On September 12, 2024, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany will host the thirteenth discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to […]
Transatlantic Program
Road to Election 2024: From Convention Season to the Final Campaign Stretch
Two months before Election Day, we will delve into the competing visions both parties are offering to U.S. voters and how these messages are being received by the American public. We will explore the core values and issues that define what it means to be a Democrat or Republican in today’s political climate. Together with […]
Future Cities Go Glocal: First Virtual Meeting – Introductions
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, the Aspen Institute Germany will host the first virtual meeting of the “Future Cities Go Glocal” initiative. The project aims to promote exchange between city stakeholders from Berlin, New Delhi, Nairobi, and Mexico City to share best practices, build new networks, and develop policy recommendations for sustainable, inclusive, and future-oriented […]
Social Media: Menace or Blessing for Democracy?
Social Media: Menace or Blessing for Democracy? Megan Shahi is Technology Expert with the think tank „Centre for American Progress“. Previously she worked for meta (facebook and Instagram) and the US-goverment. Jonas Roleder is Social Media Officer at the liaison office of the European Parlament in Berlin. In the discussion with both we will look […]
Tech-Powered Democracy. The Role of Social Media in Elections in the U.S. and Germany
Social Media has become an integral part to our political discourse: for many people, it is one of the main ways in which they interact with political campaigns, civil society organizations and even news coverage about the political sphere. Indeed, traditional and social media have become inseparably intertwined, constantly reacting to each other in the […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Finalizing the Action Points
On June 27th, the 10th virtual meeting of the 2024 Laboratories of Democracy cohort will take place. After productive sessions in Austin, Texas, this meeting will focus on finalizing the action points for the subnational policy recommendations. In total, the state/provincial legislators from the U.S., Canada and Germany will draft 18 action points for the […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture Future Farms: Transatlantic Perspectives on the Digital Transformation of Agriculture
Both Europe and the United States have a central role to play in shaping a more sustainable agricultural future. To address common challenges and provide shared global leadership for the future of agriculture, a better mutual understanding of different agricultural practices, standards and ideas is needed. The Future of Agriculture German-American Forum project, led by […]
Road to Election 2024: KI & ME: The Election Campaign and Artificial Intelligence
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the US presidential election. It was recently reported that US President Joe Biden had called Democratic voters in New Hampshire to ask them not to vote in the primaries. However, this was not […]
Road to Election 2024: Economic Vistas and the U.S. Presidential Elections
The next event in our virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the economic approaches of the two U.S. Presidential candidates. Economic performance has been the most important factor in the US presidential election in polls for months. The Biden administration is relying on Bidenomics via the Build Back Better infrastructure programme. […]
Road to Election 2024: A Republic, If We Can Keep It – Democracy on the Ballot Since the very Beginning
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the history of American democracy and what we can learn from George Washington’s presidency even 225 years after his death – especially with regard to this year’s Presidential Election. The 2024 election is shaping up to be one of the most […]
Road to Election 2024: KI & ME: Dormant NATO: Future Prospects and Challenges
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the future prospects and challenges of NATO after the US presidential election. Russia’s war against Ukraine has shown how much the Europeans are still dependent on the US to ensure their security, despite all the talk of “strategic autonomy”. Even […]
Road to Election 2024: Trade Policy in the next Administration
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the trade policy of the future administration. To examine where the two presidential candidates differ and align on their overall trade strategy, the use of tariffs, the relationships with Europe and China, and looking ahead to the USMCA review, we […]
Podcast America’s Choice: On the Rise? The Labor Movement in the USA
Die Arbeitnehmer in der Automobil- und Dienstleistungsbranche haben in letzter Zeit mit erfolgreichen Organisierungskampagnen und Vertragsabschlüssen Schlagzeilen gemacht. Jüngste Umfragen zeigen auch eine wachsende Popularität der Gewerkschaften unter den Amerikanern. Dennoch gibt es in Politik, Wirtschaft und Justiz erhebliche Widerstände gegen eine stärkere gewerkschaftliche Organisierung. Was sind einige Beispiele für eine stärkere Arbeitnehmervertretung in den […]
Road to Election 2024: The Crossroads of Democracy: Student Protests and the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the current student protests and their impact on the U.S. presidential elections. This spring’s student protests were more dramatic than any America has seen since the Vietnam War. On some campuses, classes and even graduation were canceled; in a number […]
Road to Election 2024: The Crossroads of Democracy: Foreign Policy Implications of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on foreign policy implications of the U.S. presidential elections. Foreign policy seldom plays much of a role in American presidential elections, but the consequences of those contests can be profound for America’s allies in Europe and for the world. The 2024 […]
U.S. Election Night 2024
The U.S. Presidential Election 2024 will have a decisive impact on the transatlantic political environment and the political landscape. The outcome of this landmark election will have a significant impact not only on the future of the United States, but also on transatlantic relations and global politics. At the end of what is sure to […]
Road to Election 2024: Jamie Raskin: The Unthinkable – Fighting for American Democracy
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the potential democracy-threatening outcome of this year’s Presidential Elections. Is American democracy in danger? Congressman Jamie Raskin, member of the Democratic Party, expert in constitutional law and lead impeachment manager in the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump, […]
Road to Election 2024: Sigmar Gabriel: Transatlantic Relations in Turbulent Times
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on transatlantic relations in the current turbulent times. The transatlantic alliance is facing new challenges. Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it has become clear that the days of geopolitical stability are over. How will the transatlantic partnership develop […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Citizen Engagement and Building Trust in Government
On May 23, 2024, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the twelfth discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Voting Results on Subnational Recommendations
On Mai 8th, 2024, the eighth digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place. The meeting will focus on discussing the voting results on the subnational policy recommendations. The goal of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative is to promote values-based dialog and exchange of ideas on common political challenges at the […]
Road to Election 2024: Burden-Sharing or Burden-Shifting? U.S. Policy on NATO after November 2024
The specter of the United States abandoning NATO looms large over the 2024 U.S. elections. Former President Trump recently reminded Europeans of his ingrained hostility toward the Alliance when he invited Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to allies that do not pull their weight in defense spending. While a formal U.S. withdrawal […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Critical Infrastructure
On April 25th, 2024, the seventh digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place. The meeting will focus on discussing and classifying the recommendations for action. The goal of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative is to promote values-based dialog and exchange of ideas on common political challenges at the subnational level. […]
FGS Global x Aspen Institute: Transatlantic Tides Event
On April 17, 2024, the Aspen Institute Germany and FGS Global are jointly hosting the “Transatlantic Tides Event”, at the Restaurant im Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin. We are delighted to welcome high-ranking experts from the German and American public and private policy sector. Speakers including Michael Feldman, Partner and Co-Chairman of FGS Global North America and […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online discussion on the finalization of the Policy Recommendations
On Mai 22nd, 2024, the eighth digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place. The meeting will focus on finalizing the policy recommendations. The goal of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative is to promote values-based dialog and exchange of ideas on common political challenges at the subnational level. At the same […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Critical Infrastructure
On April 16th, 2024, the sixth digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place. The focus of the meeting will be on finalizing the definition of critical infrastructures. The 30 participants from Canada, Germany and the USA will discuss their work on the definitions from Mainz and agree on a uniform […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Meeting of the 2024 Cohort in Austin
From June 11-15, 2024, the in-person meeting of the 2024 cohort of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative tooke place in Austin, TX, United States. A cohort of 30 U.S. state legislators, German Landtagsabgeordnete and Canadian provincial legislators met with policymakers, research institutes, and companies and visited local best practices in Texas. The core topic for […]
Podcast America’s Choice: Bidenomics between Economic Policy, Campaign and Theory
From the Middle Out and the Bottom Up: U.S. President Joe Biden uses this formula to outline his government’s economic policy like a mantra. The idea of so-called Bidenomics essentially has three components. Extensive investment in the middle class, measures for training and further education and the promotion of competition are intended to generate economic […]
