Domestic Debates
Transatlantic
The solar radiation management (SRM) represents the last great temptation of the industrialized world to continue its energy-intensive lifestyle and to forgo costly and inconvenient mitigation and adaptation. The costs to the rest of the …More
Robert W. Corell: Science and traditional/local knowledge can play invigorating roles in tackling these Arctic challenges relating to climate change - coupled with the impacts of globalization towards collaborative efforts within and among the Arctic states …More
Indonesia is trying to determine whether to increase diplomatic engagement with the US in the run up to Pres. Obama’s visit on March 20. ++ The Asian country could be a good partner for the US as it has proved its commitment …More
The financial crisis demonstrated that economic difficulties arise as a result of misguided financial as well as monetary policies. With the crisis a recent memory, the chances are good for tackling the root of the problem and …More
The United States and Europe urgently need to reconsider their relationship. There is room for redefining and improving the nature of relations across the Atlantic. Both the United States and Europe should make use of existing …More
The Obama presidency has left many in Europe disappointed. ++ The post-Bush euphoria has slowly given way to the sobering reality that Europe is not high on Obama’s list of priorities. ++ “The great struggles of the Cold War, which bound Europe …More
Joseph S. Nye: The world of traditional power politics was typically about whose military or economy would win. In today’s information age, politics is also about whose “story” wins. Social media is an essential tool in public diplomacy, but can easily turn into credibility-killing propaganda when misused. …More
The time has finally come to invite Russia to join NATO. ++ “Trans-Atlantic security needs have changed fundamentally in the last two decades. The East-West confrontation has ended, and Moscow now shares many interests …More
Obama has been unable to form a personal bond with a foreign leader since assuming the Presidency. ++ A series of snubs have cooled Obama’s relationship with Pres. Sarkozy, Chancellor Merkel, and PM Brown. ++ “In this he is the opposite of …More
Jackson Janes: In order to maintain its relevancy, NATO must convince the world that is as important now as it was 60 years ago. To to this, NATO should re-affirm its commitment to collective defense within a twenty-first century security context, properly resource deployments, and more equally share burdens. …More
Stefanie Babst: Although NATO and women are not two words that typically go together, the organization is taking a number of actions to increase the representation of women both in policy and on the ground. NATO is an active supporter of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. …More
Juliette Dixon: With the declining influence of the US, an ageing, slow moving EU and the threatening rise of China, stronger cooperation between the powers in such a sensitive context should be looked at more closely. The culture gap between the East and the West is vivid and prevents the Western powers from finding common ground with the Chinese partner. …More
Jean-Pierre Schaeken Willemaers: The current European energy scheme is not sustainable. In that perspective all technological options must be considered and energy savings must be the top priority. Among the current renewable energies, biomass is not given the importance it deserves. …More
“An inward-focused continent in danger of being left behind.” ++ Europe will be doomed to irrelevancy unless it corrects its geo-political approach in three strategic areas: Islam, Asia, and the transatlantic partnership. ++ By showing “moral cowardice” on the …More
Julian Lindley-French & Kurt Volker: The departure of the highly-acclaimed Dutch force from Uruzghan has ramifications for both regional security and transatlantic relations in a broader sense. If no other European power fills the void, regional security could deteriorate and NATO cohesion will be strained. …More
Robert Hutchings: The globalised economy and the rise of new economic giants demand a radically reformed international system. But it will nevertheless fall to Europe and America to fashion these new structures for global governance. …More
Joerg Wolf: The United States and some of its European partners seem to have increasingly different policy priorities. Should NATO members support the surge in Afghanistan and increase their defense budgets? Or should NATO focus on nuclear disarmament?
…More
US Liberals tend to think the grass is always greener on the other side of the pond. ++ These intellectuals look to other countries as evidence of America’s shortcomings. ++ The problem is that these people only see what they …More
Interview with Jimmy Wales: The founder of Wikipedia discusses the importance of websites like Atlantic Community where people come together to create solutions for how to make the world a better place. The key to constructive online debates is to amplify the more moderate voices. …More
Record snowfall in Washington has fueled American skepticism of climate change. ++ The scientific community must act tough and stop reacting defensively. ++ “The weather gets weird-the hots are expected to get hotter, the wets wetter, the dries …More
Michael Patrick McCarthy: The EU and the United States are both taking proper steps in their relationship with Syria. While they have some differing interests in the Middle East, both Western strategies could work more successfully if they worked more closely to support each other’s diplomacy with Syria. …More
Israelis had been riddled with anxiety since Obama took office. ++ Obama is believed to be naïve about Middle East policy and is seen as being too much of a leftist. ++ Over the past year evidence has emerged to disprove that assumption- …More
Russell Miller: American alarm over Jens Soering’s possible release from a German prison misunderstands Germany’s legal commitment to human dignity. …More
Djörn Eversteijn: The new US Quadrennial Defense Review marks a shift away from previous views on international security and warfare. A major objective of the review is to develop the capacity for US partners and allies to solve their own conflicts and security issues. It remains to be seen if this will be an effective approach in combatting security threats. …More
Ahmadinejad’s regime is unlikely to back down from its nuclear ambitions. ++ The Obama administration is taking steps to put pressure on Iran by imposing sanctions through the Treasury Dept., the State Dept., and Congress. …More
It is nearly impossible to predict what the future will hold for Iranian politics. Nevertheless, thinking through various conceivable scenarios does provide decision-makers with important cues as to possible future developments. Two variables are …More
Increasing water scarcity worldwide is quickly becoming one of the major challenges of the 21st century, which policymakers and business leaders will have to tackle together. Policymakers need to realize that certain technologies …More
The global energy market is headed towards a crisis. With the entry of China and India, new consumer nations that do not necessarily seek to satisfy their energy needs by the usual commercial deals are forcing their way into the market. …More
At the Munich Security Conference, NATO SecGen Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that the organization will widen its scope to include relations with China, India and other global players. ++ It’s time for NATO to adapt to the new …More
Andrew Small: The mood on China is beginning to darken. From cyber-attacks to obstinacy in Copenhagen, Beijing’s assertiveness and the hardening tone of its diplomacy are prompting a rethink. If the competitive aspects of the relationship with China are going to dominate in the years ahead, have the US and Europe got their strategies right? …More
The high hopes placed in the multilateral decision-making process at the Copenhagen Climate Conference were sorely disappointing. The meeting brought 192 states and 110 heads of state and government together but failed to bring …More
China has replaced Russia at the UN Security Council as the one remaining obstacle to coercive sanctions on Iran’s military nuclear ambitions. ++ The possible Chinese veto finds a sound echo among the emerging countries. ++ Brazil …More
Interview with Jeff Jarvis: The internet is putting power in the hands of global citizens. Large international organizations are missing opportunities to harness that power to improve relations with their constituents. Citizens need to continue to use this technology to create new “social assets”. …More
Last week’s London conference has reached two major consensuses: there needs to be a 5 year plan to shift security responsibilities to the Afghan people and Taliban members need to be lured out their ranks and into the mainstream. ++ …More
The Davos Economic Forum 2010 reaches very little outcome regarding the current economic and financial challenges. ++ Still, what strikes most is the surprisingly widening gap between fast-recovering emerging economies and old struggling transatlantic …More
Interview with David Kirkpatrick: Facebook is already a powerful network to organize political protest and could contribute to the emergence of global political parties. Social Media might even create a global government. The technology is advanced, but the attitudes of the citizens need to catch up. …More
The up-coming Davos Forum is the perfect place to have a real debate about the limits to global information freedom. ++ The Google vs. China fight is not a David vs. Goliath-like struggle, for technologies do not side with freedom and …More
Editorial Team: US President Barack Obama discussed some of the most important issues governing transatlantic affairs in his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress and the American public. …More
Parag Khanna: Many people think the lines on the map no longer matter. However, by using maps of the past and present, we can understand the root causes of modern border conflicts worldwide. This oft overlooked explanation gives insight into a series of conflict zones, and can offer simple solutions towards their resolution. …More
Haiti reminds us of our common responsibility to help poor countries in both short and long terms. ++ The climate crisis and the Millennium Development Goals push us to fulfill our duties. ++ The UK will do more by giving out 0.7% of its GDP in aid. Still new …More
Christian E. Rieck: The Bush administration’s spin doctors are doing their best to ensure that history will reflect kindly upon the 43rd president’s legacy. However, like another beleaguered Republican administration, the actual achievements undermined the legitimacy which the United States clearly needs now. …More
After a short hopeful break, there is more room for “green-scepticism” than ever before. ++ First, Climategate undermined public confidence in the impartiality of academics. ++ Second, the hope put into the Copenhagen conference was shattered …More
As Baroness Ashton, the brand new face of EU foreign policy, is auditioned by the European parliament, scepticism prevails. ++ The new head of European diplomacy is neither convincing nor federating. ++ Silence remains over hot …More
Americans fear the heathcare plan is a sign of a shift towards the “lousy” European social democracy. ++ Statistics prove the “Old Continent’s” model to be an economically dynamic one, challenging both the current financial crisis and long-run …More
Brahma Chellaney: Never before have China, India, and Japan been powerful at the same time, yet now they make up the strategic trio that is central to the region’s future. Asia houses the fastest growing markets, fastest-rising military expenditures, and the most volatile hot spots. Thus, these main three actors must find a way to reconcile their interests in Asia. …More
Sebastian Bruns: A renaissance of NATO’s maritime dimension is necessary in this globalized world, where piracy can wreak havoc on trade and international security. The new strategic concept must take into account the unique and increasing role that waterways will play in the twenty-first century. …More
Editorial Team: According to some, the resulting accord is an important first step, while others decry Copenhagen as a “climate crime scene.” As of now, the European Union has the only binding carbon deal in the world. What are the real lessons learned from COP15? …More
Following a meeting in Brussels last week, EU leaders have come to an agreement on climate change assistance for developing countries and now expect Washington to follow suit. ++ A total of EUR2.4 billion annually from 2010-2012 was pledged for immediate …More
As Obama recognizes that we are moving into a post-America world he is bypassing Europe in favour of a multi-partner strategy with powers such as China and Russia. ++ Europe’s infantile attention seeking and complacency is placing it as …More
Fabian Martin Lieschke: With President Obama’s announcement to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in 2011, we may be tempted to think that the post-9/11 period is giving way to a new era. Yet, it is precisely such thinking that has turned the years after 9/11 into a lost decade. We should not repeat this mistake. …More
André Budick: The EU is often criticized for its apparent deficit in formulating a coherent foreign and security policy. Yet, that ‘deficit’ really lies at the heart of the EU’s identity as a transnational entity, outside the norms of conventional thinking on International Relations. …More
Fabrice Pothier is the director of Carnegie Europe, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s pan-European foreign policy forum for senior policy makers, experts, and leading journalists. Pothier is a noted commentator on …More
Joshua Posaner: Dmitri Medvedev’s second state of the nation address gave observers an indication of the complex relationship at the top of Russian politics. His different approach may appear to be shifting Russia away from ‘Putinism’ and towards reform, but this is all just smoke and mirrors. …More
Editorial Team: One year into a four-year term is too early to judge whether Mr. Obama is living up to his promises, especially in the American system of government. Mr. Obama will need to make major progress on health reform, and find allies across the Atlantic to become a successful president. …More
For: Transparency Strengthens Citizens’ RightsAnton Howes | Adam Smith Institute | November 2009 The information revolution is about to usher in the “post-democratic” state in Great Britain. The conservative shadow …More
A 2009 report by the Anti-Defamation League found that a vast majority of Americans view Israel as a strong ally and are substantially less sympathetic towards Palestine. ++ In fact, the US policy to back Israel is one that consistently receives the …More
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. …More
Angela Merkel surpassed expectations at home and impressed the joint session of Congress with her historic speech in Washington on Tuesday. ++ Unlike Adenauer’s, her speech was an enthusiastic acknowledgement of the German-American relationship. ++ With a …More
M Brzezinski and M Fung: The success of President Obama’s inaugural visit to China depends on his approach. “Constructive engagement” between Washington and Beijing can break the mold of Sino-US relations if a series of “deliverables” can be agreed upon regarding Pakistan, Afghanistan, and informal military cooperation. …More
The European Union, NATO, and above all transatlantic relations are the specific areas of expertise of Dr. Stephen F. Szabo. He is the Executive Director of the Transatlantic Academy, founded by the German …More
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. …More
German Chancellor Angela Merkel must set the right tone in Washington, applauding a strong relationship but also showing the determination to step up in a multi-polar world. ++ Realpolitik requires greater cooperation in Afghanistan through military …More
Jeremy Shapiro & Nick Witney: Europe needs to start acting as a unified collective if it is to become a credible and strategic partner for the US. If Europe does not step up, the US will look for other partners. …More
Jorge Benitez: After excluding the security concerns of NATO’s eastern members as alliance priorities in the past, Secretary General Rasmussen reveals changes at a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers in Bratislava. Are these real changes in alliance policy or just lip service? The answer will be determined by how NATO settles the issue of contingency planning. …More
