Domestic Debates
Transatlantic
“We need a financial system that operates with less leverage, has stronger oversight, and is more transparent.” ++ Already existing regulators have been under pressure from top-earning bankers to not use their powers. ++ The US …More
Interviews with YATA Delegates: Youth Atlantic Treaty Association delegates interviewed at their General Assembly held in Berlin in November 2008. The topics range from Russian relations to what Obama will ask Europe to do. …More
NATO has become “a military alliance without any political clout” and is in the midst of an identity crisis. ++ The campaign in Afghanistan is suffering because of NATO’s lack of a political voice and a lack of cohesion between …More
Over the last year Turkey has accomplished more in the Middle East than the entire transatlantic contingent. ++ Last week Erdogan negotiated with the Afghan and Pakistani presidents over economic projects, in which both countries are …More
Memo 10: With President-elect Obama about to take his seat in the Oval Office, it is high time for a transformation of transatlantic relations. In this new era, the US must distance itself from the unipolar policies of the past and come to terms with a multipolar world. The EU has to develop more proactive policies. …More
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. …More
The international community has done little to end the atrocities committed by Sudanese militia in Darfur. ++ President Bashir has pledged to punish “anyone guilty of crimes in Darfur.” ++ The African Union as well as …More
Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ++ There is still much work to be done. ++ The UN Human Rights Council, established in 2006, has been hampered by America’s absence. ++ Compounding …More
MONUC, the biggest peace mission worldwide, has not managed to stabilize the situation in DR Congo. ++ The unfair distribution of power and resources as well as militaristic thinking, on which political decisions are based, constitute the roots of this …More
Markus Drake: What do you do when your research yields clear results, but business interests and politicians pick up only a narrow part of the message? Shouting louder is certainly not an option. Professor Daniel S. Hamilton faced this dilemma when presenting his research on Germany and globalization at the event The Global Marketplace 2020: Where Will Germany Be? …More
We now have an opportunity for a world government - a global currency, supreme court, law, civil service, and military force, as in the EU, is possible. ++ Global warming, the financial crisis and the war on terror offer reasons for such global …More
Jeffrey Mankoff: Washington and London have proposed dropping the NATO MAPs for Georgia and Ukraine, favoring an open-ended development plan for both countries. Germany and France protest such unorthodoxy, but this more flexible approach might allow NATO to balance its Russian interests with eventual expansion. …More
Today globalization takes place in places where masses of people live and work: in cities. But in order to earn the title “global” a city must provide ideas and value that impact the rest of the world. Additionally, global cities are characterized …More
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 …More
Matthew Yglesias: US relationships with EU countries have been marred not only by our disastrous military engagements but also by a lack of actual diplomacy from the Bush administration. A return to the hallmarks of a liberal society coupled with the simple measure of common courtesy would go a long way. …More
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). …More
“Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World” portends a severely diminished role for the US and a planet hobbled by multipolarity. ++ The irony is that the Bush administration, in their attempt to further American preeminence, has done …More
Nanne Zwagerman: Transatlantic themes were not central to President-elect Obama’s campaign. With the shape of the team unfolding, his Presidency now looks likely to signal a renaissance of the transatlantic alliance. This may well be a shrewd strategy for foreign relations as well as his domestic agenda. …More
Contrary to his promise to distance himself from the “Clinton political method,” Obama has set up a “Team of Rivals,” assigning Hillary Clinton to the important office of secretary of state. ++ His choice can be viewed as …More
Editorial Team: A civil society initiative is working to reopen the Amerika Haus Berlin, where permanent activities were suspended in 2006. A two month series of panel discussions about the US elections of 2008 brought the house back to life, and showed the potential of this open meeting space. …More
Wess Mitchell: President-elect Obama will be the first president facing the reality of global multipolarity. In view of the intricate international agenda that is challenging US policy, Obama must break with the unipolar mentality of President Bush. He must distance himself from his predecessors bipolar approaches and adjust US foreign policy to the actuality of a multipolar world. …More