Road to Election 2024: KI & ME: The Election Campaign and Artificial Intelligence
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” will focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the US presidential election. It was recently reported that US President Joe Biden had called Democratic voters in New Hampshire to ask them not to vote in the primaries. However, this was not […]
Road to Election 2024: Personnel is Policy: Republican Plans for an Administrative Overhaul under Trump 2.0
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” focussed on an administrative overhaul in case Donald Trump will win the United States presidential election. Trump stands a roughly even chance of winning the presidency, and with this potential transition looming, attention has turned towards Trump’s agenda to eradicate the “Deep State” […]
Podcast America’s Choice: Two Years of War in Ukraine and No End in Sight
The end of February marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has long since developed into a brutal trench war in the east and south of Ukraine. Russia has built a land bridge from its territory to the Crimean peninsula, which it has annexed since 2014. Neither side has made any […]
Road to Election: The Crossroads of Democracy. The 2024 US Presidential Election with Lynn Vavreck
Our next “Road to Election 2024” virtual event took place on February 29, 2024: Do American voters think Joe Biden is too old — and might they not vote for him, as a result? And despite seemingly cruising to the Republican nomination, is Donald Trump actually showing weakness within his own party? Are minorities drifting […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initative: Online Discussion on Critical Infrastructure
On February 28th, 2024, the fifth digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place. The meeting will focus on defining the multiple aspects of critical infrastructures, as well as identifying common challenges and opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic. The 30 participants from Canada, Germany and the USA will work […]
Road to Election 2024: Democratic Crossroads – Super Tuesday: Weichenstellung im US-Wahljahr
The next event in the virtual event series “Road to Election 2024” focussed on Super Tuesday. The USA is in the midst of a turbulent election campaign for the presidency and the rest of the world is watching with bated breath: will Donald Trump be able to campaign despite the court ruling and if so, […]
Road to Election 2024: Palmetto Politics: South Carolina and the U.S. Elections 2024
The next event of the “Road to Election 2024” virtual event series focused on the South Carolina presidential primary. With its “First in the South” primary, South Carolina has ended and revived numerous political careers and cemented its status as a legendary political battlefield. In 2020, winning the state proved a turning point for Joe […]
Road to Election 2024: Franklin Foer: On Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future
The second event of the “Road to Election 2024” virtual event series focused on Franklin Foer’s gripping biography of Joe Biden, following his first term in office: The Last Politician. With the moderation of Dr. Johannes Thimm, Franklin Foer analyzed the triumphs and failures of Biden’s leadership from the 2022 “midterm miracle” to the power […]
Podcast America’s Choice: Kickoff into the U.S. election year 2024: Primaries, Candidates, Issues
The USA will decide on November 5th of this year who will govern the country as president for the next four years. A few days ago, the first two primaries took place in the states of Iowa and New Hampshire. While two candidates are competing for the Republican Party’s nomination, President Biden faces little serious […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Navigating Immigration Challenges in the US and Germany
On March 6, 2024, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the eleventh discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take […]
Road to Election 2024: The Pulse of the Nation after Iowa and New Hampshire
In this kickoff of the “Road to Election 2024” virtual event series, prominent pollsters in the U.S. delved into insights on the nation’s current mood as the first primaries unfold and looked ahead to the upcoming presidential race. Panelists included Margie Omero, Principal at GBAO polling firm, and Matt Gorman, Vice President of Targeted Victory. […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Meeting of the 2024 Cohort in Mainz
From March 12-16, 2024, the in-person meeting of the 2024 cohort of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place in Mainz, Germany. A cohort of 30 U.S. state legislators, German Landtagsabgeordnete and Canadian provincial legislators will meet with policymakers, research institutes, and companies and visit local best practices in Rhineland-Palatinate. The core topic for […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: “Canada 101 – Federalism and Provincial Governance in Canada“
On February 21, 2024, Aspen Germany hosted the fourth virtual meeting of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative for the participating U.S. state legislators and German Landtagsabgeordnete entitled “Canada 101 – Federalism and Provincial Governance in Canada“. Petra Dolata, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, Canada, joined the meeting as an expert and speaker. Prof. […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: “Germany 101 – Competencies of Germany’s Länder”
On February 15, 2024, Aspen Germany hosted the third virtual meeting of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative for the participating state and provincial legislators from the US and Canada entitled “Germany 101 – Competencies of Germany’s Länder”. Andrea Römmele, Dean of Executive Education and Professor of Communication in Politics and Civil Society at the Hertie […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initative: “USA 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in the USA“
On February 6, 2024, Aspen Germany hosted the second virtual meeting of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative for the participating provincial legislators and Landtagsabgeordnete from Canada and Germany entitled “USA 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in the USA“. Boris Vormann, Professor of Politics and Director of the Politics Section at Bard College Berlin, joined the meeting as […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Virtual Kick-off Meeting of the 2024 Cohort
The kick-off meeting of the fourth cohort of the “Laboratories of Democracy Initiative” took place on Monday, January 29, 2024. The project brings together 30 state legislators from Germany, the US and Canada each year to facilitate a values-based discussion on current international policy challenges on a subnational level and to build new transatlantic networks. […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Final digital workshop to finalize policy recommendations
On June 17, 2024, the eleventh and final digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” took place in order to discuss final recommendations developed over the course of the Forum as well as recap highlights of the exchange. A core goal of the project is for the […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Tenth digital workshop to finalize policy recommendations
On June 10, 2024, a tenth digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place in order to continue discussing and finalizing their recommendations developed over the course of the forum. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Ninth digital workshop to develop transatlantic policy recommendations
On June 3, 2024, a ninth digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place in order to continue discussing and developing joint transatlantic policy recommendations. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Eighth digital workshop to develop transatlantic policy recommendations
On May 29, 2024, an eighth digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place in order to discuss and develop joint transatlantic policy recommendations. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective focus […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Seventh digital workshop on the topic of the transatlantic agriculture relationship
On April 29, 2024, a seventh digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place in order to discuss the bilateral transatlantic agriculture relationship. Participants will be joined by external experts to facilitate discussion. The forum brings together eight German and U.S. farmers and other agricultural […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Sixth digital workshop to develop national policy recommendations
On April 11, 2024, a sixth digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place in order to continue discussing national policy recommendations for both countries. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Fifth digital workshop to generate national policy recommendations
On March 25, 2024, a fifth digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place in order discuss developing national policy recommendations for both countries. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective focus […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Fourth digital workshop
On March 11, 2024, a fourth digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place to discuss common and unique national challenges for their sectors and to begin identifying solutions. This process launches the participants’ process of producing a publication with policy recommendations for the specific […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Third digital workshop on U.S. agricultural policy
On February 26, 2024, a third digital workshop for participants of the second cohort of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place to discuss U.S. agricultural policy. Participants will be joined by topical expert, Dr. Jonathan Coppess, Associate Professor and Director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Second digital workshop German/EU agricultural policy
On February 12, 2024, a digital workshop for participants of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place to discuss German and EU agriculture policy. Participants will be joined by topical expert, Prof. Dr. Peter Feindt, Professor of Agricultural and Food Policy at the Thaer Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Virtual introductory meeting for the second cohort
On February 5, 2024, an introductory virtual meeting for participants in the 2024 U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture will take place. The Aspen Institute Germany and project partner, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will welcome the sixteen participants of the 2024 cohort for an initial virtual meeting. As part of the project, the Institute is bringing […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Meeting of the second cohort in Kiel, Germany