This idea of Tony Blair as EU President is an idea abhorrent to many because of his role in launching an illegal war in Iraq and keeping Britain out of the Euro zone. ++ However, his appointment “could do more for world peace …More
Sebastian Bruns: The new Secretary General of NATO needs to seize momentum to reinvigorate NATO’s influence, now the Eurocentric alliance is in decline. He will need tact and diplomacy to act as a mediator between the French and the Americans, whilst keeping the other member states united. …More
Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir: Lessons from Disagreements between the United States and Europe from 1954-2009 …More
Washington is set to “replace a punishment-heavy approach with one that is more balanced” toward Sudan. ++ President Obama has cited fears of a new terrorist safe haven as the reason for offering talks with President Omar Hassan …More
Greg Randolph Lawson: President Obama’s domestic and foreign policies align in such a way as to likely limit American flexibility in addressing unforeseen threats over the long run. In essence, the President seems ready to bet that “institutional cooperation” will be sufficient to guarantee global stability. …More
Editorial Team: Barack Obama has just been declared the winner of the ‘Nobel Peace Prize’ beating other nominees such as Chinese dissident Hu Jia, Ingrid Betancourt and Colombian activist Piedad Cordoba. Is it too soon or are you happy with the committee’s decision? …More
Video Live Stream: Disappropriation or Infotopia? The Heinrich Boell Foundation considers the promises of “knowledge for all” and the dangers of an information monopoly. In a one day conference the Google Books settlement and its implications for readers, libraries, and authors will be discussed. Recorded live stream here. (In German) …More
Bobo Lo joined the Centre for European Reform in March 2008 as Director of the Russia and China programs. He was previously Head of the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House and a Visiting Scholar at the …More
A renewed naval patrol around the Georgian coast has been Russia’s reaction to the cancellation of the missile defence project as threats are turning into a veiled policy to undermine its sovereignty. ++ “Moscow has realized …More
Anna Nadgrodkiewicz: The cancellation of the missile defense shield in its initially proposed form was inevitable for many. However, this has made the fallout no less dramatic as the risk of setting a dangerous precedent of appeasement with Russia increases. …More
Contrary to current reports, the missile defense system in Eastern Europe will be strengthened and not scrapped. ++ The previous proposal would have been delayed until 2017 whilst the current one will see an active defense from the Iranian threat …More
Anne Deter: Despite the harsh lesson the banks obviously haven’t learnt. As Sarkozy, Obama and Brown all rail against the excesses of the CEO’s and huge bonus payments the trend continues. A return to the basics of the social market economy could provide the perfect solution and hopefully lead to self regulation. …More
Greg Randolph Lawson: The Obama Administration’s decision to stop the deployment of the ballistic missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic is unwise. It is unlikely to yield concessions from Russia on key issues and may cause other allies around the globe to question US defense commitments. …More
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. …More
Marc Saxer: Democracy assistance must seek to strengthen confidence in the ability to perform of the democratic model and step up its efforts to highlight, by discursive means, the long-term benefits of the democratic model. …More
Global Green Recovery Task Force: In a report commissioned by the Policy Planning Staff of the German Federal Foreign Office, an online task force conducted by the Atlantic Initiative with 26 experts from Germany, the US and the UK, derived green technology market recommendations in three broad areas: 1) generating new sources of revenues to fund green technologies; 2) intensifying dialogue on existing national green policies; and 3) spurring new international co-operation on green technologies. …More
Editorial Team: The Atlantic Community, alongside its partner the German Marshall Fund, proudly presents this year’s summary of emerging trends in the transatlantic debate. As relations between the EU and US improve divisions still remain over climate change, Afghanistan and Turkey that may still serve to define the future of transatlantic ties. …More
Interview with Günter Nooke: Germany’s Human Rights Commissioner welcomes Washington’s participation in the UN Human Rights Council this month. It is now time for Germany to assist in any way it can to produce a credible front. One step towards this goal would be the acceptance of Guantanamo prisoners. …More
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. …More
The release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, is set to develop into a new political crisis for the British government. ++ The US backlash is disproportionate: given their record on the imprisonment of terrorist suspects they …More
NATO should draw Russia into a closer association to consolidate security in Europe and indirectly facilitate “the fading of Russia’s lingering imperial ambitions.” ++ Improved NATO-Russia relations could pave the …More
Obama said to favour Brown’s substance over David Cameron’s ‘sizzle’ although the White House denies the claims. ++ The private meeting between Obama and Cameron earlier this year shows how important the …More
Editorial Team: We have all heard that America and Europe are worlds apart. But a careful look at social statistics shows that the US is just as “European” as any country in the EU. With the rise of conservative governments in Europe and the new social movement springing up around the Obama Administration, it is time to reconsider current world views. …More
The EU Commission’s willingness to allow the US to access European bank data must be questioned. ++ “How much should personal rights be constrained for anti-terror investigations?” ++ No solution to this matter …More
Ingo Mannteufel: US President Barack Obama proclaimed a new start in Russian-American relations; now it is the Vice President’s job to initiate a new policy towards the governments of Ukraine and Georgia. Biden made it clear that the US is no longer willing to give these countries whatever it takes to counterbalance Russia. …More
Jakob Stenfalk: Solving the problems of the 21st century requires broad international cooperation. Having glaring double standards is fundamentally destructive of the trust that such cooperation requires. …More
Christoph Suess: If someone had said two years ago that the US would have largely withdrawn its forces from Iraqi cities by now, he would have been called naive. Nobody here in Europe believed that the Iraqis would be able to handle their own security so soon. Given that, Europe’s silence on the latest US move is suspicious. …More
As a global leadership forum presenting western norms and values, the G8 has failed. ++ The L’Aquila summit showed that emerging economies demand more say at the negotiating table. ++ Former ideals are losing ground to the principle of “common survival”. ++ The …More
Foreign policy, European integration and environmental policy are subjects of predilection for Sascha Müller-Kraenner and questions on which he has extensively published in the past. He previously …More
While Russia and the US agree on nonproliferation, global proliferation rises. ++ China and Israel modernize their arsenal; developments in North Korea and Iran endanger world stability. ++ Iran’s nuclear ambitions risk a domino effect …More
Biden’s words giving Israel the green light for a military strike should Iran obtain nuclear capabilities caused public discomfort. ++ Yet anything less would be irresponsible: Jewish history taught Israel it cannot wait for the worst case scenario - …More
The numerous attempts to explain the financial and
economic crisis range from complicated theses regarding the global financial
system to general theses proclaiming a self-destroying system whose collapse
was long overdue. Along this …More
Jan Techau: Drafting a new strategic concept for NATO provides a great chance for Europeans to get real about what it means to be allies and stop the great threat to the continent’s defense - the decoupling of the transatlantic alliance. But this means more and smarter spending on defense and most certainly more casualties. …More
President Obama’s visit to Moscow is supposed to foster “a more substantive relationship with Russia” - particularly on Iran’s atomic ambitions, Afghanistan and a replacement arms treaty - but Russia hardly looks “inclined to …More
Jesse Michelle Kalata: The EU and NATO have to increase their strategic co-operation. In times of ever increasing global threats best practices for future missions have to be developed. Only a profound approach to transatlantic governance can establish these prerequisites.
…More
The West can’t ignore Russia’s belligerent moves towards Georgia - warning signs that Russia is not ready for the relationship we seek. ++ “Extensive fighting could
erupt again” and Russia may be preparing to install a puppet …More
Turkey’s rapprochement with Syria shows its transformation to a confident regional player. ++ The foreign policy crafted by the Islamist regime has three focuses, making Turkey a valuable international partner: to forge ties with …More
Irina Aervitz: The purchase of a slice of car company Opel by a consortium consisting of Magna, Canada’s largest automobile parts manufacturer, and Sberbank, Russia’s state-owned bank, may be another step in Moscow’s plan to revive the nation’s automotive sector.
…More
The coup against Honduran President Zelaya should be reversed. ++ There must be united international condemnation with heavy pressure from the US, a crucial trade partner. ++ Yet,
the crisis opens the way to address a regional problem. ++ Zelaya …More
Fighting tyranny through the airwaves is Jeff Gedmin’s goal. He was named president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on February 2, 2007. Prior to taking this new position, Gedmin had been head of the Aspen Institute in …More
Editorial Team: You are in a crowded, run-down basement. Lights are flashing in your eyes and your heart is racing. You’ve broken out in a sweat and it’s running down your back. People are anxious. Someone is screaming. Danger seems imminent. …More
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? …More
Luca Ratti: Expansion of NATO membership into Eastern Europe has provoked Russia. NATO must attempt constructive dialogue with Russia to solve this problem. The future and continued success of NATO will depend on either including Russia, or ceasing its open membership policy. …More
There are four potential scenarios that could come out of the Iranian crisis. ++ A revolution is unlikely: neither side favors a coup. ++ The regime must avoid a Tiananmen-like crackdown as that would ruin its legitimacy. ++ …More
Editorial Team: Terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons are growing threats for the EU. 30 international experts interviewed by Atlantic-Community.org nearly unanimously call for a much stronger EU commitments to the stabilization of Pakistan than promised at yesterday’s EU-Pakistan summit. The EU should complement US strategy with a long-term focus on state building. …More
Eventually, Europe and the US must be seen as two gravely different societies. ++ America shouldn’t look up to the “bureaucratic powerhouse of the EU” as it was unable to cope with recent crises. ++ There is an essential link between the …More
Editorial Team: Amid chaos in the streets of Tehran, uncertainty remains as to the legitimacy of the election results and the appropriate response by Western countries. Please weigh in on the situation in our poll. …More
Editorial Team: In the third part of our survey, experts agree that the economic crisis is a small window of opportunity for enhanced Western-Russian cooperation, but not (yet) severe enough to make Moscow more amenable. The Kremlin might continue with its assertive foreign policy to deflect from increasing social tensions. …More
Since the end of the
Cold War there have been regular prognoses concerning the absolution of NATO.
In fact since then the Alliance has undergone scores of tests: Bosnia, Kosovo,
9/11, Iraq and most recently Afghanistan. In …More
Everyone is familiar with the idea of a “wide
Atlantic” and the alleged fundamental differences between the US and Europe:
the Americans believe in the unbridled free market, while the Europeans only
accept it against their will …More
Editorial Team: Experts from Europe and the US polled by Atlantic-Community.org believe that despite current tensions, Russia and the West have more common than diverging interests. But decades of mistrust have clouded the Russian mindset, and Moscow can’t yet see all that they have in common with the West. …More
Obama has delivered a complaisant speech in the Middle East. ++ “No Western leader before him has been as empathetic and obliging” when addressing the Islamic population. ++The reciprocal dimension of his approach must not be …More
Jens F. Laurson & George A. Pieler : The recent deal to save Opel in Europe, which was backed by the US, German and Russian leaders and included a 1.5 billion euro investment from Germany, is not the end of the story. The deal blithely gave the state control of a major industry - putting free markets themselves at stake. …More
Barack Obama should stop apologizing for his country because it’s weakening the US and making it more vulnerable to attack. ++ Obama wants to engage enemies through the application of “smart power” but recent missile tests by Iran and North …More
Heiko Pääbo: Changing perceptions of the world order have influenced NATO’s open door policy. Russia believes that relations with NATO should be based on mutual respect and is reluctant to see the Alliance as a partner. NATO must maintain its shared values and consider Russia’s interests for a successful partnership. …More
US consumers won’t spend us out of the downturn - they lack the leverage: recession ends the old cycle of the US buying up Chinese goods, fueling global growth, building Chinese savings thus financing US borrowing. ++ Recovery is …More
Djörn Eversteijn: In this era of international flux, state power and even state sovereignty are increasingly disputed, questioned and redefined - whether by international corporations due to the war on terror or by preventive war. The state-oriented world order characterized by the Treaty of Westphalia is up for grabs. …More
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? …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
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
Editorial Team: Joseph Nye accuses political science of losing relevance and short-changing students by overemphasizing theory in lieu of policymaking. Atlantic-Community.org hopes to offer a space where students, academics, and professionals can debate global problems, develop solutions, and formulate policy recommendations. …More
Memo 17: Enlargement, Russian relations and internal cooperation will test NATO’s ability to compromise and strike bargains in the upcoming months and years. In return for greater decision-making power, European NATO member states must increase contributions to the Alliance. …More
Prosper Thuysbaert: NATO requires assistance in order to facilitate democracy and peace across the world. The United Nations Security Council needs to be reformed and made more globally representative, and smaller regional organizations need to be set up and work alongside NATO to assist failing states. …More
The Obama Administration must get rid of a “cold war fossil” - the Jackson-Vanik amendment - which makes normal trade relations with Russia contingent on free emigration. ++ Russia has allowed such freedom for years, but the law remains
in force …More
The EU directive which aims to impose new regulation on hedge funds and private equity is a politically driven effort to place obstacles in the way of an industry that is almost exclusively based in the US and the UK. ++ The …More
Urs Schrade: Pakistan could be weeks away from full-blown civil war and state collapse. To bring Pakistan back from the brink, international aid must urgently be spent on improving security and economic development. Many Taliban supporters have a financial - not religious - motive for backing the group. …More