In the past, the European right reliably took a hard-line stance against Russian expansionism, with the left playing the role of apologists. ++ “Today, there has been an odd reversal,” with the likes of Merkel, Berlusconi, and …More
Jonathan Laurence is a Transatlantic Academy fellow at the German Marshall Fund, non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and an assistant
professor of political science at Boston College. He has received his Ph.D. (2006) …More
Central banks should go on an internationally coordinated shopping spree. ++ They should target not only municipal bonds, but buy up bank shares on the open market, the price of which are down to as low as a tenth of what they were two …More
The most pressing moral issue the next US administration will have to face, is the genocide that is taking place in Dafur. ++ The International Criminial Court is likely to issue a warrant for arresting Sudan’s president, al-Bashir, …More
Keynesian economics prevail in times of economic turmoil. ++ Britain should “expect plans for higher borrowing, tax cuts, and more spending in Monday’s pre-Budget statement.” ++ While economists and politicians differ on intervention policies, Keynes emphasized …More
Interview with Lotte Leicht: The director of Human Rights Watch in Brussels says that the EU must fulfill its role in upholding human rights. But before it can credibly promote human rights throughout the world, the EU must first hold its allies accountable for human rights violations, particularly the US. …More
The election of Obama could have marked the beginning of improved Russian-US relations, but the “new cold war” will continue. ++ Anti-American sentiment is the result of Russia’s perceived security threats and is fuelled by official …More
In view of the economic crisis rocking the international community, the G8 has lost its right to exist. ++ Emerging nations like India took part in the G20 summit, discussing new finance regulation structures. ++ G8 nations have to understand that in a world …More
Jesse Schwartz: The 2008 election evinces the timeless notion of America as more than a place - “At its best, it is an idea.” Barack Obama’s meteoric rise to the White House substantiates this conviction. Moreover, it seems to confirm that the Atlantic Ocean may not be as wide as it was just four years ago. …More
The hijacking of a Saudi-owned oil tanker is unprecedented but only part of the recent, dramatic rise in piracy. ++ Capturing pirates in not a major problem, but due process makes dealing with captive pirates more complex than in the …More
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. …More
Bertelsmann Foundation: Written with a distinctly European perspective, this Trans-Atlantic Briefing Book for the Obama administration is a policy blueprint that offers strategies for cooperation between Europe and the new US leadership. …More
Thomas Bauer: Barack Obama’s election has created a ground swelling of excitement in Europe. In an effort to revitalize transatlantic relations, several issues need to be addressed. First and foremost, Europe needs to get its own house in order if it expects the new President to heed its calls for greater cooperation. …More
Luke A. Nichter: With this weekend’s G-20 meeting in Washington, calls for the return to a Bretton Woods-like system can be heard around the world. However, before getting caught up in the momentum of “reform,” the incoming administration of President-elect Obama should carefully heed the lessons of history. …More
The EU and Russia will meet for an annual meeting, focusing on the renewal of their partnership agreement. ++ Since the attacks on Georgia, EU-Russian relations have been shattered. ++ Europeans will not accept a divided Georgia. ++ The EU will …More
In 2003 the EU created a “security strategy;” the first draft didn’t even mention Russia. ++ For better or worse, it’s time to revise that plan. ++ The one good side effect from the war with Georgia is that it allowed Merkel …More
The G20-meeting may harm the economy if conflicts surface and the US is blamed for the crisis. ++ The IMF lacks legitimacy due to an under-representation of Asian powers and over-representation of Europeans. ++ Obama must agree to the …More
Jens F. Laurson & George A. Pieler: The first dangerous results from governmental overreaction to the financial crisis are beginning to show. Bailout bills have counterproductive effects as political pressure is even brought on institutions that do not need the governmental help. Following protectionist approaches could lead to a harmful and tragic economic outcome. …More
Olena Kornyeyeva: My research deals with the way people perceive their own acculturation as foreigners living in Germany. …More