From May 13-17, 2024, the in-person meeting of the second year’s cohort of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project will take place in Kiel, Germany. A cohort of 16 U.S. and German farmers and other agricultural stakeholders will meet with policymakers, research institutes, and agricultural companies and visit local farms in Schleswig-Holstein. The core topic […]
Podcast America’s Choice: America’s Atmosphere: The Environmental and Climate Policy of the USA
Given the global dimensions of climate change, there is a need for a worldwide political and economic effort to combat global warming. However, one of the key players crucially involved in this effort is the United States, being one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Particularly through the Inflation Reduction […]
Podcast America’s Choice: One Year to the US Election
In one year, on November 5, 2024, the next presidential election will take place in the United States. Currently, many signs indicate that there might be a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. While the candidacy of the incumbent U.S. President, Joe Biden, is considered secure for the Democrats, former U.S. President Donald Trump […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Building Digital Infrastructure for Government Services and Administration
On November 30, 2023, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the tenth discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take […]
Transatlantic Agriculture Dialogue Tour – Breakfast Roundtable: Transatlantic Perspectives on Fostering a Culture of Innovation in Agriculture
The Transatlantic Agriculture Dialogue Tour is a strategic dialogue format on agriculture that brings U.S. agricultural stakeholders to Germany to provide new impetus to the national discourses of both countries. Strengthening mutual transatlantic understanding and promoting knowledge transfer in and around agriculture are at the heart of the project. Innovation is at the heart of […]
Podcast: America’s Choice: Pivot to Asia Reloaded: Bilanz von Bidens China-Politik
The pivot of the United States towards the Indo-Pacific was one of the key strategic decisions of President Obama. Since then, the foreign, security, and economic policies of the United States have primarily focused on this populous and economically booming world region. Especially in competition with China, President Biden’s government is pursuing an approach that […]
America’s Choice Episode 51: Politicized and Polarized: On the State of U.S. Democracy
The Democratic and Republican parties in the United States have long been at odds with each other. In recent years, the degree of polarization has increased further. Compromises are now rarely possible. This has consequences for political culture and democracy in the United States. These political battles are playing out in important institutions in the […]
State-to-State Dialogue: A New Era of Renewal – Structural Change and Revitalization in Post-Industrial Regions
On September 13, 2023, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the ninth discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take […]
Transatlantic Agriculture Dialogue Tour – Meeting in Germany
The “Transatlantic Agriculture Dialogue Tour” is a strategic dialogue format on agriculture that brings U.S. agricultural stakeholders to Germany to provide new ideas for the national discourses of both countries. Strengthening the mutual transatlantic understanding as well as fostering knowledge transfer in and around agriculture will be key for the project.
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Third digital workshop to develop recommendations for the topic of climate
On July 5, 2023, a digital workshop for participants of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” took place to develop joint recommendations on climate and agriculture. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective focus topic each year, to be published in a […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Fifth digital workshop to develop recommendations on the topic of climate
On August 14, 2023, a digital workshop for participants of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place to develop joint recommendations on climate and agriculture. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective focus topic each year, to be published in […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Fourth digital workshop to develop recommendations on the topic of climate
On August 8, 2023, a digital workshop for participants of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place to develop joint recommendations on climate and agriculture. A core goal of the project is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective focus topic each year, to be published in […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Structural Change and the Revitalization of Post-Industrial Spaces
On August 4, 2023, the final meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative took place. The group of German and United States parliamentarians met virtually to finalize their policy recommendations on the state level and for transatlantic cooperation on structural change and the revitalization of post-industrial spaces. The project is supported by the Transatlantic Program […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Structural Change and the Revitalization of Post-Industrial Spaces
On July 20, 2023, German and United States parliamentarians met again virtually as part of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative to further develop their policy recommendations for transatlantic cooperation on structural change and the revitalization of post-industrial spaces. Based on the progress made so far and the intense discussions during the previous virtual and in-person […]
Podcast America’s Choice: Before the NATO Summit: The Global Security Situation and Alliance Unity
Summits of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization always represent a very special event in the world political calendar. However, with a view to the upcoming NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in July, the expectations and tension in the run-up to the event are exceeding previously known levels. This is primarily due to the […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Structural Change and the Revitalization of Post-Industrial Spaces
On June 5, 2023, the fourth digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative will take place for the participating German and U.S. state legislators. During the meeting the participants will finalize their policy recommendations for transatlantic cooperation on structural change and the revitalization of post-industrial spaces. They will build on the preparatory work done […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Harvesting Sustainable Solutions – Transatlantic Insights on Climate-smart Arable Farming
Both Europe and the United States are central to shaping a more sustainable agricultural future. To overcome mutual challenges and to provide joint global leadership for the future of agriculture, a better mutual understanding of different agricultural practices, standards, and ideas is needed. The U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project, led by the Aspen Institute Germany […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall: Closing Conference
Cities are a hub for political, economic and social developments. They not only stand for innovation, progress and change, but also bear a great responsibility with regard to climate change, social justice and inclusivity, mobility, health and the future of work. The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities” raised awareness of the complexity of tomorrow’s city […]
Podcast America’s Choice: After the G7-Summit: Where to go from here
The G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, had an extensive agenda to work on. Russia’s war against Ukraine and the fight against climate change stood out among the thematic priorities. Even though the heads of state and government of the leading economic nations had some controversial debates, they agreed on a number of concrete results in […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Structural Change and the Revitalization of Post-Industrial Spaces
The fifth digital meeting of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative took place on June 29, 2023. The German and United States delegates finalized their policy recommendations for transatlantic cooperation in the area of structural change and the revitalization of post-industrial spaces, based on the groundwork already laid by the previous delegation trips to Düsseldorf and […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Structural Change and the Revitalization of Post-Industrial Spaces
On Mai 25, 2023, the third digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative took place for the participating German and U.S. state legislators. The meeting focused on identifying challenges and policy recommendations for transatlantic cooperation on structural change and the revitalization of post-industrial spaces. The participants worked independently in small groups on the joint […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Addressing Educator Shortages and Pandemic-related Learning Loss
On May 31, 2023, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the eighth discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take […]
A Tale of Many Cities: Why it Matters to Boost Subnational Climate Diplomacy in Transatlantic Relations
The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Achieving our climate goals as well as mitigating and adapting to climate change require a global effort. The subnational level must form part of this effort. Cities, regions and states are increasingly critical to keeping international climate diplomacy alive, and they have […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Digital Workshop on Transatlantic Collaboration for a Sustainable & Climate-smart Agriculture
On May 8, 2023, participants of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture met for a virtual workshop on transatlantic collaboration for a sustainable and climate-smart agriculture. Participants were joined by two guest experts: Joseph Glauber, Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Prof. Dr. Christine Wieck, Professor for Agricultural and Food […]
Future Cities: “Responsive and Responsible Cities: Implementing Urban Futures”
