News
Socrates Seminar 2026
The Socrates Seminar is one of Aspen Germany’s flagship leadership programs, grounded in the Socratic method and designed for leaders who seek more than quick answers.
If you are working at the intersection of security, public service, and policy and are ready to engage in thoughtful, text-based dialogue, we warmly encourage you to apply. More information will be announced soon.
Aspen Germany at MCSC and MSC 2026
Follow the link to read the main take-aways both from the conferences and Aspen Germany’s side events.
New Project: “Connecting Futures: Information Integrity in Europe’s Next Decade”
In 2026, the Aspen Institute Germany will expand its activities in the EU enlargement region with a new project, funded by the Global Fund of the Aspen Institute International Partners.
At the Aspen Institute Germany we want to promote values-based leadership, constructive dialogue, and international cooperation to tackle today‘s most pressing global challenges: geopolitical and geoeconomic conflicts, climate change, the health crisis, cyber risks, digitalization.
Events
- Future Cities Go Glocal: Seventh Virtual Meeting
- On Wednesday, 11 March 2026, the seventh virtual meeting of the Aspen Institute Germany’s Future Cities Go Glocal project will take place. Following a successful and insightful cohort trip to Berlin and several productive in person working sessions, participants will come together online again for the first time. The meeting will focus on reflecting on […]
- Mar 11, 2026
- Deep Dive Discussion: Economic Security
- In recent months, the debate on economic security in Germany has gained new urgency and intensity. Rising geopolitical tensions, persistent disruptions to global supply chains, growing digital dependencies, and renewed discussions on technological sovereignty have brought a fundamental question to the forefront: how can Germany safeguard its strategic interests while preserving economic strength, openness, and […]
- Mar 12, 2026
- Inside AI Briefings Session 1: The Global AI Sector — Competition, Cooperation, and Dependencies
- Artificial intelligence is rapidly emerging as a foundational technology with far-reaching economic, security, and geopolitical implications. Questions of competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and strategic dependencies are now inseparable from how AI is developed, governed, and deployed. This is where “Inside AI Briefings” by Aspen Germany comes in. The year-long series comprises four exclusive breakfast briefings, organized […]
- Mar 17, 2026
Publications
Solidarity in Action
This publication offers concrete recommendations for increased transatlantic and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans to tackle the most pressing challenges to peace, stability and democracy in the region.
Hybrid Realities: Disinformation, Influencers, and the Defense of Democracies in Central and Eastern Europe
The fifth cohort of state and provincial legislators from the United States, Germany, and Canada, participating in Aspen Germany’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative, proudly presents their policy recommendations on social cohesion.
Structural Change in the Western Balkans
This publication examines key drivers of transformation in the region: digitalization, labor and migration, energy transition, and trade and economy.
Podcasts
EP77: After Munich: Where Is Transatlantic Security Heading?
With Peter Rough, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute; Jenny Leonard, journalist and correspondent at Bloomberg News; and Prof. Dr. Tobias Bunde, Director of Research & Policy at the Munich Security Conference and Professor of International Security at the Hertie School, we discuss what the main speeches at the MSC 2026 have revealed and what this means for transatlantic relations and the global security order.
EP76: Trump’s first year in office: successes, setbacks, reality
With Jörn Fleck, Senior Director of the Europe Center at the Atlantic Council, and Erik Kirschbaum, author and independent journalist, we look back at the first year of Trump 2.0.: What domestic and foreign policy achievements can Donald Trump point to? Where have his strategies fallen short? How are these developments reflected in approval ratings? And what do they mean for the United States as it heads into 2026?
EP75: MAGA becomes MEGA – The new Transatlantic Alliance
With Annett Meiritz, International Correspondent at Handelsblatt and Juliane Schäuble, U.S. Correspondent at Die ZEIT, we explore how transatlantic right-wing networks function, where they cooperate, the risks they pose to democracy, and what all this means for the future of transatlantic relations.
Programs
Digital
The Digital Program deals with the far-reaching social transformation processes of digitalization.
Europe
The Europe programs focuses on the future of Europe with a particular focus on the Western Balkans, EU enlargement, and questions of strategic autonomy.
Leadership
The Aspen Leadership Program facilitates exchange between people in leadership positions to foster values-based leadership.
Public
The Public Program provides a forum for open and constructive dialogue between decision-makers and a broader audience on a wide range of current global challenges.
Transatlantic
The Transatlantic Program facilitates an open, values-based dialogue on key challenges facing the transatlantic partnership.
About
The Aspen Institute Germany is an independent, non-partisan organization committed to promoting values-based leadership and open discourse on society, policy and global challenges.
Our Mission
The Aspen Institute Germany promotes values-based leadership, constructive dialog among conflicting parties, and Euro-Atlantic cooperation to support and enhance a strong open society.
Our history
The Aspen Institute Germany was founded in 1974 by Shepard Stone as the first Aspen Institute outside the United States. Founded in the midst of the Cold War, it promoted U.S.-German dialog with the Eastern Bloc.
Our Team
Director Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner has led the Aspen team since January 2021. Our Transatlantic, Digital, Public and Europe Programs are being supported by a team of currently 21 staff members.
Aspen international
In addition to the founding institute in the USA, the global Aspen network includes independent institutes in Central Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin), India (New Delhi), Italy (Rome), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), New Zealand (Queenstown), Romania (Bucharest), Spain (Madrid), UK (London), and Ukraine (Kyiv).