French President Sarkozy is rushing on with demands for the upcoming G20-meeting, at the expense of diplomacy. ++ His harsh call for multilateral action, blaming Wall Street for the crisis, is explained by a feeling of support from public …More
Last week, Medvedev threatened to station missiles near Poland if the US administration continued its plans to install a missile defense system there and in the Czech Republic. ++ President-elect Obama has to improve US-Russian relations. …More
Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: Obama will move with regard to matters of detention and climate change in a direction, favoring European interests. However, bridging the transatlantic gap is not definite. With the US economy in danger there is little scope to make dramatic policy shifts. Europe must speak clearly, so that both partners can converge again. …More
Deflation is the financial threat that might catch us unaware. ++ Relief from high food and oil prices is pleasant, but extreme price drops could signal economic havoc. ++ For now, falling prices will suppress inflation (5% in the US and 9% in Asia in 2008), and …More
Actions undertaken by governments and central banks won’t be able to adress the financial crisis as other huge risks are threatening the financial system. ++ The world has benefited from over-consuming America, but the “US engine of …More
This election was special; a barrier was crossed and “America’s new deal” will begin. ++ This momentous occasion “will be seen as a miracle which could happen only in America.” ++ Obama, who “embodies the America of today …More
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. …More
President Medvedev’s speech harshly attacked the United States and threatened to deploy new missile systems. ++ This threat is a bluff to trick the US or NATO allies into abandoning a plan for a simple missile system in Poland and …More
It is no wonder that Barack Obama has won the presidential elections as he understood the failures of the current administration. ++ To make up for these mistakes Obama must replace Bush’s economic bailout plan by implementing …More
From the Editorial Team: We spent the election night at a number of parties throughout Berlin. In light of the blithe atmosphere surrounding these events, we decided to ask fellow revelers a few questions regarding their election thoughts. …More
From the Editorial Team: German and American policy pundits and exchange students celebrated Obama’s election and look forward to a new era in transatlantic relations, but they also recognize the limits of further US-European cooperation. …More
Americans have proven that they are more united than ever, by clearly electing Obama the next president of the US as well as by chosing a strong Democratic Congress. ++ With regard to the political legacy of George W. Bush, Obama is facing the toughest …More
By next fall, there will be a new US president, a new European parliament and probably a new EU commission. ++ This means new challenges and huge opportunity to renew positive transatlantic relations. ++ Immediate action is needed to …More
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 …More
America could prevent proliferation ambitions around the world by upgrading its own nuclear weapons arsenal. ++ Congressional funding would allow for building safer and more reliable arms. ++ The proposed “Reliable Replacement Warhead …More
Right-wing victory in Austria is not a revival of Nazism but a reinforcement of democracy. ++ Unchecked fears of nationalism and overly sensitive cultural policies prevented Europeans from properly dealing with the cultural …More
Eckart von Klaeden: No matter whom the American voters elect, a radical change in US foreign policy towards its European allies is unlikely. Both McCain and Obama would generally continue to follow the multilateral course pursued by President Bush in his second term of office and before him by President Clinton. …More
With the financial crisis still in full progress, political leaders are ready to cooperate. ++ As politicians negotiate next week, they have to realize that the economy is still too unstable to carry out extensive reforms. ++ Discussions are needed …More
While it is true that G.W. Bush has ruined his country’s finances, alienated many of its friends and botched the risky occupation of Iraq, not everything was a disaster. ++ Coaxing China into a rules-based economic system and seeking closer …More
Heath Kern Gibson graduated from Denison University and received a master’s in public administration from Harvard. She is the director of digital media in the public affairs office of the State Department in Washington, where she is …More
Prior to joining the United States Institute of Peace, Dr. de Jonge Oudraat served as co-director of the Managing Global Issues project at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington D.C, and worked as a senior fellow …More
With its dubiously opaque financial practices, “chronic scandals and tyrant-friendly tilt,” the UN is in dire need of reform. ++ While McCain proposes a League of Democracies to provide competition, Obama wants to impose serious oversight …More