As part of the “Future Cities” project, Aspen Institute Germany will host a discussion on “Responsive and Responsible Cities: Implementing Urban Futures” on June 26, 2023 in Atlanta. Cities around the world are growing rapidly, making it even more important to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and develop forward-looking strategies. To counter challenges ranging from […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Meeting of the 2023 cohort in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The Aspen Institute Germany hosted its second round of exchanges between a group of U.S. and German state legislators as part of its annual “Laboratories of Democracy” programming from June 20-24, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This initiative, which has run since 2020, brings together representatives from U.S. state legislatures and German Landtage intending to offer […]
Podcast America’s Choice: Markets between inflation and bank failures
First, the Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in the USA. Then, a little later, Credit Suisse was in such financial distress that UBS took it over. And finally, other ailing banks in the United States had to give up or be rescued, just like SVB. The reasons for these bankruptcies are complex and go back a […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: United States 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in the United States
On April 4, 2023, Aspen Germany hosted the second virtual meeting for the participating German state legislators of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative and welcomed Dr. Philipp Adorf, Research Associate at the Institute for Political Science and Sociology at the University of Bonn, as an expert and speaker. Dr. Adorf’s presentation and the subsequent joint exchange addressed […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Germany 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in Germany
On April 3, 2023, Aspen Germany hosted the second virtual meeting for the participating American state legislators of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative and welcomed Dr. Matthias Diermeier, Head of Research Unit Democracy, Society, Market Economy at the German Economic Institute, as an expert and speaker. Dr. Diermeier’s presentation and the subsequent joint exchange addressed governance […]
Podcast America’s Choice: U.S. Southern Border Crisis and No End in Sight?
The humanitarian situation at the U.S. border with Mexico has been extremely tense for months. Estimates put the number of illegal border crossings by people from Central and South America at around 200,000 per month. U.S. Republicans accuse President Biden’s administration of serious failures in asylum and migration policy. The opposition wants Biden’s policies in […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Virtual Kick-off Meeting of the 2023 Cohort
The kick-off meeting of the third cohort of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative took place on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Each year, the project brings together American state legislators and representatives of the German Landtage to facilitate a values-based discussion on current international policy challenges on a subnational level and to build new transatlantic networks. […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project: Online Scenario Workshop 4
The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” raises awareness for the complexity of the city of tomorrow among a wide range of stakeholders in society and provides new impetus for the development of future scenarios. On June 14, 2023, the participating socially and urban relevant stakeholders from Berlin, Atlanta and Los […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Meeting of the first cohort in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
From June 27 to July 1, 2023, the in-person meeting of this year’s cohort of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project took place in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Over two years, the project will bring together a group of German and U.S. farmers and other stakeholders for in-person and virtual meetings. The goal of the project is […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Second digital workshop to develop recommendations for action on the topic of climate
On June 7, 2023, a digital workshop will be held for participants of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project to develop joint recommendations for action on climate and agriculture in working groups. One goal of the exchange is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations for action on the respective focus topic, […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: First digital workshop to develop recommendations on the topic of climate
On May 24, 2023, a digital workshop for participants of the project “U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture” will take place to develop joint recommendations on climate and agriculture in working groups. One goal of the exchange is for the participating farmers and other stakeholders to generate recommendations on the respective focus topic, which will be published […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Digital Workshop on Sharing Best Practices for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Regions
On April 13, 2023, participants in the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project will meet for a virtual session to share best practices and innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture. The project brings together eight German and eight U.S. farmers, and other agricultural stakeholders, to promote innovative solutions for a sustainable future for agriculture and rural areas. […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Introduction to Agricultural Policy in Germany
On March 29, 2023, Aspen Institute Germany and its project partner, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, hosted the second virtual meeting for participants of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project and welcomed Prof. Dr. Stephan Cramon-Taubadel as expert and speaker. Prof. Dr. Cramon-Taubadel holds the Chair of Agricultural Policy at the Georg-August-University of Göttingen. The […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Introduction to Agricultural Policy in the USA
On March 22, 2023, Aspen Institute Germany and the project partner, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, hosted the second virtual meeting for participants of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project and welcomed Dr. Jonathan Coppess, Associate Professor and Director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, as expert and speaker. […]
Podcast America’s Choice: One year after the Russian invasion: The Ukraine war and its consequences
The 24th of February 2022 marks a historic turning point in the European security architecture. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has turned long-standing certainties into absurdities and brutally violated principles of international law. For a year now, a grueling war of attrition has raged in eastern and southern Ukraine, with hundreds of deaths on […]
U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture: Virtual Introductory Meeting of the 2023 Cohort
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the virtual kick-off event for this year’s U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture project took place. The Aspen Institute Germany and project partner, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, welcomed the sixteen participants of the 2023 cohort for a first virtual meeting. As part of the project, the Institute is bringing together eight […]
Podcast America’s Choice: After the Chaos in Congress: The State of the Republican Party
The first month of the 118th U.S. Congress has been marked by unprecedented events. A total of 15 ballots were needed to elect Kevin McCarthy as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the rounds before, as many as 20 ultra-conservative members of the Freedom Caucus in the Republican caucus prevented McCarthy from […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Meeting of the 2023 cohort in Düsseldorf
The annual meeting of state legislators from Germany and the United States as part of the “Laboratories of Democracy” project provides an opportunity to foster values-based discussion and an exchange of ideas on common international policy challenges and best practices. This year, the first face-to-face meeting of the participating parliamentarians took place in Düsseldorf, Germany, […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project: Online Scenario Workshop Interim Session
The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” aims to raise awareness for the complexity of the city of tomorrow among a wide range of stakeholders in society and to provide new impetus for the development of future scenarios. On February 22, 2023, the participating representatives from politics, culture, sports, art, health, […]
Podcast America’s Choice: New Trade Dispute Among Friends? Why U.S. Investments in Future Technologies Alarm the EU
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of President Biden’s administration is making waves on the European side of the Atlantic. The bill, which was passed by Congress in August, provides for a multi-billion euro program to subsidize companies that create production capacities in the field of renewable energies and sustainable technologies on U.S. soil. Spurred on […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project: Online Scenario Workshop 3
The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” raises awareness for the complexity of the city of tomorrow among a wide range of stakeholders in society and provides new impetus for the development of future scenarios. On February 8, 2023, the participating relevant urban actors from Berlin, Atlanta, and Los Angeles met […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Third Digital Workshop to Finalize the Policy Recommendations on Climate and Energy
Following the two visits of the second round of exchanges of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to New Jersey, the 2022 cohort gathered for the third digital workshop on December 14, 2022, to finalize the joint policy recommendations on climate and energy. One of the aims of the exchange is that the participating state legislators jointly develop […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Second Digital Workshop to Finalize the Policy Recommendations on Climate and Energy
Following the two visits of the second round of exchanges of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to New Jersey, the 2022 cohort gathered for the second digital workshop on November 28, 2022, to finalize the joint policy recommendations on climate and energy. One of the aims of the exchange is that the participating state legislators jointly develop […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: First Digital Workshop to Finalize the Policy Recommendations on Climate and Energy
