the latest report by the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS). The impact sub-national units have on national governments is becoming stronger,
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A lack of strong European leaders has made German Chancellor Angela Merkel into America’s most important partner, say Jackson Janes and Stephen Szabo. Janes, Executive Director of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies and an Atlantic Initiative Advisory Board member, describes with AICGS Director of Research Szabo how challenges in implementing domestic reforms have led
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With the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome approaching, journalist Rosemary Righter suggests that Angela Merkel stop worrying about the EU constitution and instead help Europe stimulate growth by “joining forces” with the United States and creating a transatlantic single market. Germany and France should not disdain US assistance now: the EEC owed much of its early success to the American
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The United Nations approach to halting the Iranian nuclear program is a deepening hole that the Security Council and Germany should “stop digging,” says Christoph Bertram, the former director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin and a member of the Atlantic Initiative Advisory Board. Bertram notes that attempts at sanctioning Iran have heightened Tehran’s
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Globalization has come full circle, says Deutsche Welle. 10 years ago, Germany set the tone of its economic relationship with India. German companies outsourced parts of their production to India and attempted to lure Indian IT-Specialists into the country. Now, Indian companies are opening up subsidiaries in Germany, employing Germans, and an Indian steel giant is making bids to buy its
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