International Monetary Fund resources are limited and might not handle all those requests from new, strategically located democracies like Pakistan, Ukraine and Hungary if things get too severe; however, the US, Japan and Europe should still borrow …More
There is a lesson to be learned from the West’s decision to integrate China into its fold following Tiananmen Square. ++ While China is still ruled by the same horrific party responsible for the Cultural Revolution, it is “a …More
Wolfgang Nowak: America is no longer up to shouldering the world’s crises. But who is going to take its place? And how do the new global powers imagine the future world order? Foresight, a project of the Alfred Herrhausen Society, asks thinkers and policy makers from the emerging and existing powers for their thoughts and proposals. …More
In the final week of the presidential election, Obama is ahead in the polls by a double digit margin. ++ Republicans have started to look for a scapegoat, turning out to be none other than Sarah Palin. ++ Palin has publicly criticized McCain’s campaign …More
European financial schadenfreude and finger-pointing directed at the US might be premature crowing. ++ Not all roots to the crisis stem from New York, rather mainly from London and Frankfurt. ++ Blaming the US and calling for a new …More
Obama and McCain’s respective stances on Russia evoke a palpable difference in their demeanor. ++ “McCain is prepped for a new Cold War; Obama is looking for a thaw.” ++ The foundations for McCain’s positions were laid forth by the …More
A US recession is inevitable but stopping global downturn should be political leaders’ top priority. ++ Expansionary policies by the surplus economies of Asia and the Middle East could offset demand decline. ++ Coordinated …More
Aside from the mystical fluke that Barack Obama’s name fulfils a Shiite Muslim prophesy of the “End of Times,” his proposed talks with Iran are also seen by many there “as a sign that the US is ready to …More
Financial turmoil has provoked leading nations to recognize the need for economic cooperation, yet fierce nationalism has reared its head amid the calls for global unity. ++ “Economics and finance may be global, but politics is still …More
Kamil Zwolski: While security problems around the world cry for the broadest coalition possible, NATO and Russia keep falling back into a Cold War state of mind. Moscow proposes a new European security deal as a long-term solution and has criticized the present system as outdated and US-dominated. A new plan is needed to address modern security threats, including climate change. …More
Financial bailout plans enacted by governments help to revitalize market confidence but do not address the fundamentals of the financial crisis. ++ Governments have failed to closely check banks’ balance sheets – they should learn a lesson …More
“Old” and “new” Europe parallel the blue and red state split in the US. ++ In old (western) Europe Obama is viewed as a “ray of hope;” new (central and eastern) Europe raises the question, …More
Crying to re-found democratic capitalism and create a new global economic order, world leaders are simply trying to divert attention away from their own helplessness and cover the confusion they have been thrown into by a crisis they …More
National governments of the EU have dealt with the financial crisis, ignoring the power of EU institutions. ++ State aid laws have been neglected aiming to “prevent EU governments from subsidising national companies.” ++ …More
Climate change “is not a traditional problem of national security, but one related to our collective security in a fragile and increasingly interdependent world.” ++ The European Commission recently released a report saying that climate change is …More
Developing countries are cut off from global prosperity; climate change has decreased the world food supply; and energy shortages often promote environmentally damaging solutions. ++ A Bretton Woods II summit is needed. ++ First, the IMF should have global …More
W. Hertel & F. Schöning: The EU is about to adopt a new framework for the defense industry that may hurt the chances of US companies to conduct business in Europe. This new protectionism on both sides of the pond will invariably hurt the EU and US. …More
The financial crisis is the consequence of a democratic deficit. ++ “Market capitalism only works when it can feed off democratic social capital” and the lack of political trust, which is a form of social capital, …More
Sepideh Parsa: The Islamic Republic is strangling the media landscape, crippling the democratic pillar of free speech. Censorship has given rise to the Iranian blogosphere. These blogs pave the way for democratic progress. The West should provide technological expertise to help Weblogistan flourish. …More