Following the two visits of the second round of exchanges of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to New Jersey, the 2022 cohort gathered for the first digital workshop on November 21, 2022, to finalize the joint policy recommendations on climate and energy. One of the aims of the exchange is that the […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Food for Thought: How States Can Contribute to Achieving a Sustainable Agricultural Future
On November 30, 2022, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the seventh discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take […]
Future Cities: “Smart Solutions: Technology and the City in a Post-COVID World”
As part of “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” Aspen Germany hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Smart Solutions: Technology and the City in a Post-COVID World” on December 8, 2022, in Los Angeles. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a tectonic shift in nearly all aspects of our modern way of life. As our needs, restrictions, […]
Podcast America’s Choice: Biden’s Halftime: What the Outcome of the Midterms Means for the United States
The midterm elections are over. The United States elected a new Congress, 36 governors, and numerous other important political offices at the state level. The exact distribution of seats and the new balance of power in the House of Representatives and the Senate had been awaited with great excitement at home and abroad in the […]
Podcast America’s Choice: The Midterms 2022: Positions and Perspectives
On November 8 of this year, Americans will be called upon to elect the entire House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate. In addition, gubernatorial elections will take place in some U.S. States as part of the 2022 midterm elections. At the forefront of public interest is the composition of Congress. Currently, President […]
State-to-State Dialogue: “State Leadership on Affordable Housing and Sustainable Urban Development””
On October 5, 2022, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the sixth discussion in our virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and American state legislators. While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Online Discussion on Transatlantic Cooperation on Climate and Energy
On August 29, 2022, the third digital meeting of this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative took place for the participating German and U.S. state legislators. The meeting focused on identifying challenges and policy recommendations for transatlantic cooperation on energy and climate. In a first breakout session, the delegates developed and discussed common challenges in transatlantic relations […]
America’s Choice: Transatlantic Energy Policy: A New Rift or Common Approach?
The presidencies of Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama have one thing in common: The three U.S. administrations have consistently warned Europe, and Germany in particular, that Russia is using energy policy as a weapon. After all, Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels from Russia, especially gas, is very much a reality. In the geopolitical […]
Fit for Future? A Sustainable Path Towards Urban Construction and City Planning
On September 7, 2022, Aspen Germany hosted a discussion on “Fit for Future? A Sustainable Path Towards Urban Construction and City Planning” as part of “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project”. What kind of cities do we want to live in? Berlin, Los Angeles, Atlanta – cities are an integral part of political, economic, […]
Exclusive Breakfast Discussion with L.A. City Councilmember Kevin de León
On July 21, 2022, Aspen Germany hosted an exclusive breakfast discussion with Kevin de León, Councilmember of the Los Angeles City Council and former President pro Tempore of the California State Senate. The discussion was moderated by Matt Petersen, President & CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and Participant of Aspen Germany’s Future Cities […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Meeting of the 2022 Cohort in New Jersey
From September 13 to September 17, 2022, the second in-person meeting of this year’s cohort of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative took place in New Jersey. Each year, the project brings together a group of German and U.S. state legislators for two study tours – one to Germany and one to the United States – […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project: Online Scenario Workshop 2
The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” aims to raise awareness for the complexity of the city of tomorrow among a wide range of stakeholders in society and to provide new impetus for the development of future scenarios. On September 21, 2022, the participating representatives from politics, culture, sports, art, health, media […]
America’s Choice: Will the Supreme Court Overturn Abortion Rights? What the End of Roe v. Wade Means
In just a few days, the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn one of the most important landmark decisions in Supreme Court history. The right of women to terminate their pregnancies, and thus their right to bodily self-determination, has been enshrined in Roe v. Wade since 1973 and is now up for dispute. This is suggested […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: America 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in the United States
On May 2, 2022, Aspen Germany hosted the second virtual meeting for the participating German state legislators of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative and welcomed Boris Vormann, Professor of Politics and Director of the Politics Concentration at Bard College Berlin, as an expert and speaker. Mr. Vormann’s presentation and the subsequent joint exchange addressed governance in […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Germany 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in Germany
On April 20, 2022, Aspen Germany hosted the second virtual meeting for the participating U.S-American state legislators of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative and welcomed Dr. Dörte Ohlhorst, Research Fellow, Institute for Environmental and Climate Policy, Bavarian School of Public Policy, Technical University of Munich, as an expert and speaker. Dr. Ohlhorst’s presentation and the […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Schwerin Meeting of 2022 Cohort
As part of its Laboratories of Democracy Initiative, Aspen Germany hosted the first in-person meeting of the second round of exchanges in Schwerin, Germany, on May 10-14, 2022. The project brings together a group of German and U.S.-American state legislators each year to facilitate a values-based discussion and an exchange of ideas about how to […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project: Online Scenario Workshop Interim Session
The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” aims to raise awareness for the complexity of the city of tomorrow among a wide range of stakeholders in society and to provide new impetus for the development of future scenarios. On June 21, 2022, the participating representatives from politics, culture, sports, art, health, […]
Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project: Online Scenario Workshop 1
The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project” aims to raise awareness for the complexity of the city of tomorrow among a wide range of stakeholders in society and to provide new impetus for the development of future scenarios. On June 16, 2022, our diverse group of representatives from politics, culture, sports, […]
America’s Choice: Closer Transatlantic Ties: What the Trade and Technology Council Can Accomplish
In the end of September 2021, the foundation was laid: high-ranking representatives of the European Union and the Government of the United States came together for the inaugural meeting of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The second round of negotiations of this promising body is scheduled for May 15 and […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Virtual Kick-off Meeting of the 2022 Cohort
On Monday, April 4, 2022, the Aspen Institute Germany kicked-off this year’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative. The institute welcomed the fourteen participants of the 2022 cohort for a first virtual get-together. Each year, the project brings together seven American state legislators and seven representatives of the German Landtage to facilitate a values-based discussion on current […]
America’s Choice: The Russian Security Challenge and the U.S.-American and European Response
Russia’s President Putin has violated the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity under international law in his war of aggression against Ukraine. Imperial action in the competition of great powers thus seems to have returned to Europe. Putin is known to want to split NATO and the European Union and expand the Russian sphere […]
America’s Choice: High Inflation in Times of War: How do FED and ECB Repond to the Challenge
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine since February 24 of this year. The humanitarian need is appalling. The consequences for the security architecture in Europe and the world order are not yet foreseeable. But the economic consequences of the invasion will also be severe. The G7, the EU and the U.S. […]
State-to-State Dialogue: “Immigration and Integration – Between Federal Policy and State Legislators”
On March 2, 2022, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the fifth discussion in our virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and American state legislators. While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to take action when […]
America’s Choice: Putin’s Plans and America’s Response: What the Ukraine Crisis Means for Europe
With some 100,000 Russian troops positioned on Ukraine’s eastern border, President Putin has demanded concrete security guarantees from both the United States and NATO. These include, most importantly, an end to NATO’s eastward expansion and military non-alignment as well as a withdrawal of allied troops and weapons from former Warsaw Pact countries. Meanwhile, the United […]
America’s Choice: Looking Back and Ahead: President Biden’s First Year in Office
On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America. Today – one year later – it is worth taking stock of his term in office. On the domestic policy level, the huge stimulus package and the bipartisan infrastructure bill certainly stand out. On the foreign […]
America’s Choice: New Signals? The Traffic Light Coalition and Transatlantic Relations
“Daring more progress”: This is the guiding principle for the three coalition partners of the new traffic light government. The SPD, the Greens, and the FDP want to modernize Germany in virtually all policy areas. This also applies to the international level and in particular to the transatlantic partnership with the United States. The new […]
America’s Choice: President in Crisis: Is Joe Biden’s Domestic Agenda Imploding?