Ulf Gartzke: The SPD’s candidate for chancellor, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is risking public backlash and is taking a reckless gamble with the security of the German nation by supporting an Obama administration plan to resettle Guantanamo Bay prisoners in this country. Steinmeier previously opposed the plan when it was suggested by the Bush Administration. …More
NATO, so far the most successful regional security alliance, needs to define its strategic focus.++ While Afghanistan remains the pressing issue, NATO needs to move beyond a focus on the topical hotspots towards long-term strategic thinking.++ …More
Memo 16: Combating piracy requires judicial and technical avenues to manage the situation. Conducting effective prosecutions will deter further acts of piracy and regional partnerships with the African Union and Arab League can bring stability and economic development to Somalia. …More
Janusz Bugajski: Russia’s priority will be to reinforce its national interests and exert influence over the foreign and security policies of disparate states in an attempt to distract from their domestic problems. This increases the importance for NATO and its allies to work not only with Russia, but also its border countries. …More
Ian Davis: NATO needs to become closer to the more than 1 billion stakeholder citizens. Two new public consultation projects aim to make NATO more accountable, transparent and open. NATO must be more agile, flexible and creative when analysing threats and when subsequently dealing with them. …More
Editorial Team: Web 2.0 technology and social media are reshaping politics and citizen participation on a global scale. The Atlantic Initiative event featured a panel discussion on this topic with Craig Newmark of Craigslist, Andrew Rasiej of Personal Democracy Forum, and Jose Antonio Vargas of The Washington Post. …More
Prosecution of the legalizers of torture risk candor in political council and distract from questions of enemy detainees. ++ As warriors, committed to destroying our way of life, law of war and military tribunals remain the venue for …More
Jeffrey Mankoff: The success of attempts to build a strategic partnership will laregly rest with Russia. Not doing so should not be considered a failure as the positions of both sides would become clearer. Russia has the most to lose from not building a relationship, the West can bide its time. …More
Editorial Team: We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious “Speaker and Dialogue Prize.” …More
Germany’s economic stimulus efforts are comparable to the US’. ++ Strong financial, social welfare and regulatory systems have allowed Germany to absorb the shockwaves from the crisis and the nation is now boosting the global …More
The WHO has only been able to effectively handle pandemics since the enactment of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. ++ Powers of the WHO under old regulations were limited. ++ The IHR give “a sound legal basis for the WHO to …More
The IMF estimates the fiscal costs of rescue efforts to be high and difficult to obtain. ++ Still, the solid logic remains: the fiscal costs of deep recessions are greater than those of rescuing finance. ++ Choices of how to fix the …More
A switch is occurring in US-Polish relations. ++ With two wars and the unpopular missile defense proposal, the US is increasingly seen as an uncomfortable, rather than essential security partner. ++ Public opinion is turning to the …More
Karsten Voigt: The transatlantic Alliance enters a modern era with different global challenges requiring new and innovative approaches. NATO must reassess its geopolitical position in addressing these issues and, if necessary, adapt accordingly. …More
Abukar Arman: Make no mistake: proliferation of piracy off the Somali coast is a serious problem — not only for the international community but for Somalia, and especially, the current Islamist-led government of national unity. After all, Islamic law has zero tolerance for banditry, whether sea-based or land-based …More
Olaf Theiler: The balance of burden sharing is crucial to the strength of the alliance. Contributions ranging from military personnel to medical equipment are vital to securing successful outcomes. Ensuring NATO is cohesive is crucial to its future effectiveness. …More
Challenges facing the world offer President Obama a “moment of unique opportunity”. ++ Negotiations are being held with a number of countries on various strategic and political issues. ++ Action is required following this “concert diplomacy …More
Bijan Daniel Khezri: Blind faith in democracy is coming to an end. Rather than introducing more regulation, democracies should become more corporate and results-oriented. Until such reform happens, increasing numbers of ambitious citizens will abandon democracies for other nations. …More
There are 3 truths about the piracy problem: the lawlessness of Somalia creates a safe haven for criminals; the consequences of an attack are significant for shipping companies, its ships and crews; the coalition naval forces are under …More
The unconstitutional rule of Commodore Bainimarama in Fiji and the mayhem in Thailand reinforced the fragility of democracy in South East Asia.++ The problem of young democracies is a lack of restraining institutions to ensure …More
Christian von Campe: The process of globalization not only erodes nationalism, but at the same time presents the opportunity for the ideology of nationalism to return to the fore. The current economic crisis presents a new challenge to the globalized world. …More
Editorial Team: Join the debate featuring Craig Newmark (Craigslist), Andrew Rasiej (Personal Democracy Forum), and Jose Antonio Vargas (Washington Post) at the launch of Atlantic Initiative U.S. in Washington DC on April 30, 2009. …More
Editorial Team: Does one achievement stand out as a significant development at the infancy of the Obama presidency’s foreign policy, or have the early signs of progress been exaggerated out of context? Take part in our poll and vote what you think Obama’s greatest achievement has been. …More
President Obama’s visit to Turkey signals its importance. ++ It can serve as a model of a stable democratic Muslim country and as a strategic bridge “between energy-poor Europe and energy-rich Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle …More
President Obama’s “deferential diplomacy” cannot surmount fundamental transatlantic differences, as exemplified by the failure of a wider fiscal stimulus. ++ Demographic patterns dictate policy responses to the economic …More
Marie Grunert: Ahead of his visit to Turkey, there has been much speculation as to whether President Obama would carry out his intention and recognize the Armenian genocide. In doing so, whilst he would be carrying out an intention stated in his campaign, it could have a lasting impact on US-Turkey relations …More
Some 85% of Russian exports are based on energy and raw materials. Falling prices in the international market mercilessly expose these vulnerabilities of the Russian economy: no other newly industrialized country is so dependent on …More
The United States is considered the destination of choice by immigrants the world over. Especially highly skilled immigrants regard the US as a land of endless possibilities and ever attractive prospects. However, more and more immigrants are …More
On April 4 the Atlantic Alliance will celebrate its 60th birthday. ++ An apt occasion to review its tasks and raison d’etre with a changed décor and security challenges. ++ There are several issues to tackle. ++ It is clear is that Article 5 …More
NATO Livefeed: Right here you had the chance to watch the NATO Youth Forum in Strasbourg from April 2-3, 2009. Distinguished speakers discussed topics ranging from the future security environment and NATO’s role within it, to how NATO can best use new communication channels in order to reach out to the next generation of atlanticists. …More
The period between April 4-8 will be characterized by tension given North Korea’s plans to launch a rocket and the suspicion that it might be a long range missile. ++ The US spoke of a defensive response if the rocket heads …More
Fabian Martin Lieschke: US leadership can respond to the more imminent challenge of Iranian nuclear ambitions and extend NATO’s Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Ukraine and Georgia. Here is a recommendation to President Obama.
…More
William Wallace and Christopher Phillips: The “special relationship” between the US and the UK has been characterized as the preeminent transatlantic bond. But the relationship differs as presidents and prime ministers change. The Obama administration is interested in a partnership with the major European states collectively more than with the UK alone. …More
Developing countries —even if not located at the at the center of the crisis— will feel the impact of the financial crisis’ “second wave.” ++ As remittances decline and demand for exports falls, poor households will …More
This year holds promise for the Russia-US bilateral relation. ++ The Russian President has argued Russia and the US should attend the G20 and try “establish universal rules and disciplines that would apply to all parties without exception […] and …More
Matthias Stephan Fifka: Recent comments made by Mirek Topolanek concerning the US approach to the global economic downturn have cast a shadow ahead of the G20 meeting in London. Finding solutions to the current crisis will not be easy, and Topolanek’s remarks may make future agreements even harder to acheive. …More
Rudi Guraziu: The debate between realists and liberals outlines the importance of public opinion in foreign policy making. However, its impact remains limited. …More
In January 2007, Dr. Niblett was appointed director of Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs), the United Kingdom’s leading foreign policy institute. Chatham House was founded in 1920 and provides …More
Marie Grunert: The US and the EU have strengthened their commitment towards global development. Instead of a pretext to concentrate solely on the domestic scene and resort to protectionism, the economic crisis ought to be used as an opportunity to re-define the development strategies in light of the new challenges. …More
Ira Louis Straus: Bulgaria’s former foreign minister Solomon Passy is the best candidate running for the position of NATO Secretary General. His better understanding of Atlanticism stems out of Bulgarian Atlanticism, which unlike most Eastern European Atlanticisms has managed to overcome Cold War attitudes. …More
Obama stated that he would restart talks on arms controls. ++ The upcoming meeting between Obama and Medvedev on April 1st offers an opportunity to negotiate a successor to START I. ++ Similarly, Obama’s next moves should be to eliminate …More
Florian Kuhne: Latin America can realize its potential and become one of the powerful global players if it is able to establish a true community of nations. In order to so do, it must shake of the shackles of its past, and its links to the US. …More
The election of President Obama created hope that realism will cease to determine US foreign policy. ++ But the changing attitude of Obama towards the Armenian genocide prioritizes American-Turkish relations—and American national …More
Obama used television to address the people and government of Iran. ++ The President invited Iran into the “community of nations” but reminded them that rights come with responsibilities. ++ Iran replied by saying that actions …More
Romanticism has something to say in the upcoming G20 meeting concerning the “limits of universal rationalist solutions.” ++ While globalization demands co-ordinated responses, national or perhaps regional solutions might be effective as “only …More
Nobel Prize Winner Gary Becker argues that the current economic crisis is born out of big government, the Fed’s low interest rates policy, and the “bubble mentality” meaning the reckless borrowing based on “expectations that …More
Editorial Team: Atlantic Community members have voted: NATO, Russia and the international trade order are at the top of the transatlantic agenda. We will use these results as the map for our thematic focus in 2009. …More
The upcoming Arab summit is causing a lot of diplomatic activity in the Middle East. ++ Three Gulf states have warned Qatar that if Iran attends the meeting their representation will weaken, which marks a shift from the usual “fearful” …More
India’s reliance on Russia for defense equipment is largely ineffective and increasingly dangerous. ++ The entire Russian fleet of MiG-29 is seen to suffer structural defects and adds to the fact that “Russia’s defense manufacturing …More
The internet frenzy of the 21st century and the increase in online social networks was expected to create the “global village.” ++ While people have hundreds of Facebook “friends,” they only keep in touch with 7-10 …More
Mike Chinoy says that North Korea should be seen as a “religious camp grafted on to a very conservative, inward-looking society steeped in Confucian tradition, where the purpose of life is to glorify the reigning deity.” ++ Seeing …More
After 43 years of abstinence France is returning to NATO. ++ President Sarkozy decided that France should “reintegrat[e] into all structures of the Atlantic alliance.” ++ The move brings France closer to the US and undoes de Gaulle’s …More
Noble Prize winner Amartya Sen argues that the current global crisis does not signal the end of capitalism, but rather calls for rethinking the nature of capitalism. ++ Sen refers to Adam Smith to argue that the pioneer of the …More
While a US victory in Afghanistan would benefit Russia in terms of controlling the spread of Islamists in Central Asia and the Caucasus, Russia needs to be prepared for potential failure. ++ Given that the potential of a Russian led military force is …More
Noah Chutz: Structures of global governance are too clumsy to effectively respond to the challenges of climate change. The international community and the private sector will continue to operate in an uncoordinated and self-interested manner. Only science, a new fourth sector, can rescue the planet from its impending peril. …More
Secretary of State Clinton’s European trip set out the seriousness of the Obama administration’s commitment and marked a new era of transatlantic relations. ++ The tête à tête between Clinton and Lavrov — symbolized by a button …More
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.
In this series of exclusive …More
Gordon Brown, like several of his predecessors, is incapable of admitting how unbalanced the UK’s special relationship with the US really is.++ But has it ever been a relationship amongst equals? ++ Even Churchill, who coined the phrase, was aware of …More
Hillary Clinton is in Brussels, but “will trans-Atlantic relations soon be sunshine and roses again” as hoped in the European capital? ++ For the time being it doesn’t look like it; Europe continues to feel ignored and America acts …More
The argument that France would lose its diplomatic freedom and image of independent power by re-integrating into the military structure of NATO is unfounded. ++ It would assure France a better defense of its national interests. ++ NATO …More
Obama’s election worried those who fear creeping socialism. ++ Today’s democratic socialism has little interest in nationalization and abolishing the private market. ++ It aims to humanize and democratize capitalism, allowing free …More
Jacob Comenetz: The key to a future of successful global governance is to embrace the trends towards regionalization and transgovernmentalism, and work constructively to support and develop the evolution of structures corresponding to these paradigms. …More
The
inauguration of US President Obama was overshadowed by the financial crisis,
which for the time being will set the agenda in the White House. High on the
list of priorities is the nearly 800 billion US dollar stimulus package. In …More
This April NATO will celebrate its 60th anniversary at its summits in Strasbourg, Baden-Baden and Kiel.
The Alliance
should use this opportunity to declare its future strategy. This could be the
first step towards a new transatlantic …More
The collision of the American iridium mobile
communication satellite with a Russian satellite wreck on February 10th left behind a huge cloud of rubbish in outer space. There are 18,000 objects
bigger than 10cm in size circulating …More
Claudine Lamond: The argument that US nuclear weapons in Europe are essential to security provision is losing its persuasion force. NATO’s Strategic Concept (2009) is an opportunity to reassess the idea that the presence of US nuclear weapons in Europe enhances European security.