The Brown-Darling rescue package for British banks not only provided a template to follow for the rest of the EU, but was also adopted by the US. ++ The British PM did not rest on his laurels and is leading international action even further by …More
When it comes to the economy, the West and China are becoming more and more alike. ++ The Chinese are moving towards private ownership and crave the kind of dynamism that only a capitalist system can provide. ++ Western economies, on …More
Jens F. Laurson & George A. Pieler: The economic crisis has brought harmony to trans-Atlantic affairs. Europeans might secretly blame the calamity on US “Casino Capitalism,” but they know they are rowing in the same boat and so cooperation is the order of the day. The stock markets treat this as good news now, but it could easily do more harm than good. …More
Jesse Schwartz: The author seeks to explore the varying degrees of influence – both positive and negative – non-state actors have on their state counterparts and to what extent they have impacted traditional notions of international security. …More
As the captains of industry continue to rake in profits with the help of bailouts from “government cronies” without a care for the environment, the ecosystem is facing disaster. ++ We live in a “culture of wastefulness,” where a …More
Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling “have shown us the way through this financial crisis.” ++ The British Prime Minister and his officials lead the world in assessing the financial crisis and quickly enacting an apt solution. ++ The problem: lack …More
Joel Kotkin: Presidential candidates concentrate on relations with Pakistan, Russia, China or other troublesome and distant places. Instead, they should first consider building stronger relations with countries who share America’s values as well as demographic vitality, e.g. Canada, Australia and New Zealand. …More
Russian President Medvedev continues the wave of anti-US invective of his predecessor. ++ After 9/11, the US failed to spread democracy around the world, choosing to “consolidate its global domination” instead. ++ Europe should …More
Mark Brzezinski: It is unlikely that there is a Kremlin “master plan” guiding Russia’s actions toward her neighbors - her actions are driven variably by ambition and nostalgia, confusion or misinterpretation, irritation or resentment. The West’s goal should be to make Russia understand that working together with the US and EU will make it more prosperous, secure and free. …More
The US presidential race has been one for the ages. ++ Citizens of the globe have never come so close to seeing an African American become president of the world’s most powerful nation; never again will they see a Vietnam veteran running; never have they seen 19 …More
Even those inimical to US policies “have reason not to gloat over America’s comeuppance.” ++ Hugo Chavez has warned of the impending force of “one hundred hurricanes” about to be unleashed on the world’s markets. ++ European nations are …More
The financial crisis stole the spotlight from the Russia-Georgian conflict, but it also sheds new light on the topic. ++ Reasonable attitudes are conquering politics because we are suddenly “all in the same boat.” ++ Russian …More
With the financial crisis teetering on the verge of global contagion, a coordinated, worldwide effort is needed to avert a further calamity. ++ “There is inherent tension as finance becomes global but its regulation remains national.” ++ Solutions …More
The nationalization of Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac was “clean socialism.” ++ The Wall St. bailout, on the other hand, has exposed deep divisions in the US. ++ Both sides of Congress had serious doubts when passing the bill. ++ This is dirty socialism. …More
Francisco J. Ruiz: It is time to examine relations between Russia, the US, and the EU. With emerging global threats, there are areas in which these three can cooperate in defense and security. All three actors must change their policies enabling more collaboration on these issues. …More
The Laevan and Valencia study of 42 recent bailouts shows they can work, yet the current Paulson plan may not. ++ “Paulson and Bernanke should use bailout money to recapitalize the banks, not buy bad assets.” ++ Furthermore, the …More
Jackson Janes & Tim Stuchtey: Drastic differences exist between the political party systems in the US and Germany. A German might be shocked to learn that many Americans believe the most capable candidates for political office are the ones who make decisions on the basis of high moral integrity. Americans might be taken aback by the German notion of a party program. …More
The US is following a pattern similar to Japan’s financial crisis in the 1990s, but ignoring the principles and method with which to handle it. ++ Unlimited liquidity in the market is needed and the world should help share the burden. ++ …More