U.S. President Joe Biden took office with the ambition of reconciling a deeply divided American society. After the toxic Trump years, he wanted to create a new unity in a polarized country. So, from day one, his reform efforts were directed at the domestic challenges the country faced. The President and his administration call this […]
Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Stuttgart Meeting 2021
As part of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative, Aspen Germany hosted an in-person meeting with the first cohort of German and American state legislators in Stuttgart from October 13 to 16, 2021. Besides addressing broader issues in the transatlantic relationship, the first cohort focused on the core topic of digitalization. Three subtopics were of particular […]
America’s Choice: After the Afghanistan Disaster — What Should the West’s Foreign and Security Policy Look Like in the Future?
The chaotic and very inglorious end of the 20-year military intervention in Afghanistan marks a turning point in the West’s foreign and security policy. In view of the failed efforts in the region, the many civilian and military casualties, and the immense costs, the sense and purpose of international interventions needs to be reconsidered. So it […]
America’s Choice: Fire, Drought, Flood: The Climate Catastrophe and its Consequences
Extreme temperatures of up to nearly 50 degrees Celsius in the Canadian province of British Columbia and in the U.S. states of Washington State, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Nevada have already claimed the lives of a triple-digit number of people this summer. Wildfires, droughts and water shortages are other devastating side effects of human-induced climate […]
Workshop: “Transatlantic Young Political Leaders Dialogue”
On September 9, 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany co-hosted a virtual workshop as part of the “Transatlantic Young Political Leaders Dialogue”. The common goal is to bring together young political leaders from Germany and the United States to exchange ideas on common transatlantic challenges. The workshop specifically targeted rising […]
America’s Choice: Fly Me to the Moon: US Space Policy at the Brink of a New Era?
The space policy of the United States of America is experiencing a renaissance. The end of the space shuttle program was several years ago. In the meantime, the U.S. is significantly increasing its efforts again. This applies both to civilian use and exploration of space and to the security sphere in space. The focal points […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: Digitalization and Digital Policies at the State Level
The digital transformation is causing some of the most profound societal challenges of the 21st century. Hardly any area of life exists that is not impacted by its far-reaching consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the move toward digitalization, drawing out aspects of inequality even as it enables new forms of economic and social resilience. Against […]
State-to-State Dialogue: “Assessing the Rural-Urban Divide in Infrastructure”
On June 23, 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the fourth discussion in our virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and American state legislators. While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to take action when […]
America’s Choice: New Dynamic? The G7, NATO and EU-US Summits and their Consequences
It is a true summit marathon taking place in Europe these days. The heads of state and government of the G7 and NATO members are meeting, as are the leaders of the European Union and the United States. For Joe Biden, it is his first visit to Europe as U.S. President. The agenda is packed with issues on economic, financial and trade […]
America’s Choice: The West’s Response to China
The People‘s Republic of China represents a geostrategic, economic, technological, and security challenge for the United States and the European Union. Europe’s interests vis-à-vis China are somewhat different from those of the United States. This has far-reaching consequences for the respective policies of the United States and the EU with regard to China. What are […]
State-to-State Dialogue: “The Future of Jobs: Workforce Trends and Preparedness”
On May 20, 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the third discussion in our virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and American state legislators. While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to […]
America’s Choice: Joe Biden’s First 100 Days in Office
When Joseph R. Biden, Jr. took office on January 20, the United States was simultaneously experiencing a severe pandemic, a deep recession, and widespread polarization. Since that day, the 46th President of the United States has been tackling the country‘s enormous problems at a pace and with a verve that not many observers thought possible. […]
America’s Choice: The Immigration Crisis at the U.S.-Mexico Border
“I can say quite clearly: Don’t come,“ U.S. President Biden recently said in an interview, addressing migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Time and again, thousands of migrants from Central and South America make the long and arduous journey to the southern border of the United States. For four years, Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Climate Change and Energy Policy at the State Level
As part of the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted a discussion on “Climate Change and Energy Policy at the State Level” with German and American state legislators including Barbara Becker, MdL (CSU), State Parliament of Bavaria; Joschka Knuth, MdL (Alliance 90/The […]
America’s Choice: The Future of NATO and European Responsibility in the World
The future of NATO and transatlantic security policy is always an important topic in U.S.-European relations. In a globalized world full of complex threats, it is part of the day-to-day cooperation of the Western allies. It also has an effect on major forums which look beyond the existing cooperation. Recently, this could be observed at […]
State-to-State Dialogue: Digital Democracy – The Impact of Digitalization on Politics and Governance
On March 10, 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany launched the new virtual series „State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue.” The first event addressed “Digital Democracy: The Impact of Digitalization on Politics and Governance” with Assemblymember Marc Berman (D), California State Assembly, Daniel Karrais MdL (FDP), member of the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg, and, Katharina […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: Prospects for German-American Cooperation and Transatlantic Leadership
Over the past four years, the transatlantic relationship has been severely strained. A multitude of conflicts have eroded trust and understanding. But despite recent turbulence, the United States, Europe, and Germany share common interests and values. Only by working together can we adequately address global challenges and reinforce our values and systems of democracies at […]
America’s Choice: Biden’s Climate Turnaround
America is back on the world stage. This is especially true when it comes to climate policy. After President Trump aggressively refused to face the reality of climate change and reversed the United States‘ progress in reducing greenhouse gases with numerous measures, President Biden has announced a comprehensive climate protection program upon taking office. With […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: The Impact of COVID-19 on Businesses and Education
