On February 6th 2011, the Young German Council on Foreign Relation's Munich Division (JDGAP), accompanied by the Bavarian Business Association (VBW e.V.) was pleased to hold an intergenerational dialogue titled “The Munich Security Conference: Young Ideas meet Longstanding Experience“. Moreover, the discussion was a follow up event for the Munich Young Leaders, which is a cooperation project between the Munich Security Conference and the Koerber Foundation.
Conference chair Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger together with former US Ambassador in Germany Richard Burt debated with two representatives of this year's Munich Young Leaders. Ambika Vishwanath (Strategic Foresight Group, India) and Dr. Christian Freuding (German Defense Department) shared their conference experience with the audience. The main objective was to work out the expectations of the participants of the Munich Security Conference and the divergence of views between first-time and longstanding participants.
All participants welcomed the informal atmosphere of the conference. Both newcomers and longtime delegates pointed out that discussions had been quite fruitful. According to Ambassador Ischinger, the value of the Munich Security Conference is the ability for participants to speak more freely because no Joint Communiqué needs to be passed at the end.
Ambika Vishwanath admitted that more participants from BRIC countries were needed. She argued that more people from the countries on top of the global power shift's agenda should be invited to conference. Furthermore, the Young Leaders called for more specialists, for example from the cyber branch. Ms. Vishwanath and Dr. Freuding stated that cyberspace should move higher on the international security policy's agenda.
In the case of Egypt, all speakers highlighted that the world faces enormous changes within the Middle East. However, differences emerged among the panel. Ambassador Ischinger preferred a slower and responsible transition of power, while Ambassador Burns argued for less Western interference. All panelists agreed on the unpredictability of the upcoming developments in the region.
Ambassador Burke thanked event's organizers for not naming it “Young Leaders meet old men”. Beside that joke, the 70 minutes discussion including questions from the audience raised no serious intergenerational differences.
After the discussion both authors of this report saw the necessity for an intensified discussion of cyberspace issues. However, such a dialogue has to go further than young and old leaders from international security, rather has to include cyber related companies and the “Facebook Generation”. As recent events in Egypt show, cyberspace has the potential to change the world.
Hence, Ambika Vishwanath's argument for more involvement of emerging countries representatives is correct. At the Nile the West talked to Mubarak, but totally missed the people now demonstrating on the streets. Thus, in Munich and beyond, a broader approach to dialogue seems unavoidable. One of the outstanding achievements of Ambassador Ischinger is the willingness to give younger professionals the opportunity to participate in such an important event like the Munich Security Conference. However, more similar initiatives are required.
Klaus Spiessberger studied Political Science, Law, Philosophy and Psychology and is currently working for the PHOENIX group.
Felix F. Seidler currently finishes his MA in Political Science at Wuerzburg University.
Both authors are members of Young German Council on Foreign Relations (JDGAP).
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