…More
The financial crisis was not a total shock; some economists - Stiglitz - warned of the dangers which inhabited the global economy. ++ Currently, the use of public funds to revive the economy will only succeed if done in an ethical way which …More
From the time of Machiavelli to today, academics were present in politics. ++ Kennan is seen as the “father” of America’s policy of “containment” in his theory that communism has an innate need for …More
Pakistan is the place where the US should concentrate, given the Taliban’s dominance in the Swat region and the recent ceasefire based on the adoption of sharia law. ++ Similar past agreements did little to prevent extreme …More
Japan fears abandonment. ++ The US has tried to reassure it by making it the first stop on Clinton’s tour and receiving PM Aso as the first foreign dignitary in Washington, but this does not suffice. ++ Tokyo has difficulty in …More
The UK Tories will be back in power within 15 months, it seems almost certain. ++ In hand with this, Thatcherism is being revisited 30 years after it began. ++ But too stark a comparison between now and then is foolish. ++ Thatcher was a product of …More
When France left NATO’s permanent command structure 43 years ago, it was confident in its decision. ++ Contemporary realties —the financial crisis and the need for transatlantic cooperation in light of a slowly emerging multipolarity— …More
Next week’s meeting with Obama offers PM Brown a chance to inject some energy into his ailing premiership. ++ But the discussion must be more than a photo-op: a closely coordination “war against economic horror” is …More
Dorly Castaneda: European and American approaches to Colombia’s troubled democracy are currently hindered by a lack of coordination. Whilst each party has different interests in the region, Obama’s new multilateralism offers the perfect umbrella under which to use their different leverage powers to secure peace. …More
Obama is the only man who can bring about effective change and make the financial crisis a passed nightmare: “he is untainted, popular and leader of the country that, for good and ill, remains central.” ++ On the occasion of the G-20 he must …More
Albeit at a slow pace, Iran is proceeding with its uranium enrichment program. ++ Unless the West completely reconsiders its diplomacy tactic vis à vis Iran, it is difficult to imagine a changed scenario: “years have been lost to …More
Yasser Abumuailek: If NATO applies global governance principles, it will be able to become the global leader in combating terrorism. Its military expertise and success in security provision, a sense of global legitimacy and its civilian-military approach to security promise success.
…More
Kay-Michael Dankl: If the UNSC is to maintain its international legitimacy specific procedural features should be reformed, and the principle of equity of states should be strengthened.
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Hit hard by the financial crisis, now is no time for Russia to make enemies and the Kremlin should be content that Obama opted for an extended-hand diplomacy. ++ Yet, “even if Medvedev goes for detente, he may not be able to deliver …More
Stefanie Babst: If governments are to deal effectively with the key foreign policy challenges of our age, they must engage in a new form of public diplomacy: one that combines understanding a given challenge with the ability to mobilize networks and public support to bring about concrete change. …More
Sarkozy’s decision to rejoin NATO’s military command is the wrong response to the new era Obama has ushered in. ++ NATO remains an organization designed for the Cold War era without the legitimacy to take on a universal role. ++ Sarkozy is …More
Whilst he does not possess absolute authority, on Iran’s political stage nothing can be done without the green light of Ayatollah Khamenei: “he can no more be bypassed than the Great Recession.” ++ The relevance for the US is that …More
Britain has always taken pride in its liberalism: unrestricted individual liberty, a right to privacy, outmost respect for human rights. ++ But the current paranoia with CCTV cameras, data collection and unjustified surveillance threatens to …More
The pledge for a new era of cooperation made by Joe Biden during the Security Conference in Munich has been received with great enthusiasm worldwide. ++ Europe is, however, slowly realizing that the cost of Obama’s …More
The recovery of the economy lies, justifiably, at the center of political attention. ++ But while states are busy coming up with stimulus plans they should not neglect the environment. ++ A three-step plan should be conceived. ++ …More
When comparing the recession-prone capitalist system to the recession-free communist system, it is surprising that it is the latter which has collapsed. ++ Despite numerous predictions of its demise, capitalism continues in the …More
A lot has happened recently, but the event which still steals the thunder is the election of President Obama and the new foreign policy he has designed for the US. ++ The Munich Security Conference offers confirmation; Biden came to Europe and promised that …More
From the Alborz Mountains one catches sight of Tehran, a world apart in terms of political and religious liberties. ++ In the mountains “everything” is permitted, and several young people flee there to escape the physical and mental repression …More
The success of the Iraqi election shot down Washington’s contention that democracy in Iraq was a fantasy and provided stark contrast to the post-Saddam days when “the only communal or social ties […] were those of ethnicity and sect.” …More
Livni and Netayahu are like Schröder and Merkel, but may go another way. ++ Both “have won,” Livni with the largest party, Netanyahu due to the strength of the right. ++ Lieberman, leader of the secular far right, could deal with Livni at …More
Biden’s comment at the Security Conference in Munich regarding the need for expert opinion prior to deploying defense missiles in Eastern Europe has raised fear in the Czech Republic. ++ “It’s beginning to look as though the …More
The Russian ambassador to Kiev has stated that Russian influence in the region is diminishing due to changed attitudes within the country and the large US presence there. ++ While the Obama administration will continue to lure Ukraine to …More
NATO’s effectiveness is being jeopardized by a series of disputes over its purpose. ++ Proposals for a European army, supported by UK Defense Sec. Hutton, would deplete NATO and undermine its efforts. ++ The alliance is also threatened by …More
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. ++ …More
The world’s most recent wars —Gaza 09, Iraq 03 — had the same objective: secure deterrence through the extreme suffering of civilians. ++ This policy has left many speechless as it revealed a “tacit endorsement by large democratic …More
Israel is going to the polls today yet there is little feeling that the election will be a watershed on Israel’s Gaza policy. ++ The outcome of the election will most probably result in the formation of a right of center, status quo …More
Netanyahu aims to be Israel’s PM on the promise of more war: “we must smash Hamas power in Gaza.” ++ This attitude would complicate Obama’s policy of using diplomacy to address ME conflicts. ++ While US concerns are not ungrounded — during his …More
The upcoming Iranian election is a critical one: the big question is whether the new president will seek to normalize relations with the West. ++ The former reformist President Khatami disappointed reform aspirations and the current president is criticized …More
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. …More
Editorial Team: The new Democrat administration and Europe’s positive welcome of President Obama promise to revitalize the transatlantic relationship. We are inviting you to tell us which three topics you think the US and Europe should prioritize. Your preferences will determine our focus in 2009.
…More
The Munich Conference on Security Policy needs renewal. ++ In 2007 Putin declared the end of unipolarity here. ++ This year NATO seeks discreet dialog with Russia, but the focus will be on the seating of US and Iranian delegations. ++ The …More
Nothing upsets the British diplomatic core more than a threat to their half-century old “special relationship” with the US. ++ UK FM Miliband dashed to Washington yesterday to beat the French and Germans in the …More
The US finds itself involved in most of the regional conflicts in the M-E. ++ When the US looks for a friendly face in the region it is confronted with hostile regional states (Iran), strategic liabilities (Afghanistan), and allies which speak …More
Prior to his trip to the US, German FM Steinmeier has stated that he wants to start a new disarmament initiative, a cornerstone of the Obama administration. ++ Russia should also be addressed and the NATO-Russia Council revitalized, as …More
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. …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
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 …More
Developments in Turkey since AKP’s accession to power in 2002 are seriously compromising the special relation between Ankara and the West. ++ Activities at both the domestic — discrimination against women — and international level …More
Jordan Michael Smith: The unprecedented enthusiasm with which the election of President Obama has been received in Europe is destined to sink when European and American interests conflict. Measures can, however, be applied on both sides of the Atlantic to secure the positive development of the Euro-American relationship. …More
Rüdiger Lentz: Inclusiveness, openness and transparency are the key experiences of the early Obama administration, according to Rüdiger Lentz, President of Atlantic Initiative U.S. in his new video message. …More
The financial crisis may produce an “automated” solution to migration: as jobs lessen immigration currents are reduced. ++ In the US, the numbers of those “caught trying to sneak in […] from Mexico is at its lowest level since …More
US liberalism has enjoyed popularity in cycles. ++ In the 1980s, liberal ideas were at a low as social unrest and low wages reflected “liberal governance [as] demanding far too much sacrifice.” ++ Obama is eager to revive the pre 1970s …More
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 …More
Obama spoke of sacrifice, but the only ones sacrificing are the Chinese, Japanese and Saudis who fund America’s debt. ++ These countries are the sole creditor nations able to buy bonds to finance the spending expected by Americans. ++ …More
The solution to the financial crisis — probably the product of excess supply and demand due to “huge asset price bubbles” — may lie with a simple economic equation: “at world level, supply must equal demand.” …More
Now that the long-awaited inauguration of Barack Obama has been and gone, it is time to evaluate the first words of the new US president. ++ The speech appears poor in terms of language and one is surprised that “Obama the writer” …More
Memo 10: In this new era under the Obama White House, it is high time for a transformation of transatlantic relations. 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
The 1960s were expected to be the period when ideological tensions would ease in the US. ++ However, feminism, the rise of information technology and the Vietnam War challenged social cohesion and introduced ideological politics, which penetrated …More
Barack Obama has repeatedly expressed admiration for the man who managed to abolish slavery: Abraham Lincoln. ++ Indeed, the two men seem to have a lot in common given their shared belief in inalienable rights and economic independence, as …More
From the Editorial Team: British Defence Secretary John Hutton has called upon NATO allies to pull their weight and share the burden in Afghanistan. In one of the most outspoken speeches from a British defence minister in years, Hutton reprimands some EU members for a lack of commitment to global security interests. …More
Under Bush, relations between Europe and the US have been tense, with disagreements causing concerns of a break up of the special transatlantic partnership. ++ Pessimism seems to be persisting, despite the coming of a new President. ++ However, the situation …More
From the Editorial Team: We have been given the honor of being selected as “A Landmark in the Land of Ideas 2009.” …More
The US-Turkey bilateral relation is under strain due to disagreement over policy under the Bush administration and many hope that the change of Presidency will bring a change of feeling. ++ However, this might not be the whole story as …More
Tyson Barker: NATO is consistently looking for a means of reinventing itself to increase its relevance in the post-Cold War era. By boldly appointing Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski as the next Secretary General of NATO, the alliance can start the process in earnest. …More
Criticism has been directed against British Immigration Minister Woolas’ contesting the Geneva Convention - cornerstone of humanitarian law setting standards on the treatment of noncombatants and prisoners of war. ++ Woolas claims that …More
Assem Akram: It is time for strategy overhaul in Afghanistan. The size of the Afghan army must be dramatically increased; foreign troops should lock down borders; Pakistan must become a partner in providing solutions in Afghanistan; and the Afghan government needs top-to-bottom reform. Progress can only come with security. …More
“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
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
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
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 …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
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
The Atlantic view that it’s necessary to protect the underdog from its powerful neighbour is isolated; most of the world is bemused at Western double standards and sees Russia as bullied by the West. ++ Events in Georgia show that the West lacks …More
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? …More
NATO will be 60 next year - a retirement age for most under its command. ++ If it does not want to become redundant it needs to rethink its structure and “streamline its command and control systems in conflict zones.” ++ NATO officials must decide if they …More
The reemergence of autocracy and great-power politics questions the stability of the international liberal order. ++ Unfortunately, Europe’s postmodern tools of foreign policy are not able to counter Russia in the latest conflict between liberal …More
By agreeing to host a US missile defence base Poland, like the UK and Czech Republic, became America’s groundbait and exposed itself to a possiblity of a nuclear attack. ++ In turn, the system is supposed to protect Poland as …More
NATO foreign ministers are meeting tomorrow in Brussels to decide on further actions regarding the crisis in Georgia. ++ To prevent further instability, they should reassure those members who fear Russia that atlantic mutual-defence commitments are real …More
Wess Mitchell: The United States should announce its intention to transfer the entire Europe-based American military establishment to new locations in Central Europe, because many of the EU’s largest states are more interested in avoiding a rupture with Moscow than in protecting the vital interests of the Union’s eastern members. …More
The Arctic Circle contains 13 percent of the world’s untapped oil supplies. ++ But a clash of interests between businesses, NGOs, and the five different governments who claim rights to the region’s energy resources is likely to cause a …More
US journalism was famous for its independence and professionalism, but recent coverage of the Russia-Georgia conflict is unfair and unbalanced. ++ The so-called free press automatically took Georgia’s side and ignored or distorted events in …More
The debate between individualism and collectivism seemed closed after the cold war, but if collectivist societies rise economically, the outnumbered individualists won’t continue to dominate. ++ Americans usually value individuals, …More
Russia claims to protect Ossetians, but its brutal military campaign encompassed the whole of Georgia and therefore a regime change in Georgia seems to be its true aim. ++ In light of these events, Georgia’s reasons for seeking NATO membership are …More
The EU’s attempt to develop a European Security and Defense Policy doesn’t mean it will compete with NATO. ++ Instead, NATO and EU complement each other. ++ Some countries in Africa or the Middle East would rather ask the EU for assistance. ++ On …More
The financially emerging world cannot be ignored by rich nations in economic negotiations. ++ Because emerging nations play an increasingly large role in world consumption and growth, the G7/G8 is not the appropriate forum for …More
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 …More
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and victory of western liberalism, the world is experiencing a revival of authoritarianism, especially in petro-states in Latin America or the Middle East. ++ Furthermore, Russia has learned its lesson …More
Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: The Caucasus conflict challenges the Atlantic community, because there is no consensus about resolving it. With regard to Russia, the European countries will have to decide if they want to follow their path of constructive engagement, or keep good ties with the US. …More
The West not only dominates the issues of the day, it also neglects perspectives other than its own. ++ Human rights and Tibet are in the center of the Western media coverage of China, but not all countries share this critical view …More
In times when there is no overbearing enemy, the transatlantic alliance is challenged by the geopolitical interests of each partner, which differ from one another. ++ For instance, the EU needs good relations with Russia and the Muslim world …More
