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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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Julia Galaski: “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
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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