On February 11, 2021, Aspen Germany hosted the seventh event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative” to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and education. Building on the last meeting on January 15, participants dove deeper into these two subtopics under the umbrella of the economic impact of the […]
America’s Choice: Full speed ahead? The First Two Weeks of the Biden Administration
Joe Biden has been in office for about two weeks. On his very first day, he signed 17 executive orders. The 46th president of the United States has moved into the White House with an ambitious agenda that includes addressing the Corona pandemic, bringing forth economic recovery and promoting climate policy. And the man from […]
America’s Choice: Capitol Riot – A Shock for America and the World
The United States is currently experiencing one of the darkest periods in its recent history. The images of a wild mob pushing into the Capitol while meeting little resistance and of an armed stand-off between Trump supporters and Capitol Police were unprecedented and mark a historic turning point. It was a wake-up call for the […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 – A State and Länder Perspective
On January 15, 2021, Aspen Germany hosted the sixth event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative” to discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 on state economies. The COVID-19 pandemic is far more than a global health crisis. It is also severely affecting our economies, leading to both a global recession […]
America’s Choice: Transition with Obstacles
President Donald Trump continues to cast doubt on the election results, further fueling conspiracy theories despite the fact that his lawyers have suffered defeat after defeat in the courts with their numerous lawsuits. What does Trump hope for at this point? In the meantime, Joe Biden’s preparations to take office on January 20, 2021, are […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: Leadership in Times of Crisis
On December 8, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted the fifth event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative” to discuss leadership in times of crisis. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our world faces a time of crisis unparalleled in most of our lifetimes. In times of global crisis, good leadership is essential […]
America’s Choice: A Historic Election
America has elected a new president. The U.S. election will not only shape the social climate and political course of the United States for the coming years, but also America’s role in the world. The greatest task facing President-elect Joe Biden will be to reunite a divided nation. Even though election day is behind us, […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: The Role of Tech in the COVID-19 Response
On November 20, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted the fourth event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative” to discuss the role of tech in the COVID-19 response. Breakout sessions addressed opportunities for technological innovation in combating the health crisis, cybersecurity threats, and privacy concerns amid COVID-19. How can technological innovations like […]
America’s Choice: Blue, Red, Purple – The Role of Swing States in the Outcome of the U.S. Elections
Just two weeks before the presidential election, the campaigns of President Trump and his challenger Joe Biden are focusing on the swing states that will decide the race to the White House. While some states are traditionally blue or red states that vote consistently for the Democrat or Republican party, the swing states are the […]
America’s Choice: Playing Hardball – The First 2020 Presidential Debate
Presidential debates are major events in the U.S. election campaign. With only a few weeks left before the elections, the debates give candidates the opportunity to position themselves on the core topics, outline their presidential agenda, and dissociate themselves from their opponent. The first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on September 29 was […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: German and American Subnational Governance and COVID-19
On October 2, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted the third event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, German and American subnational governments are at the frontline of tackling the virus and its economic and social impact. They have a key role to play in tracking and testing, […]
America’s Choice: Mysterious Powers, Viral Delusion and Social Media – Conspiracy Theories in the U.S. Election
The QAnon conspiracy theories are a mixture of substitute religion, right-wing pseudo-mysticism, social event and fake news entertainment. The movement is gaining more and more followers around the world, not only in the United States. How can this phenomenon be explained and how dangerous is it for democracy? How do tech companies regulate content associated […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: Germany 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in Germany
On September 10, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted the second event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative.” The webinar series brings together German and American state legislators as part of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative. The second webinar addressed governance in Germany at the federal, state, and local level. It gave […]
Virtual Road to Laboratories of Democracy: America 101 – Exploring Subnational Governance in the United States
On September 9, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted the first event of its series “Virtual Road to the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative.” The webinar series brings together German and American state legislators as part of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative. The first session addressed governance in the United States at the federal, state, and local level. […]
America’s Choice: Ready to Rumble – U.S. Primary Elections Enter Crunch Time
The first episode of America’s Choice takes a look at the primary elections in the United States. For the Democratic Party, the crucial phase of the primary campaign is underway. In the upcoming months, all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. territories will vote on who will run against President Donald Trump as the […]
America’s Choice: Super Tuesday Edition
Super Tuesday is over. The cards in the democratic primary race have been reshuffled. Senator Bernie Sanders and former vice president Joe Biden became the leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for President. At the same time, Biden succeeded in regaining his status as a frontrunner and made major step toward his nomination. Tyson Barker, […]
America’s Choice: COVID-19, the Economic Consequences, and the U.S. Elections
The corona crisis is keeping the world in suspense and will also determine the further course of the American election campaign. In this America’s Choice episode, Tyson Barker, Deputy Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany, and David Deißner, Executive Director at Atlantik-Brücke, analyze the results of the Democratic primaries in Florida, Illinois, and […]
America’s Choice: 2020 Election Campaigns amid Coronavirus Shutdown
Until recently the Democratic primaries have dominated the news, but it has gone quite around the election campaigns. The corona virus and the Trump administration’s crisis management have seized the headlines. In this episode of America’s Choice, Tyson Barker, Deputy Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany, and David Deißner, Executive Director at Atlantik-Brücke, […]
America’s Choice: Cuomo for President?