Admitting Georgia and Ukraine to NATO could spoil the cooperation between Russia and the West. ++ If NATO decides to take in the two former Soviet republics, Russia might reciprocate by freezing its relations with the alliance …More
Food security is increasingly an issue in many parts of the developing world. ++ In countries that are net importers of food, e.g. Egypt or the Philippines, soaring prices lead to economic and political crises. ++ To help solve the …More
valentine anatolevich akishkin: The economic downturn and the rise of new centers of power will lead to a shift in US foreign policy doctrine, allowing the country to readjust itself to new world challenges by employing more agreeable and less costly means. …More
The recent escalation of violence in Afghanistan and the calls to divert the US troops from Iraq make the question of ending these long and costly wars even more urgent. ++ There is only one organisation that can provide the …More
Because of the transatlantic dispute about the Iraq war, the transatlantic know-how exchange has been neglected. ++ But with the high oil prices it becomes obvious to the US that it can learn from the EU: Europe, due to higher gasoline taxes had …More
The Taliban are the most prominent security threat in Afghanistan, but they are not the only one we should worry about. ++ Over the last few years Afghanistan has become a narco-state: it supplies 93 percent of the world’s heroin …More
By denigrating the effectiveness of condoms and demonising sex workers, Bush administration inflicted deadly damage to the fight with AIDS both in the US and abroad. ++ Consequently, global policy-making on HIV prevention regresses …More
Last week Turkey narrowly averted a catastrophe when its Constitutional Court turned back state prosecutors’ motion to disband the ruling Justice and Development Party by only one vote. ++ Had the prosecutor succeeded in his request …More
Frank-Walter Steinmeier: The rise of China makes the world a different place. Therefore, China should also accept the responsibilities of a global power. Other countries should seek its cooperation, not confrontation. …More
Fabian Martin Lieschke: Iran’s nuclear strategy – one that allows it to buy time and improve its negotiating position – seems to be working. The US policy shift has come too late - Iran has already wrapped Germany, Russia and China around its little finger. The next US President will be faced with a tough choice. …More
When Obama visited Europe, he spoke eloquently about needing a US-EU partnership to defeat terrorism. ++ The problem is: the US already have a counterterrorism partnership with the EU and it works efficiently, despite the stereotyping media …More
Common efforts to reform the financial system are on the agenda and one step towards this aim is the wide dissemination of the final report of the Institute of International Finance’s committee on market best practices which contains …More
Despite the considerable shift in global power, the default Western mindset is still based on the assumption that might and right are always on the side of the West. ++ However, the authority of this “self-appointed global …More
The global trade negotiations known as the Doha Round broke up yesterday without an agreement. ++ Despite expectations of a new international plan to cut tariffs, members of the WTO proved themselves unready for such a deal. ++ While the US and the EU had made some …More
US government has a tendency to “squash mosquitoes with TNT,” which shows in its treatment of Iran. ++ There’s no need to fear Iran: Ahamadinejad is only a figurehead putting on a show of might to gain respect in the Muslim world; the real power is in the …More
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 …More
The permanent members of the UN security council condemn Iran, but they are just as guilty of nuclear proliferation. ++ The distinction between their supposedly “responsible” ownership of nuclear weapons and that of Iran, North Korea …More
Even if the Bush administration used to neglect it, 2009 can be the “hour of Europe.” ++ If Germany, Great Britain, and France would propose serious new contributions, the new administration would listen and offer the Europeans the “leadership” they so …More
America declares it stands up for human rights; it condemns the regime in Burma and calls for fair democratic elections in Zimbabwe. ++ However, it is doing so only where it is convenient: human rights infringements in China and Saudi Arabia or the fact …More
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. …More
Matthias Stephan Fifka: Even if Obama enjoys much more sympathy abroad and is being received like a rock star by the public, his foreign policy would not differ essentially from McCain’s. The biggest discrepancy between the candidates are the expectations of the Europeans, who are likely to be disillusioned with Obama as president. …More
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. …More
Daniel Fiott: Any revision of the European Security Strategy later this year should aim to deal with the security threats posed by climate change, energy security, human security, cyber crime and the incoherence of the European Union’s military capabilities. …More
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. …More
The ascendancy of Anglo-American capitalism has been an illusion - as proven by the credit crisis which originated in the US. ++ Apart from this model, there are different forms of state capitalism developing in China, Russia, the Middle East, and South …More
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 …More
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 …More
There are four main problems that deepen the world crisis: incoherence of American leadership, lack of global financing, lack of contact between scientific experts and politicians, and finally the fact that the G8 ignores the UN and …More
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 …More
Obama has achieved astonishing levels of popularity abroad. ++ Foreigners, however, had better temper their excitement. ++ A “skilled tactician,” Obama tends to shrewdly adapt his discourse to his audience and since, if elected, he would in any case …More
Wolfgang Ischinger: The transatlantic relationship will benefit from a kind of renaissance when the next US president is elected. Rather than sitting on the sidelines and waiting for US demands, Europe should actively develop strategic initiatives and explain European priorities to the US. …More
Although the plans for a long-term security arrangement between Iraq and the US have caused a wave of criticism, such an agreement is in the best interest of both countries. ++ The main objectives of Americans and Iraqis are …More
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. …More
A study by the Pew Foundation recently
confirmed that the USA
has been suffering from an image problem for years, and this all over the
world. Even in Japan, Argentina, Germany
or Great Britain, all countries
with a traditionally …More
Hopes for friendly relations with Russia, running high in the 1990s, were ruined by the Bush administration. ++ NATO membership offer to Georgia and Ukraine and plans to install elements of missile defense shield in Poland and the …More
There is a chorus of America’s closest allies who criticize Karzai because he is not making progress in his fight against militants and corruption in his own government. ++ But he is still the best candidate for the 2009 presidential elections, because he …More
Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: Despite the proclaimed cooperative approach, Franco-American tensions could grow bigger than under Chirac. Sarkozy’s Euro-Atlantic, yet independent, foreign policy moves could well be at odds with the next US president’s understanding of multilateralism. …More
This position is Nuland’s second post in the Atlantic alliance. She was sworn in as the 18th United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on July 13, 2005. As US NATO Deputy between July 2000 …More
President Sarkozy invited many political leaders of the Middle East to help establish the Union for the Mediterranean. ++ But even if the French president likes to pride himself as a peacemaker, the exchange of bodies and prisoners …More
We live in a global economy, yet we have no effective system to manage a global economy. ++ The G8 leaders like to think they can handle global challenges such as global warming. ++ Yet, the dispute between industrial and emerging market economies …More
Syria is back in style. ++ The invitation to Paris is ostensibly a reward for the start of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel. ++ But it also reveals that the West needs Syria to resolve the biggest problems in the Middle East. ++ The US and Israel …More
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 …More
With a military budget larger than the rest of the world’s combined, the US is still undeniably world’s greatest superpower. ++ However, there are clear signs that its empire is overreaching itself and the whole system starting to …More
Failing missile shield negotiations with Poland are a symbol of decline of American influence and attractiveness under Bush. ++ Too much bad blood has been spilled between Washington and Warsaw, and the Poles are no longer prepared to …More
Responsibility and cooperation are key terms in the 21st century. ++ “Responsible Sovereignty” means members of the international community should share responsibilities, maximize the opportunities, and minimize the risks brought about by …More
Anna Wojnilko: Changing economic and political realities are forcing the G8 to rethink its goals, mandate, and membership. The debate on the shape of a potential G8 reform divides the political world. Should the G8 be enlarged to include new major international players or contracted to ensure effectiveness? We invite you to vote. …More
In the era of globalization, there is no alternative to multilateralism. ++ But multilateralism can only function with an accepted leadership and within institutions which are capable of acting. ++ Both the G8 and the security council do not include all of …More
The Clean Technology Fund - a multilateral initiative developed by the G8 and the World Bank -, would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by financing the use of clean technology in developing countries. ++ CO2 emissions of …More
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. …More
Outperforming the dollar and the yen, the euro is a resounding success. ++ Still, Eurozone policymakers should allow for more economic freedom and encourage competition. ++ Europe should stop supporting national enterprises and give the …More
Jan Techau: Europe’s approach to the US will be decisive for the future of transatlantic relations. Though Bush will leave, the US will not be in a position to radically change its foreign policy. It is time for Europeans to become more American and acknowledge that the era of justifiable disagreement with America is over. …More
The planned speech of Presidential candidate Barack Obama in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin threatens to turn into a provincial farce. ++ Unlike Washington D.C., where the US federal government decides who can speak at the nation’s political …More
G8 group agreed to cut green house emission by 50 percent. ++ But the final agreement establishes no interim goals that would require prompt and meaningful investments in cleaner energy. ++ China and India made clear that it is the …More
Uncertainty in an emerging “new world order” has brought with it new approaches to the provision of multilateral responses. One concept gaining attention in the US is a ‘league of democracies’, an institutionalized body of …More
The G-8 summit seemed more interested in harmony than in making progress on pressing issues. ++ G8 agreed to cut emissions by “at least” 50 percent, but the old conflict regarding the question who should start retained. ++ Farming subsidies in the …More
Bush’s departure will not facilitate addressing global problems. ++ The complex issues of peace in the Middle East and nuclear proliferation will continue to dominate the diplomatic debate. ++ In addition, American and European …More
Marek Swierczynski: Commotion and despair are in the air after Poland rejected the US bid to host ballistic defence system. The government is evasive in public statements and sends opposing signals in diplomacy. The MD project, once regarded as a unique historic opportunity, seems to be drifting away. …More
Crystal Oswald-Herold: Rather than using the differences that divide North America and Europe to avoid discussing contemporary successes and failures of immigration, the US and Europe should recognize that they share many commonalities and interests in this field and should work collaboratively to improve integration practices on both sides of the Atlantic. …More
Leaders who will gather in Hokkaido are ill-positioned to address the challenges of climate change and global economic slowdown. ++ G8 meetings will remain inadequate as long as China and India are not granted full membership. ++ …More
The G8 format is unwieldy, ineffective, and unable to deal with global challenges. ++ The G8 has proven bigger does not necessarily mean better; admitting new countries has turned the meetings into a “giant public relations exercise with little real …More
valentine anatolevich akishkin: Tilt and mistrust are ruling European politics making the EU an ineffective and politically feeble conglomerate of countries incapable of working out joint foreign and defense policies. World challenges grow while EU member states sit brawling on the roadside of events. …More
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. …More
Rather than focusing on force levels, debates about burden-sharing within NATO should look at “defense transformation, operations, and the wider context of the international community’s efforts.” ++ While burden-sharing faces many challenges, …More
Hall Gardner: NATO’s Bucharest Summit in April 2008 did not fully address the question of how to create a viable system of security for the volatile region of eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Caucasus. As eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus are all riddled with secessionist and irredentist movements since Soviet collapse, it will require concerted US, EU, and Russian attention if a major crisis is to be averted. …More
Dawid Sebastian Bunikowski: The Treaty on a Constitution for Europe in a version presented by d’Estaing is not only a result of a legal and institutional aspect of deeper European integration but also a result of an axiological compromise. …More
From the Editorial Team: On July 5th, Berlin celebrates Independence Day and the return of the American Embassy to the famous Pariser Platz with the grand Amerikafest 2008. This is your chance to meet the Atlantic Community editorial team face to face and find out more about our commitment to transatlantic exchange! …More
Senator McCain’s call for a “League of Democracies” would be a danger rather than an aid to world peace. ++ With both Russia and China excluded, the league would be unable to combat the most pressing global matters: terrorism, climate change, …More
From the Editorial Team: The 2008 RIAS New Media Prize was awarded to Dr. Johannes Bohnen and Jan-Friedrich Kallmorgen for publishing the online think tank atlantic-community.org. …More
Foreign direct investment is slowing down worldwide due to nations’ fears of losing control of what they call “critical infrastructure.” ++ Markets have recently experienced FDI coming from non-traditional sources such as China …More
European States have been quick to criticize America’s practices but have themselves played a role in many renditions and secret detentions. ++ European airports and airspace have repeatedly been used by CIA flights headed for rendition …More
Obama enjoys astonishing and unprecedented support in Europe. ++ The anti-Americanism fueled by Bush may have subsided, but this international popularity is not necessarily beneficial for a candidate who primarily needs to …More
Despite the presence of over 50,000 NATO troops and some 140,000 Afghan troops and police, the Taliban and al-Qaeda have gotten stronger over the past two years. ++ The Pentagon invested about US$16.5 billion in Afghanistan, but it still lacks a …More
Transatlantic Press Round-up: The 2008 White Paper sets the tone for the next decade of French defense policy. Although France’s “loss of independence” is controversial, many welcome the progress towards synchronization of the French, European, and transatlantic security and defense strategies. …More
Most people overlook that it was not one man alone who widened the gap between the two sides of the Atlantic, and that the bogeyman Bush often either approved or facilitated Europe’s own decisions. ++ The dramatic transformation of the …More
For most Europeans, including the British journalist who said that he will “be remembered as a blithering idiot,” Bush’s legacy is the Iraq war. ++ On Bush’s last visit to the UK, however, Brown emphasized the president’s accomplishments and …More
France issued a White Paper on military reforms to meet the new challenges of transnational terrorism and nuclear proliferation. ++ Alongside the modernization and rationalization of its armed forces, France seeks to return to the NATO …More
Europe has come a long way since the Middle Ages and especially over the last 50 years. ++ The Lisbon Treaty merged all treaties and conventions of the long European construction into a single body, defining and rationalizing the Union and …More
Whereas Europeans believe strong national or religious identities are detrimental to democracy, for Americans, expression of identity is a fundamental right. ++ This conflicting understanding of identity and democracy precedes …More