Anger stemming from the financial mess is ubiquitous; the biggest backlash comes from outside the Anglo-American world and is directed at their unique type of capitalism. ++ The disparity between individualism and solidarity is the …More
John Mathiason: The Copenhagen Conference will hopefully produce a successor to the Kyoto Protocol; but then the real work begins. Independent organizations will be necessary to tackle adaptation and mitigation requirements, while ensuring, through effective monitoring, that states comply. Self-policing is not an option. …More
Alexander Ochs is director of International Policy at the Center for Clean Air Policy. As such, he provides strategic guidance on all aspects of international climate policy at the center. He oversees CCAP’s international efforts and …More
We are witnessing the very “bankruptcy of modern economics.” ++ While we have long understood demand-oriented macroeconomics, the current financial crisis does not conform to any previous economic model or known solution. ++ The previous $152 billion …More
Dale Medearis: Following the collapse of a cap-and-trade climate bill in the US, it is evident that any substantive policies will begin at the local and state levels. Fortunately, this also happens to be the level at which the US and Germany can pursue very solid and mutually beneficial cooperation. …More
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? …More
The financial crisis evinces the exigent need for a “Global Monetary Authority.” ++ No international framework exists for dealing with such crises; the vacuum is perilous. ++ Financial wealth is shifting to the East; the result will be a …More
It’s a critical question: Is the financial crisis on Wall Street going to damage the US’s image of good finance and business expertise? ++ Actually, the answer is no. ++ The image of the US from a global perspective is still …More
Western warships are unable to guarantee the safety of merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, due to their inability to effectively fight pirates and terrorists there. ++ This is especially noteworthy because the region is a conduit for …More
Even if Iran is currently racing toward accumulating enough uranium for a bomb, the financial crisis has reduced the sense of urgency in the US. ++ The UN Security Council and Germany will meet this week, but it’s unlikely that they will agree on any …More
Today’s challenges need to be faced with collaboration. ++ The UN is successfully fighting for democracy and human rights in various countries. ++ However, Darfur shows that mandates are empty if they are not backed by resources. ++ The foundation …More
Washington is bankrupt, fiscally and morally. ++ Socialism is in full swing, proving the free-market Republicans hypocrites. ++ Paulson wants Congress to grant the Fed $700 billion to buy private assets. ++ Such a move will only create …More
Daniel Korski: While it is likely that transatlantic relations will improve after a new US president is elected, there are still major unsolved issues that are bound to cause disappointment on both sides. Striving for common policies on key issues like Afghanistan, Russia, and China should be a priority. …More
The demise of the shadow banking system began last week. ++ This is the financial crisis of the century. ++ Shadow banks are not protected from bank runs, as commercial banks are. ++ A run on hedge funds is highly probable. ++ If these institutions are to …More
Historically, reformers have always tried to stabilize activity through control of interest rates and money supply, but these are not consistently correlated. ++ The current crisis was foreseeable; booms cannot be eternal. ++ The world’s central …More
It has been unchallenged that export-led growth is the way to go for developing countries. ++ In light of the global slowdown, however, it is likely that the EU and US will become less hospitable to developing nations’ exports. ++ South-south …More
The EU’s plan to reward Syria with an “Association Agreement” is worrisome for several reasons. ++ Damascus not only sponsors Hezbollah and Hamas, it also follows Iran’s approach to nuclear weapons in spite of its commitment to the Nuclear …More
Oil prices spiked to US$147 per barrel and then dropped to $90, demonstrating their dangerous volatility. ++ The US approach to oil price regulation is ineffective. ++ Global oil price benchmarks are now largely based on Black Sea …More
This is not the end of capitalism, but “the global financial system will never be the same again.” ++ Those responsible for the mess are now entrusted with cleaning it up. ++ Politicians had little choice: socialize the debt or …More
The UN reports that the number of individuals around the world who go hungry has increased by 75 million in the past year to 923 million. ++ The UN attributes this to the rising price of food, fuel, and fertilizers. ++ Hunger has …More
Annette Heuser is executive director of the Bertelsmann Foundation Washington DC, a private, nonpartisan operating foundation, working to promote and strengthen transatlantic cooperation. Before launching the Bertelsman