The American economy is in an induced coma, unemployment figures are rising to dizzying heights, and the estimates for the COVID-19 death toll in the United States are alarming. The President is currently commenting on the corona virus situation daily in his press briefings. In this podcast episode, Tyson Barker, Deputy Director and Fellow at […]
America’s Choice: Who Elects Whom? Black People, Evangelicals and the Disappointed Youth
Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders both officially endorsed Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president. How important is their support for Biden’s campaign? Can Joe Biden, who is considerate a moderate Democrat, court left-wing Sanders supporters? Will he succeed in mobilizing African-Americans to vote for him in November? Who do Christian conservative voters […]
America’s Choice: Podcasts, Protests, and Pick-ups – The 2020 Election and Media in Times of COVID-19
The country is slowly opening up again. Against the backdrop of anti-quarantine protests and mounting economic pressure, U.S. states are trying to return to a “new normal” with different timelines and exit strategies. But despite the ever-increasing longing for normalcy, the U.S. election campaigns are still very much conditioned by corona restrictions. Tyson Barker, Deputy […]
America’s Choice: Corona in the White House
The corona virus has reached the White House. At the same time, the president is weighing the state of the country’s economy, which is expected to be a decisive factor in the November election, against the health concerns of scientists. His approval ratings among the American public are dropping. Can Joe Biden benefit from President […]
America’s Choice: An Astronaut, a Football Coach, and a Kennedy – The U.S. Senate Elections
This year Americans will not only elect the next president, but a vote is also held to fill one-third of the Senate seats. Currently, Republicans have a narrow majority in the Senate. Will they be able to hold control of the chamber? What are the battleground states in the Senate race? Are there any potential […]
America’s Choice: America in Turmoil – Protests against Racism and Police Brutality in the United States
The United States are in turmoil following the fatal arrest of the African-American George Floyd. Floyd’s death sparked nationwide outcry and massive protests against racial injustice and police brutality. President Donald Trump, who has been criticized across party lines for his remarks about the protests, has been accused of contributing to further polarization and division. […]
America’s Choice: What Do Women Want? The Female Vote in the U.S. elections
Fifty-one percent of the people in the United States are women. How will they influence the November election results? What issues are particularly important to women? Do the two genders differ in their preferences at the ballot box with regard to party affiliation? And what are President Trump and Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential […]
America’s Choice: Trouble Behind, Trouble Ahead? The U.S. Presidential Election and Transatlantic Relations
American foreign policy is not a preeminent issue in the U.S. presidential election. But the next U.S. president’s foreign policy priorities and stance on international cooperation will shape world affairs and redefine relations to allies and rivals alike. This is particularly true for the European Union as rifts between Europe and the United States have […]
America’s Choice: Strategy and Tactics – A Look at the Trump and Biden Campaign
There are just over 100 days left until the US elections on November 3. The campaign teams behind President Donald Trump and Joe Biden are working on the best strategies to reach the public in times of COVID-19 and win over undecided voters. What are the strategies of the Trump and Biden campaigns and how […]
America’s Choice: Harris, Housewives and the American Dream
Joe Biden’s search for a running mate has been underway for several months, prompting speculations about who might be the leading contender. Now Biden has announced Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. What does the 55-year-old politician from California stand for? How will Biden’s decision affect his campaign and the election? We also look […]
America’s Choice: Convention without a Live Audience – The Virtual Democratic National Convention
This year the Democrats will have to do without speeches in front of a cheering audience and a big balloon drop. For the first time in history, the nominating convention takes place virtually. But can virtual and recorded speeches inspire viewers and help mobilize voters? How did speakers address the triple crisis of a pandemic, […]
America’s Choice: Make America Great Again, Again – The Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention was held under the motto “Make America Great Again, Again.” President Donald Trump and the invited speakers – many of them members of the Trump family – campaigned for Trump’s reelection, painting a dire portrait of a United States under Joe Biden. Who were the key speakers and what topics did […]
Virtual Discussion: A Conversation on Trump’s Washington
On June 11, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a virtual book presentation and discussion entitled “A Conversation on Trump’s Washington” with Susan B. Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of the weekly column “Letter from Trump’s Washington.” Her column has become essential reading on the Trump White House. A selection of […]
Virtual Discussion: Transatlantic Solidarity in Times of COVID-19 – A Bipartisan Congressional Perspective
On May 19, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany together with the Aspen Institute Central Europe, the Aspen Institute France, the Aspen Institute Italia, the Aspen Institute Kyiv and the Aspen Institute Romania hosted a virtual discussion on “Transatlantic Solidarity in Times of COVID-19 – A Bipartisan Congressional Perspective“ with Congressman William R. Keating (D-MA) and […]
Berlin Transatlantic Forum 2019 “Fit for Purpose? The Transatlantic Relationship and the World of Tomorrow”
On November 6, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted its sixth annual Berlin Transatlantic Forum entitled “Fit for Purpose? The Transatlantic Relationship and the World of Tomorrow.” Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this conference took stock of the transatlantic relationship and discussed lessons learned for the future. One-on-one conversations with former […]
Spring Meeting of the Youth Officers 2017, Transatlantic Panel: “The United States after the elections – a shift in the transatlantic relations?”
At the Spring Meeting of the Youth Officers 2017 in Strausberg Tyson Barker, Program Director Digital of the Aspen Institute Germany started off the Transatlantic Panel on March 27 with Julia Obermeier, MP (CSU), Christian Thiels, Managing Editor of Tagesthemen and Defence Expert at Tagesschau, and Dr. Tobias Bunde, Head of Policy and Analysis at […]
The Aspen German-American Dialog – Learning From Each Other
From May 7-13, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted the third Aspen German-American Dialog under the auspices of the Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation, Representative Jürgen Hardt (CDU). The program aimed to revitalize the German-American Partnership, to strengthen mutual understanding, and to provide a platform to find common answers to pressing problems of the 21st century at […]
Third Aspen Transatlantic Workshop: “The Future of the Liberal International Order: The World in 2025”
The Aspen Institute Germany hosted its third Aspen Transatlantic Workshop in Berlin from May 15-17, 2017. The workshop brought together 26 experts and decision makers from Europe and the US from politics, business, think tanks, and media. It explored the future of the liberal international order that has been serving as framework for peace, stability, […]
25th Anniversary of the State Department-German Federal Foreign Office Exchange Program: Discussion on the State of Transatlantic Relations
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the State Department-German Federal Foreign Office Exchange program, the U.S. Embassy Berlin and the Federal Foreign Office hosted a conversation on the state of transatlantic relations with Conrad Tribble, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and top U.S. diplomat to Western Europe and the EU, and Andreas Michaelis, State Secretary […]
The Transatlantic Digital Agenda: Workshop in Brussels – Defining A Digital Social Contract
The Aspen Institute Germany, Atlantic Council, and Internet Economy Foundation organized the first workshop of their project on the Transatlantic Digital Agenda. The project explores how shared values in the transatlantic partnership can be transposed into effective policy for the digital age. Over the next three years the partners will organize a series of seminars […]
Fourth Berlin Transatlantic Conference: “The World in 2025 – Germany’s role and partners in a shifting world order”
Just four weeks after the German national election, on October 26, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted its fourth annual Transatlantic Conference. The conference participants looked at the state and future of the liberal order and discussed what role Germany is able and willing to play. Brexit and the election of Donald Trump are signs […]
Fourth Aspen Transatlantic Workshop: “Present at the New Creation? Tech. Power. Democracy.”
The Aspen Institute Germany hosted its fourth Aspen Transatlantic Workshop in Berlin from September 27-29, 2018 as part of the annual Berlin Transatlantic Forum. The workshop brought together experts and decision makers from Europe and the U.S. from politics, business, think tanks, and media. The post-World War II order is on shaky ground. The rise […]
Berlin Transatlantic Forum Oxford-style Debate on the Global Trade Order
On the evening of October 15, 2018, kicking off its fifth annual Berlin Transatlantic Forum, the Aspen Institute Germany held its first ever Oxford-style debate on the question of the global trade order. The debate around the assertion “The global trade order serves American and European democracies well” pit one German and one American on […]
Berlin Transatlantic Forum 2018: “Present at the New Creation? Tech. Power. Democracy.”
“Present at the new Creation? Tech. Power. Democracy.” was this year’s topic at the 5thannual Berlin Transatlantic Forum on October 16, 2018 hosted by the Aspen Institute Germany at the Bundespresseamt. The conference kicked off with a keynote and a panel analyzing the state of the transatlantic relationship and where transatlantic cooperation could be intensified […]
Aspen NEXT Transatlantic Workshop
From June 12 to 14, 2019 Aspen Germany hosted the first group of Aspen NEXT Fellows as part of its fifth Transatlantic Workshop. Looking back at the historic events of 1989, the participants explored value hierarchies then and today, their translation into institutions and how events since have shaped the value sets that underlie our […]