Thomas Speckmann: Examining the foreign policy of US presidents since Kennedy reveals that Germany is generally better off with the conservatives and that German military involvement will always be expected, regardless of who is elected. …More
While the US and Germany would welcome full French participation in NATO, Sarkozy faces stiff resistance to the notion domestically. ++ The fact that French military representation in NATO “far exceeds” analogous French efforts in …More
Hall Gardner: A move towards Ukrainian NATO membership would strain relations with Russia and have serious consequences. In the short-term, Ukraine should remain “neutral”, while the EU introduces new, and expands existing confidence building economic and political areas of cooperation with Kiev and Moscow. In the long-term, Europe should seek to develop a confederal relationship with both Ukraine and Russia. …More
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 …More
Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler: NATO is trying to expand its military wing to more countries, which used to be “the enemy,” in its effort to secure its future. However, Europe’s reliance on imported oil should be considered before alienating exporters like Russia in the attempt of reinventing NATO’s aging alliance. …More
On both sides of the Atlantic, politicians are certain that a new US President will mean big change on a broad range of issues, from climate change to Iraq. ++ In gearing up for a more “enlightened” era of transatlantic relations, …More
From the Editorial Team: President Bush’s last official visit to Germany has sparked a vivid debate about the legacy of his presidency and the image of the US abroad. Will Europe forget about Bush soon after the elections and consider the US once again as a partner and friend? Or will the next president have to fight with America’s tainted image for years to come? …More
Marek Swierczynski: The farewell trip of the 43rd US president shows who and what really matters for America in Europe. George Bush visits America’s traditional allies and friends but emphasizes the role of the EU as the main transatlantic link and one that may play an important role during the next presidency. …More
Official US presidential candidates have been selected but voters now face the difficult task of distinguishing between “the politics of winning”, which shore up popularity, and “the politics of governing”, which focus on ability. ++ Obama’s lack …More
Some may be tempted to ignore Bush during his final tour of Europe, a US President on his way out does not need the same attention as one on his way in. ++ Bush’s presidency, however, has marked an epoch-making …More
US President George W. Bush’s final visit to Europe is likely to be only ceremonial and of little real substance. ++ The EU and the US are deeply divided over issues of trade, especially the import ban on American poultry. ++ Meanwhile, …More
The vital partnership of the EU and the US should be continued through the end of Bush’s term. ++ Issues such as the economy, Iran, Iraq, and climate change require the joint policy of financial and executive bodies. ++ The West also …More
C. Deblock & M. Rioux: Canadians want to develop closer economic ties with Europe in order to reduce their dependence on the United States. However this new “European” policy is motivated by the wrong reasons and political and structural differences could prove insurmountable. …More
The “League of Democracies” has existed as a concept discussed by American political experts for years now. This spring, the idea transferred from the domain of relevant professional journals to that of the US presidential election …More
Rüdiger Lentz: In US presidential elections, Europeans tend to overwhelmingly support the Democratic candidate. Yet, Europe misplaced its bets in both 2000 and 2004. The qualities that Europeans value in a US president are not the same ones that matter to Americans. Europe should tone down its expectations, and come to terms with the possibility of another GOP presidency. …More
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. …More
Striking differences between McCain and Obama on issues such as Iraq, the economy, global warming, energy, and the international standing of the US, mean the real debate can now begin. ++ Clinton should rally behind Obama and he should …More
The personality of the US election winner will fundamentally shape transatlantic relations, but the fact remains that today the priorities of the EU and US differ more than ever before. ++ In the multipolar world that has succeeded …More
In order to win the presidency Obama must quickly readjust his strategy. ++ The long and fierce battle between the two democratic candidates has alienated supporters from both sides. ++ In the May 20 Kentucky primary, 2/3 of Clinton supporters …More
D. Korski & R. Gowan: In Europe, a consensus is emerging that more should be done for Iraq. If Europeans satisfactorily align with US policies in the region and if the US makes the most of this opportunity, this could significantly revitalize transatlantic relations. …More
Obama has claimed the Democratic nomination, but Clinton will remain an important figure over the next months. ++ Clinton “did well among working-class whites, older voters and women” so her eventual endorsement of Obama will be crucial. ++ …More
Mark Brzezinski : President George W. Bush travels to Europe this month to participate in the US-European Union Summit and to visit key partners, including France, Germany, Italy and Britain. These summits are likely to produce joint declarations of “bon amie” and official statements that the drift in the trans-Atlantic relationship is diminished. …More
Western calls for restraint are ineffective as tensions rise in Georgia over Abkhazia, the region where Russia supports separatist aspirations that threaten Georgia’s national unity. ++ “Moscow seems determined to provoke Tbilisi to take …More
Axel Berg: After the elections in the US, Europeans are expecting to forge ahead with transatlantic cooperation on climate policy. Whoever is in the White House, expectations are high, especially among the Germans who want to set precedents and increase pressure on the international community. …More
Over the last few years, the annual G8 summits have attracted more attention than ever before in the history of this group of states originally known as the “Library Group.” The rise in power of Brazil, China or India …More
Bush’s unilateralism has created a rift in transatlantic relations that is unlikely to be fixed by the next US president, unless the EU and the US share a common threat. ++ McCain frames the authoritarian capitalism of China and Russia as …More
The climate change bill currently being debated in the US Senate is paramount for actual, sustainable improvement. ++ Not only for the sake of the environment, economies have recently experienced that innovation and emissions …More
At this year’s G8 summit, the focus will be convincing big emitters (China, US) and developing countries to commit to the Kyoto protocol. ++ Making attractive proposals to encourage emission cuts and highlighting their benefits in …More
Andreas Umland: US “anti-Russian” rhetoric is not that particular. One can hear similar voices in both Western and Eastern Europe. In the unlikely case that Russia becomes a truly democratic country, much of what Andrei Tsygankov laments in his recent article in “The Moscow Times” would simply disappear. …More
Ethan Christian Arrow: Raising the issue of UN legitimacy in matters of hard and soft power, a panel of speakers have recommended tailoring operations according to local needs. Perhaps running the UN more like a business and less like a Western power would produce better results for all concerned. …More
While enjoying a security the post-Cold War period has afforded it, Europeans are becoming rhetorically more critical of their American protectors and militarily less willing to engage security threats around the globe. ++ A …More
UK Foreign Secretary Miliband believes Britain should no longer be “the bridge” speaking for the US in the EU, and in the name of its European neighbors in Washington. ++ Even if the US remains Britain’s most important bilateral partner, …More
US diplomats will not exceed their offer - worth billions - to modernize Poland’s armed forces in exchange for the hosting of the anti-missile shield base on Polish soil. ++ Poland’s expectations are higher than what the US is …More
Richard G. Lugar: We must forge a more productive relationship with Russia. The absence of a collective energy security strategy and the lack of supply diversification will lead to greater fragmentation among European nations and across the Atlantic. …More
Peter van Ham: NATO is slowly losing its significance as the central platform to manage transatlantic security challenges. In view of the different reasons for the Alliance’s declining relevance, its resilience, rather than its demise should surprise us. …More
With new ideological competition in global politics, the formation of a ‘League of Democracies’ could prove pivotal in continuing the West’s export of value systems and developmental models. ++ Some fear that a concert of …More
Marek Swierczynski: The NATO-isation of missile defense at the Bucharest summit paradoxically carried away the Poland-US agreement on the issue. The once all-uniting idea of placing the interceptors on Poland’s Baltic coast is losing political support and negotiations are reported to be close to a stall. The current round of the talks is not expected to push things forward. …More
Péter Marton: Afghanistan needs an external security guarantee for the long term. NATO should provide that guarantee against clashing external influence-seeking endeavours, but it can only do so it if it sheds its geopolitical identity for the Afghan mission. That is how a neutral strategic identity could be secured for Afghanistan. …More
The end of the unipolar world is approaching. The unipolar world emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the bipolar era of the cold war came to an end. Yet just after one decade and a half of US supremacy, the international system is …More
While Turkey’s judiciary, with support from its bureaucratic and military elite, threatens to disband the AKP, the US remains reluctant to take sides. ++ The US should realize that these anti-democratic groups are not necessarily …More
valentine anatolevich akishkin: The issue of NATO enlargement and membership to NATO divides the Ukrainian people. The split reflects the countries division along ethnical and geographical lines. Integrating Ukraine into the Alliance would more likely lead to confusion and conflict than democracy. …More
Mc Cain aspires to redefining the US’s global role by creating a US-led “League of Democracies.” ++ Besides antagonizing Russia and China and ignoring the significance of their cooperation on environmental and nuclear issues, …More
Russia and China are autocracies by conviction. ++ They believe in the virtues of strong central government and despise the weaknesses of the democratic system. ++ Autocracy was thought to be less successful in aggregating national wealth, …More
The US market is experiencing the unprecedented inflow of large- and medium-size European investors. ++ Because of the extremely cheap US dollar, it became affordable for many European companies to relocate their production to the much more …More
Daniel Rackowski: With Sarkozy contemplating bringing France back into the NATO fold, the need for a strong European defense force is at the forefront, writes Daniel Rackowski for ISN Security Watch. …More
The election of Nicolas Sarkozy was a source of hope for the future of Franco-American and transatlantic relations. Sarkozy made no secret of his intention to kick start a new era of French foreign policy and effect a radical break away from a forty year …More
T. Noetzel & B. Schreer: Despite a theoretically clear strategy, NATO is both politically and militarily ill-prepared to execute the required counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. An Afghan disaster might not be a death sentence for the Alliance, but would certainly have major repercussions. …More
While the world is looking at Clinton and Obama, Senator McCain’s speech of 03/26 remained unnoticed. ++ McCain suggested expelling Russia from the G8 and excluding China as well. ++ His most radical foreign policy idea breaks …More
In the prospect of US presidential elections all three candidates distance themselves from President Bush and promise more multilateralism in foreign policy and therefore burden sharing. ++ They forget that the US is the only …More
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. …More
Although the US’s economic and political difficulties have rarely been so acute, all of the candidates for president are selling simple answers that don’t exist. ++ Neither McCain’s version of military victory in Iraq nor …More
Jackson Janes: The common threats which Europe and the United States are facing call for immediate collaborative action. Given the interconnectedness of the world today, it is important to apply the lessons learned through transatlantic successes to other regions as well. …More
NATO is threatened by growing protectionism, fear of terrorism, and the loss of faith of Europeans in values and institutions. ++ Its weakness prevents it from reforming. ++ Enlargement would enable promotion of western ideals the world …More
Andreas Umland: Don’t overestimate Berlin’s statements concerning Russian interests in the former USSR …More
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. …More
Anglo-American relations have deeper roots than just common interests, history and language. ++ To revive them, cooperation between universities, enterprises, charities, and health and environmental research should be strengthened. ++ The …More
Lukas Vitalijus: Going-in-Between in Order to Survive …More
The traditional role of the state in Europe is diminished, therefore the capacity of EU governments to ask their people for sacrifices is reduced. ++ As the debate over using NATO forces in Afghanistan showed, EU governments are not able to live up to their obligations. ++ The European disillusionment with US policies has structural reasons and will continue after Bush’s presidency.
Atlantic Community SURVEY: 23 European and US policy analysts and our members express stronger support for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations than witnessed at the Bucharest Summit. Advocacy for fast NATO enlargement correlates with geographic proximity to Russia. …More
Andrew D. Bishop: If U.S. and European leaders are going to protect their respective homelands together, they need to understand each other’s current strengths and weaknesses. This paper addresses them. …More
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 …More
Andre Kelleners: NATO membership states should consult with Russia to determine a common understanding of NATO’s role. Selected Partnership-for-Peace countries should eventually join the alliance as full members together with and at the same time as Russia. …More
By duplicating rather than completing the alliance’s functions, the Lisbon Treaty proposals on European defense integration damage NATO. ++ Since supranationalism would only further the EU’s democratic deficit, existing intergovernmental …More
Few members at the Bucharest Summit acted to present the strongest military alliance in the world as “purposeful, tough and cohesive.” ++ “The Atlantic Caucus” is left to shoulder the biggest burden in Afghanistan and fill the “Eurogap” …More
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.
Mark Burgess: Afghanistan is NATO’s most pressing crisis, but President Bush distracted the Alliance with his push for NATO enlargement. Georgia and Ukraine can wait. Afghanistan cannot. …More
Marek Swierczynski: NATO’s decision to delay a major enlargement should only be viewed in a positive light if it results in better management of the Afghan mission, and the Alliance keeps up the pace to relaunch negotiations with Ukraine and Georgia. …More
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 …More
For the sake of NATO credibility, the decision against MAPs for Ukraine and Georgia
needs to be reviewed within the year. ++ If Europeans give in, Russia may be able to prevent former Soviet republics from democratizing and westernizing. ++ But Russia’s …More
Still depending on US hard power, Europe has found a new role in the soft power balance to the US. ++ Europe can’t continue in this role with a new President Obama. ++ Obama’s US would gain international reputation and call in Europe …More
Andreas Umland: It’s accepted by all Ukrainian political forces that the country’s entry into NATO will have to be decided by a referendum. Thus, no serious application for membership will be put forward within the next years. The current debate about its NATO membership is in actual fact surrealistic. …More
Stanley R. Sloan: Besides agreeing on devoting more military and non-military resources to the mission in Afghanistan, NATO leaders at the Bucharest Summit should start drafting a new strategic concept and a contemporary Atlantic Charter for the new American administration to tackle in 2009. …More
The first territorial war of NATO history in Afghanistan will be the hot topic at the Bucharest Summit. ++ NATO’s credibility seems tied to success in Afghanistan, therefore NATO governments should reach a consensus on new criteria for measuring success and failure. ++ Democratization and stabilization can be difficult to achieve and should not be measured on an all-or-nothing basis.
NATO enlargement is dividing the Euro-Alantic community into old and new Europe. ++ Representing old Europe, Germany, France and Austria only want to offer an “Enhanced Agreement” instead of Membership Action Plans to Ukraine and Georgia, one reason being not to provoke Russia. ++ To offer anything less than MAPs to Ukraine and Georgia would question NATO’s open-door policy.