Foundation in …More
Three of the top five Wall Street investment banks are no longer independent or no longer exist. ++ The US financial system is “melting away.” ++ Undue faith in unregulated markets led to dubious risk taking in the US as well as …More
Putin is using Venezuela in reaction to US plans for a missile defense system in Europe. ++ With his economy in shambles and his opposition uniting, Chávez is happy to be used because he wants to rally national support by painting …More
In reality there are no means by which to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels before 2050. ++ Therefore, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) stations are needed to control the amount of carbon that is emitted into the atmosphere. ++ The Group of Eight …More
The unipolar moment after the Cold War passed as quickly as it emerged. ++ The new US president will suddenly see some decisions also being made in Beijing, Moscow, and Europe. ++ A league of democracies would be nonsense in the current …More
David Neil Lebhar: While the race between Obama and McCain is too close to call, US voters and the world must realize that the two candidates’ foreign policy positions are not especially different. Furthermore, due to economic instability, domestic concerns, and a shifting geo-political balance, the next president will have to react to international issues through re-defined multilateralism. …More
A poll revealed that Americans and Europeans were troubled over the growing power of Russia even before the attack on Georgia. ++ Respondents in Europe and the US were united in concern about the Kremlin providing weapons to the Middle East, Russia’s …More
International organizations are stretched to their limits and need reform. ++ NATO struggles to produce an effective strategy in Afghanistan, UN peacekeepers are dispersed over the globe, and the EU can only offer fledgling military …More
Anna Wojnilko: Institutions for global governance must become more balanced; the United States and the European Union cannot continue to carry the onus of global decision-making on their own. The emerging economic powers must be given more say in multilateral organizations and also take on more international responsibility. …More
A McCain victory could have consequences that reach far beyond party politics. ++ Enormous numbers of young voters support Obama, a generation that could easily become cynical should this seemingly obvious election go sour. ++ Likewise, African …More
Stefan Fröhlich: The fighting between Russia and Georgia over the separatist enclave of South Ossetia is turning into a reversion of spheres of influence and a balance of power politics in Europe. The EU and the Euro-Atlantic community must take steps to mediate new developments. …More
When Condoleezza Rice had dinner with Libya’s dictator Moammar Gaddafi on Friday, she became the first US secretary of state to visit Libya since 1953. ++ Recently, Libya has worked with the US to end its nuclear weapons program and helped …More
The system of international relations is based on the idea of nation-states, but the concept has deficits: the entity of a cultural community should legitimize a state’s rule, but very often cultural identities do not coincide with a political body. …More
Christoph Bertram: No one should have been surprised at the way in which Russia has treated tiny and weak Georgia. What is surprising, however, is the eagerness with which many western governments continue to pretend that they can wield effective influence on Russia’s behavior in the Caucasus. …More
Meredith L. Nicoll: McCain’s ‘fighting words’ might superficially translate to a hawkish, us-against-them foreign policy declaration. However, specific strategies for foreign policy were almost entirely absent from McCain’s speech. How should the international community take it? …More
Leonie Holthaus: The EU should serve as a mediator in the Russian-Georgian dispute. This role requires that the EU does not take sides with one conflicting party but rather balance its criticism. Even if a position like this is perceived as “hesitant” in the US press, it may contribute to resolving the conflict by diplomatic means. …More
David Francis: The EU must take a strong yet cooperative stance toward Russia. The next US administration must regain its moral standing in international politics. Ultimately, Moscow must understand that its recent actions in Georgia are unacceptable. …More
Sarkozy’s decision to engage with Syria at the time when the US influence declines is telling. ++ He wants France to play a pivotal role in the negotiations between Syria and Israel. ++ It has been Turkey, however, that served as an intermediary …More
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 …More
Whereas the two last US administrations had a chance to assume American hegemony in economics and security, the chief task of the next one will be to adjust to the global shift in power and gracefully manage diminishing American …More
David P. Calleo: Nowadays, the transatlantic alliance is challenged by differing geopolitical interests of each partner. However, the European side should not get blinded by its forthcoming importance, but rather remember that balancing interests is always necessary, even among friends
…More
The regime in Khartoum threatens the UN humanitarian and peacekeeping presence in Darfur. ++ If UN Security Council does not take action in the face of such outrageous threats, humanitarian organizations will withdraw from the region, …More
NATO’s failure to provide Georgia and Ukraine with a concrete Membership Action Plan was a grave mistake, as demonstrated in part by recent events in Georgia. ++ Both NATO and the EU, the latter meeting today to discuss …More
Will Turkey side with the US, its NATO ally, and give it access to the Black Sea to assist Georgia, or will it choose Russia? ++ Russia is warning Turkey that it will hold it responsible if US ships do not leave. ++ Turkey depends on …More
From the Editorial Team: In his nomination speech, the Democratic presidential candidate reiterates his commitment to direct diplomacy with Iran and his hawkish position on Pakistan. What do you make of Barack Obama’s security policy positions? …More
The agenda for cooperation with Russia looks doubtful but safe havens for cooperation still exist. ++ For instance, the entire civil and military nuclear agenda opens room for diplomacy. ++ However, no single European institution …More
Russia’s invasion is not only a threat to Georgia, it also questions the political order and values of Europe. ++ With American help, the EU has become “one of the greatest strategic achievements of the 20th century.” ++ But now …More
Ulf Gartzke: Mikhail Saakashvili’s reckless military gamble has unfortunately paid off and put him on a fast track to NATO membership. This stunning turnaround demonstrates the problems with the behavior of the Georgian leadership as well as with the West’s response to their actions. …More
Beijing Olympics mark a new era: China is opening up to the world and the Western ignorance and fear of the People’s Republic is declining. ++ Many Atlantic leaders see China’s growth as a threat but it might also be a …More
If America is to continue dominating the world, it must learn from an empire that managed to survive for centuries – Byzantium. ++ Byzantium did not try to annihilate its adversaries but learned from them and skillfully played …More
The US should use alternative means to accelerate Russia’s withdrawal from Georgia and to stabilize the country. ++ In addition to humanitarian aid, it could initiate a large reconstruction operation to ensure the vitality of Georgia’s economy during the …More
There is little the United States can do to help Georgia. ++ Russia, with its nuclear weapons, oil, dollar reserves and seat on the UN Security Council, has too much leverage on US foreign policy, so banishing Russia from the G8 would be …More
Eva Diez: The Spanish government asserts its soldiers are only involved in humanitarian operations. But in Afghanistan their main mission is to enable the US to realize its own strategic plans. Now is the right time for Spain to define and press for its own interests. …More
Obama comes from the most ideological and, therefore, most dangerous part of the Democratic party. ++ He supports policies that will aggravate many international problems. ++ Despite all this, he should be president because the probable hiatus of …More
Poles, Czechs and Hungarians should be under no illusion that they can count on the US in case of a crisis. ++ In the past the US used to leave its Eastern European allies in the lurch and its recent reaction to Georgia’s plight was no …More
At the moment when most of the industrial world is in or near recession, a lot of global economic momentum comes from authoritarian regimes that concentrate on accumulating wealth rather than on raising the standard of life of …More
The conflict in Georgia has exposed the dangers of ignoring “frozen conflicts” as well as the UN’s lack of helpful precautionary tools. ++ The absence of democracy and free media in breakaway regions breeds corruption and human rights …More
Even though both Washington and Warsaw deny it, it was the Russian attack on Georgia that broke the stalemate in negotiations and pushed Polish government towards signing the missile defence treaty on Wednesday. ++ A garrison of …More
Instead of demonstrating the noble character of NATO, the so called “good war” in Afghanistan is running out of control. ++ The death toll is rising inexorably, the security situation for aid agencies and women deteriorates and the local population is …More
Christine Otsver: A joint US-EU strategy of external democracy promotion is possible but it has to be clearly segregated in order to be effective. …More
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