Without a new strategic concept and comprehensive reform, NATO will continue to decline. ++ Allies need consensus on the use of non-self-defense military force and the meaning of “collective defense.” ++ NATO should be a functioning political organization and bring its relationship with global partners to a new level. ++ NATO members need to be willing to make difficult compromises.
Bucharest is the ideal opportunity to extend the NATO membership action plan to Georgia and Ukraine and further negotiations with Balkan states. ++ While rewarding and encouraging their effort of reform, this would enhance the stability, …More
Rüdiger Lentz: Increasing debates within the Alliance about the inequity of risk- and burden-sharing among its members overshadow the upcoming summit in Bucharest. Especially, the Germans are being pressured by Washington and their Western allies to send more fighting troops to Afghanistan. …More
The US is historically isolationist at heart - this has only been interrupted by
events such as WWII and 9/11. ++ The toll of the war in Iraq is leading many Americans to again turn to isolationism. ++ No matter who becomes president, they will begin the withdrawal of America from the world, leaving Europe to fill its role and face the responsibility of containing radical Islam alone.
Wess Mitchell: While the United States has been prodding the alliance’s second-tier members, newcomers have stepped up in Afghanistan. …More
Sascha Müller-Kraenner: The EU and the US have the responsibility as well as the financial and technological means to address the climate challenge. Yet their approach needs to be internationally orientated so that it also offers a platform to the new assertive voices of China, India, Russia and others. …More
The differences in transatlantic mortgage systems are causing the Fed and the ECB to deal with housing crisis in contrasting ways. ++ While the Fed keeps cutting interest rates to make up for the huge losses in capital of US banks, the …More
Julianne Smith: If elected, Obama will attempt to reestablish a strong partnership with Europe. He should come closer to his European partners on issues such as climate change and international law, but will expect greater cooperation and support for US policies in the Middle East and Afghanistan. …More
Lukas Vitalijus: The absence of a dominating trend in foreign relations today reveals how complex the world has become since the end of the cold war. With global matters overriding national ones, and priorities in international relations changing faster and more unpredictably than ever before, a single doctrine is no longer able to provide an explanation. …More
British skepticism towards EU defense and opposition to “operational headquarters” for EU military missions may jeopardize Sarkozy’s plan to simultaneously increase the EU’s military role and obtain approval at home for full membership to …More
The fact that the US and the EU are now responsible for under 30% of world exports indicates a decline of primacy. ++ Discussions held by the elites at the Brussels Forum highlighted the need for a closer transatlantic partnership when dealing with new global “state and nonstate threats”. ++ Internal discord in the EU and the US is hindering the focus on external common interests.
Most important task for the UN secretary general’s new special representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, is to form a relationship with President Karzai. ++ UN must be the primary coordinator for all organizations in Afghanistan. ++ Military and civilian efforts need to be coordinated, Afghanistan Compact needs to be supported, and Afghanistan’s neighbors need to help stabilize.
With Fidel Castro gone, the US has the chance to lift the embargo on Cuba, but should only do so in exchange for an independent and democratic Cuba. ++ The new ruler of Cuba should have a clear choice: hold free and fair elections, or be responsible for prolonging Cuba’s suffering. ++ History proves that neither tourism nor open trade are enough to democratize a country.
Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: Secretary-General De Hoop Scheffer must find a compromise between NATO members: those who don’t want to anger Russia and those pushing to include Eastern European states. …More
The 100 plus democratic nations need to come together as a “League of Democracies.” ++ NATO and the EU must build an effective military. ++ A strong NATO and EU are in the interest of the United States. ++ Global warming and vulnerability to autocracies are the next international challenges. ++ The US must be a model country, leading the world while listening to and respecting its allies.
Ambassador Victoria Nuland: “Europe needs, the United States needs, NATO needs, the democratic world needs – a stronger, more capable European defense capacity.” …More
With unilateral pull-outs of the Afghan mission threatening NATO’s existence, Europe’s security is also at risk. ++ EU members lack consensus both on matters of foreign policy and regarding a role for NATO in the future. ++ As a global security actor, the EU should bolster its military capabilities, drop its idealism, and commit itself to real objectives in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
To remain a relevant alliance, NATO needs to adapt to both changes in the international order and evolving threats. ++ NATO requires a comprehensive approach, enhanced coordination with other civilian actors, and cooperation with the UN and the …More
Energy exports are enabling Russia to be increasingly assertive and object to the US’ deployment of 10 missiles near its borders. ++ If it is possible concerning terrorism and nuclear energy, cooperation between the two countries may spread to more areas, but regarding European missile defense, the US should stand its ground. ++ Giving in would only lead to
greater intransigence from the Kremlin.
Marek Swierczynski: Just before the NATO summit in Bucharest, the differences on what and how the Alliance should do in the future seem all but rising on both sides of the Atlantic. The Warsaw conference on NATO’s Transformation made fundamental divides clearly visible. …More
Daniel Rackowski: As many Europeans ponder about the putative blessings of the post-Bush era, it is only opportune to ask how the at-times strained transatlantic relationship might evolve in the future. …More
A. Pölking & S. de Jong: The European public hopes for a shift in American policy. Many look forward to Bush leaving office and a return to the “good old days” of transatlantic relations. While Cold War normalcy was all but normal, and while relations should remain difficult, there is no doubt the gut feeling is improving. …More
The assertion that a Democratic president will have to repair the damage done to the country’s reputation overseas underrates the complexity of feelings towards America. ++ Anti-Americanism is less the result of policies than natural tension with …More
Currently, NATO’s means are solely military. ++ Yet today’s most urgent task is to prevent crises by eliminating reasons for armed conflict, so force should be the ultimate resort. ++ To avoid becoming a hollow transatlantic alliance, …More
Anna Nadgrodkiewicz: When in Washington, Tusk will need to address the role of Polish troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the necessity of easing visa requirements, and the proposed missile defense shield. Most importantly, Tusk should use his visit to build name recognition and focus on issues important to Poland. …More
Adam Hyams: 232 years have elapsed, and lingering suspicions continue to lurk in both the United States and Europe about the intentions and responsibilities that each side holds. …More
Kosovo’s illegal declaration of independence has destabilized the international system. ++ Recognizing Kosovo legitimizes imposed solutions to ethnic conflicts, unilateral secession by a non-state actor, and forced partition to sovereign states. ++ “Recognizing Kosovo means saying, in effect, that Serbian democracy must be punished because [Milosevic] was left unpunished.”
Mathias Döpfner: 2008 will be an American year. In America the race to elect a presidential candidate is on, in Berlin a new US embassy is to open, but above all we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. …More
Kosovo’s independence weakens international institutions, which have been waning in influence since end of Cold War. ++ UN and NATO unable to regulate international conflicts. ++ Weaker countries most likely to support …More
Benjamin Lucas Schoo: Vote now on what prominent security related issue the governments on both sides of the Atlantic should focus their attention on! We have identified 4 major tasks for 2008 and ask you to select which of these should be at the top of the transatlantic agenda. You can vote now on the right side. …More
D. Korski & M. Williams: NATO’s members need to take action if the 60 year old alliance is to survive as a useful organization. …More
With the world’s attention now focusing on the unpredictable outcome of the American elections, it is easy to forget about their more predictable, but equally important equivalent in Russia. Recently named Time’s “Person of the Year,” …More
As a program officer in the foreign policy program at the German Marshall Fund in Washington DC, Jan Neutze works on a range of transatlantic foreign policy issues both by managing relationships with GMF’s partner institutions …More
Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger: George W. Bush’s successor will make demands of the Europeans, and Europeans would do well to take note of this fact. Key areas of contention will remain between Europe and America especially when it comes to Russia, Afghanistan, and democracy promotion. …More
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 …More
Ted R. Bromund of Yale University explains that liberal US think tanks (and their budgets) are expanding rapidly and notes that the Brookings Institution “has grown by 50 percent over the past two years.” Conservative American think …More
Wess Mitchell: I outline recent developments between the United States and Poland regarding the US missile defense program. Relations between Poland and Russia are likely to deteriorate and Tusk may have compromised himself by acting so decisively this early in his term. …More
Andrew Moravcsik of Princeton University says that 2008 could be a “year of destiny for transatlantic relations”. Regardless of the outcome, the American elections are likely to spark a change in US foreign policy and the European Union …More
Despite climate change being among the chief topics of this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, hundreds of participants have landed in private planes as large as Boeing 767s and traveled to the secluded winter …More
James Cricks: The key to the future of the West is respect and cooperation. The US and Europe still have much to learn from one another. …More
Freedom House’s annual review revealed that 2007 was yet another year in which worldwide freedom declined. While this report is discouraging, too much weight must not be placed on the events of a single year and there are still reasons to remain …More
One of the policy recommendations of the Shadow G-8 was to establish the framework for a more equitable system of dealing with climate change. Among the aspects of this suggested framework was the incorporation of the so-called polluter pays principle: …More
Dr. Dimitrios Argirakos: Angela Merkel subordinates German international relations to US geopolitical objectives, something that Bismarck and Adenauer would not understand. …More
The time has come for the United States and Europe to formally unite, postulates John Vinocur of the International Herald Tribune. Referring to former French prime minister Edouard Balladur’s recent essay on a “Union of the West,” …More
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. …More
Joshua Alexander Geltzer: Those acting in the name of al-Qaeda are energized by a particular strategy which America and Europe must recognize in order to overcome the growing threat of terrorism. …More
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s index of Democracy measures the current state of democracy worldwide based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of …More
Improved cooperation between NATO and other organizations is necessary in view of new security requirements, says David Yost, professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School.
A more productive joint performance is needed to work …More
Scott T. Paul: The Senate’s ratification of the Law of the Sea is essential in showing US commitment to international law, especially as the treaty is supported by business, the military, and the White House. …More
Alexander Bernhard Bitter: Missile defense for Europe is coterminous with NATO’s mission. The European policy of waiting for a new US administration is flawed, as the financial burden of the endeavor could shift heavily toward Europe. …More
A new survey by the German Marshall Fund finds that further transatlantic trade and investment are seen by majorities on both sides of the Atlantic as crucial to the economic stability of the region. While …More
Dominique Moisi: I considers how likely it is that France will return to NATO’s military command. Regardless of Sarkozy’s decision, the issue represents a new strategy: “to link progress in building a common European defense and security structure with a redefinition of NATO.” …More
The last 16 years provide valuable hindsight into the grand strategic approach of the United States and highlight the need to reshape American foreign policy around the principle of restraint, argues …More
Marco Overhaus: 2007 and 2008 could be decisive years for the region. A difficult balance must be struck, between a renewed and robust EU engagement in the Western Balkans and the need to make reform efforts locally self-supporting. …More
Christian E. Rieck: Western “rogue state” rhetoric is creating unlikely partnerships among the outcasts of the international community. The unity possible under the rogue state banner provides a welcome chance to mimic international legitimacy, and an opportunity to further erode democracy and consolidate domestic power—without Western admonitions to the contrary. …More
Christoph Bertram: If European governments today distance themselves from America, they will both antagonize and further weaken the US. This will in turn undermine European foreign policy influence around the world. …More
Europe has become heavily reliant on Russia to meet its energy needs. This trend undermines Europe’s self-confidence and jeopardizes its geopolitical position as well as that of the United States, says Ariel …More
Nanne Zwagerman: The European participants in Afghanistan need to have more say in the future of the mission. Dutch forces cannot work in isolation, but rather must be part of a coalition in which strategic decisions are made cooperatively. …More
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reached out to the United States and is willing to bring France back into NATO, an offer America should seize, writes Dr. Ronald Asmus from the German Marshall Fund of the …More
As a community based on values, the West must strengthen its cohesiveness in order to grapple with the pace of globalization, and face a geopolitical axis actively shifting toward Asia, argues Stephen Szabo, …More
Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: I ask whether the alliance across the Atlantic can “endure in the face of disagreements.” A new way forward is needed in US foreign policy, one which does not take European cooperation for granted. …More
Kurt Volker, Prinicipal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs discusses the status of the U.S.-NATO relationship and other transatlantic issues with State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack on October 29, 2007.
State Department
The Atlantic Community interviewed 14 policy analysts from ten European countries on Iraq. The results were published in three parts:
1. “European Analysts Want America to Stay in …More
Niklas Keller: of the Atlantic Initiative calls utility, power and control the fundamental pillars of the transatlantic relationship. Slight differences in values should not overshadow the immense benefits that both Europe and the US gain from their alliance. …More
Henrik Schmiegelow: I warn that Asia is building pillars to support a future international order. Reacting to the functional integration and regional community-building led by ASEAN and the big three—China, Japan, and India—will be “the West’s greatest challenge.” …More
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”, …More
Christian Rieck and Dustin Dehez: We argue that the growing public relationship between Iran and Venezuela is more a game of smoke and mirrors than a substantial threat. The US and EU must avoid rising to propaganda’s bait and continue dealing with Ahmadinejad and Chavez individually, bearing in mind that “if pushed too hard, even unlikely bedfellows can become a happy couple.” …More
Soeren Kern: I argue that the soft power of Europe requires US hard power behind it to be effective. A strong America and a strong transatlantic relationship will increase—not decrease—Europe’s position on the global stage. …More
Memo 3: Members of the Atlantic Community question German participation in OEF, support ISAF and want increased emphasis on social issues in Afghanistan. In this Executive Summary, Annette Poelking of the Atlantic Initiative has more on members’ ideas for Afghanistan and an update on the ongoing debate. …More
Rejecting liberal immigration policy and condemning free trade are two stances that certain US politicians — both Democrat and Republican — share with the European far-right, suggests Carlos Alberto Montaner in the Miami Herald. This …More
Sergio Marchi: A policy of integration is crucial to shaping the lives of migrants and finding the appropriate accommodation between them and their fellow citizens. …More
Joerg Wolf: Noting the high stakes for the continent and its limited capabilities, European analysts suggest that Europe should pursue different policies than the US or make support dependent on more involvement in the decision-making process. …More
Anti-Americanism in Europe has had its day, writes Stryker McGuire of Newsweek International. With Bush’s departure in sight and the gradual fading of contentions over Iraq, an amicable …More
Joerg Wolf: We asked European policy experts for their opinions on proposed ways forward in Iraq. Respondents from ten different countries provided some surprising results.
…More
Dominique Moisi: France should come to terms with the present century and come back into Europe. I have a few answers to the question that went unasked in the recent French presidential election campaign, and seems to have gone unconsidered by the French people. …More
Atlantic Happy Hour: NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer came to Berlin on a mission to get more German troops into the south of Afghanistan. As the guest of honor at an event run by the Atlantic Initiative, publisher of the Atlantic Community, Scheffer appeared with representatives from five of Germany’s political parties to respond to questions on the future of operations in Afghanistan. …More
The United States and the European Union must work together on Middle East according to Philippe Cayla, who has been Chairman and CEO of Euronews since April 24, 2003. Prior to joining the European cable news channel, Cayla worked as …More
John Koenig: The transatlantic relationship is more complex—and more vital—than ever before. Responding to Egon Bahr’s article, I note that NATO is and should remain rooted in the transatlantic community. …More
Casey S Butterfield: The German foreign minister’s recent visit to California illustrates an important trend: the Atlantic Community as we know it is expanding. Today’s global challenges call for more cooperation between cities, states, civil societies, and citizens. …More
The 2007 Transatlantic Trends Report, the German Marshall Fund’s annual survey of public opinion from 12 European countries and the United States, has been released today. The authors caution against blanket optimism for new transatlantic …More
Egon Bahr: Europe must emancipate itself from the United States and take a stand for multilateralism. I see NATO expansion as an invitation for the US to continue to dominate the alliance—Europe should oppose it. …More
Josh Busby: I offer solutions on how countries can get from concern about the security consequences of climate change to action on its effects. Expanded support for adaptation and disaster response is needed, with continuing focus on emissions reductions. …More
Karsten Voigt: There is a need for deeper dialogue between Europe and America. Misconceptions on both sides about each other’s point of view on religion have led to more separation than necessary. …More
David G. Haglund: I blame disagreement over Afghanistan for the disappearance of the golden relationship between Berlin and Ottawa. Canada’s “perfect peacekeepers” want Germans to shoulder their fair share of the NATO burden. …More
The US should reconsider alliances with countries whose populations are vastly anti-American, suggests Victor Davis Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. Hanson calls for “comprehensive surveys” of American opinions …More
With hundreds of tons of CO2 pumped into the sandstone of Ketzin, Germany, project manager and professor for mineral and rock physics Frank Schilling believes he has found a way to store carbon dioxide for generations. As the …More
Irem Köker: I identify the issues to watch for between Turkey and the United States. Although the majority party remains in power, new developments on the Kurds, the Armenian genocide question and Turkey’s energy deal with Iran could have lasting consequences. …More
Nikolas Kirrill Gvosdev: The US course of action on statehood for Kosovo will be a major test for the newly fortified transatlantic relationship. …More
With his study for the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, Peter Kwong draws attention to the growing problem of illegal Chinese migrants and the exploitative conditions in which most of these workers must live. …More
Margarita Mathiopoulos: The West cannot afford a globally weak or inept United States. The recent political changes in France, Japan, Britain and Germany present an opportunity to start fresh with a new US administration in 2008. …More
Marco Overhaus: and Hanns Maull of the University of Trier: We argue that the German EU presidency failed to raise the EU’s profile as a foreign policy actor. Though successful in internal reform, Gemany’s tenure at Europe’s helm failed to provide real progress in Kosovo, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iran.
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Rewards For A New Way of Doing Business
More and more banks are embracing sustainable banking as a strategy to gain a competitive advantage, reports Williams. This is no mere Western phenomenon – the FT Sustainable Banking …More
William H. Taft and Frances G. Burwell from the Atlantic Council advise the EU and US to coordinate their positions before the ICC review conference in 2009. The transatlantic partners must set an example for the rest of the …More
David Mathieson and Richard Youngs of Madrid’s FRIDE connect the European left’s declining commitment to democratization with perception of American foreign policy. For Mathieson and Youngs, …More
Rising financial and economic interdependence across the globe has generated new opportunities and challenges that exceed the limits of individual nation states and traditional treaties. Six years ago the International Accounting …More
William L. Silber: I find that the “currency without a country” may owe much of its rise to serendipity. Past experience, however, shows that the dollar has further to fall. …More
Dear readers:, what do you make of Gordon Brown’s decision to take his first trip as prime minister to Berlin, rather than to Washington? Is Great Britain moving closer to Germany (and the EU), while the “special relationship” with the US takes a dive? …More
Casey S Butterfield: reveals what to expect on foreign policy from the US presidential hopefuls for 2008. In this installment, Nuland introduces the top Democratic contenders and finds that all of them promise to get the US out of Iraq—it’s just a question of how. …More
Niklas Keller: reveals what to expect on foreign policy from the US presidential hopefuls for 2008. In this first installment, Nuland introduces the top Republican contenders and finds that what plays to the people now is just the tip of the iceberg. …More
Ulf Gartzke: I warn of a looming “nightmare scenario” when EU member states could split from the US and each other over independent status for Kosovo. Results from the latest Bush-Putin summit could raise the stakes. …More
Stanley R. Sloan: NATO cannot meet the security needs of the United States and Europe. I propose a new cooperation framework among all NATO and EU states, with a focus on non-military teamwork. …More
The period of transatlantic discord over the Iraq war has given way to pragmatic rapprochement, a Bertelsmann study found earlier this year. The poll was conducted among 12,000 people on both sides …More
Wess Mitchell: I give stellar marks to Merkel in three key areas. I conclude that a strong German-Polish connection would sustain the progress made on transatlantic relations, Russian diplomacy and EU integration during her 6-month tenure. …More
William Drozdiak: I call on the United States and Europe to realize that conventional anti-Americanism is grounded in a few basic myths. Jan Ross called the growing tide of Anti-Americanism a new global ideology, but a closer look reveals that things are not as dire as they may seem. …More
John Kirton: I report on the diplomatic victories of the 2007 G8 Summit. And I praise Tony Blair for helping to finally bring Bush “into the transatlantic club” on climate change. This year’s achievements on emissions reductions, Africa and security should help to boost the G8’s relevance in a globalized world. …More
Katherina Reiche: I remind you that the G8 agreement on emission reductions means that all nations will have a part to play in reducing greenhouse gases. The transatlantic partners must work together now - on energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energies - to ensure market leadership in the future. …More
Marco Overhaus: I find that the Summit remains a crucial forum for global leadership in a field of few alternatives. How to strengthen the process? More dialogue with NGOs, more accountability, and a streamlined agenda. …More
Much talk and too few results has been the most common G8 criticism in the blogosphere. Open Democracy describes last week’s G8 summit as the “latest act in …More
Sylke Tempel: I look at the ever-present globalization bogeyman at the top of this year’s G8 protest agenda. But are concerns justified? Many of the more fuzzy arguments of globalization critics can be easily discarded. …More
J. Paul Horne of the European Institute reports that, after decades of US financial dominance, economic developments in Asia have driven down American GDP’s percentage scale of the global market. He …More
A Roland Berger Strategy Consultants’ survey offers perspectives on transatlantic relations from senior European and American business managers. The survey indicates that while European …More
Four months before today’s G8 summit, the Shadow G8 held the first of two meetings to consider which issues should be most important to the representatives in Heiligendamm. The Atlantic Community editorial team has …More
Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger: of the Atlantic Initiative Advisory Board interviews President George W. Bush just prior to the G8 Summit. The President speaks on US-Russia relations, domestic energy policy, and the criticism he has received from around the world. …More
Der Spiegel writes that Angela Merkel has aligned herself with the US more closely than any previous German Chancellor. However, due to public skepticism and the SPD’s general mistrust of the Bush …More
Ulf Gartzke: Bush’s last-minute climate change proposal threatens the historic consensus that was to be Merkel’s crowning achievement as G8 president. Is Bush serious about reducing greenhouse gases, or could this be an attempt to sabotage the Summit? …More
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced that it plans to double its diplomatic corps within the next five years, reports Jo Johnson of the Financial Times. During a decade in which India joined 13 multilateral …More
All regions can contribute to the mitigation of climate change, concludes the third part of the latest IPPC report, and there may be positive effects on some inter-related issues such as energy security. Efforts in only some …More
Julianne Smith, Director of the Europe Program at CSIS and Member of the Advisory Board of the Atlantic Initiative, warns the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs that America’s liberal use of …More
Members of the Atlantic Community:, today’s topic is all about you. While we work on bringing a forum to the Community section of the site, we want you to make this thread your own: make suggestions, start debates, discuss the subjects you most want to see in the Policy Workshop. Tell us your ideas on transatlantic and global policy: this is your open forum. …More
The Bush government still refuses to commit the United States to the multilateral climate change regime set up under the Kyoto Protocol. Although transatlantic action on climate change was discussed at the recent “(external)US-EU …More
Jan Ross: Anti-Americanism is the new global ideology, and it runs deeper than mere policy disputes. The urge to brand the US as moral and cultural scapegoat is driving Europe and the Atlantic alliance apart. …More
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff: I find that Russia must be encouraged to participate in European democracy. The EU and US must realize that interdependence with Russia can offer benefits beyond status quo diplomacy. …More
The time is ripe for international action on global warming, argues Columbia Economist Jeffrey Sachs. Scientists have clearly identified the causes of the problem, as well as affordable solutions, and recommendations must be …More
Eckart von Klaeden: Europe will soon be vulnerable to medium-range ballistic missiles. The time to act is now. Europe, Germany and NATO must agree on an anti-missile shield to protect against threats from Iran and others. …More
Atlantic Initiative Advisory Board: members discuss the most important issue facing the transatlantic relationship today. Rudolf G. Adam, Christoph Bertram, Philip von Boehm-Bezing, John Hulsman, Eckart von Klaeden, Hans-Ulrich Klose, and Norbert Otten find that the West continues to be a political power player. …More
Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger: I find that Putin should be no match for NATO cohesion on missile defense. And I urge the West not to let itself be pulled apart by a man who celebrates authoritarianism and perhaps a return to Soviet empire. …More
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. …More
Eberhard Sandschneider: The conference from the German Marshall Fund closes a strategic gap between Davos and Munich. The transatlantic discussion forum should improve relations between Europe and the United States. …More
German Marshall Fund Director of Foreign Policy John K. Glenn testifies before the US House of Representatives subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, drawing from data …More
Religion, and religious voters, have an increased influence in the electoral process in the US, says Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for the Jim Lehrer NewsHour. The author of The Holy Vote, was hosted by the German Marshall Fund of …More
The Euro-Atlantic Partnership lacks an effective venue for cooperative policy discussion. The NATO summit has therefore become the default forum for taking inventory of transatlantic outlooks. Franklin D. Kramer and Simon Serfaty of CSIS …More
China’s ascent as a global economic power has met with mounting alarm on both sides of the Atlantic. Many argue that China’s voracious demand for natural resources to support its …More
The creation of a legitimate US missile defense system requires a NATO framework, bipartisan support within the US, and Russian participation, argues Ronald Asmus of the German Marshall Fund. The Atlantic …More
Wess Mitchell: I recommend a security agreement with Prague now to set precedent for missile defense negotiations with other NATO members later, starting with Poland. Bilateral agreements with Eastern European countries would reinforce Washington’s strategic commitment to the region and would not undermine NATO in the least. …More
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 …More
Today’s security threats demand global military capability, argue Ivo Daalder of Brookings and James Goldgeier of George Washington University. International alliances should incorporate new partners that can share the increasing demand …More
Former Polish Secretary of Defense Radek Sikorski vows that Poland will not comply unconditionally with the proposed US missile defense system in Central Europe. Russia’s recent deployment of missile batteries along the Polish border has …More
In the upcoming 2008 US presidential elections, it appears as though accusing one’s opponent of being French will remain an effective strategy. Guillemette Faure, author of La France Made in the USA, reports that four years after de …More
The US-Russian relationship during President Putin’s tenure has seesawed between mutual cooperation and confrontation, says Lionel Beehner of the US Council on Foreign Relations. The three main reasons for these recent tensions …More
If an agreement can be reached in the WTO dispute between Airbus and Boeing, it will be achieved only after a long and costly process, writes Eric Heymann of Deutsche Bank Research. Since the original agreement of 1979, the …More
Europeans should look to the United States as an emerging global leader in energy policy, says Claus Leggewie of Giessen University. The Director of the Center for Media and Interactivity describes a “greening” of the US political …More
Fifty years after the Treaty of Rome, Europe is in better shape than ever, says Princeton’s Andrew Moravcsik. The economy in the EU zone is booming and growing stronger compared to that of the United States. The EU leads the world in health …More
SAIS researchers Cornell and Jonsson emphasize the threat of organized crime to Kosovo’s fragile stability. Kosovo began sliding toward state failure after the reestablishment of the Kosovo Liberation Army (PDK) as a political …More
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