Aspen Institute Germany

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Events

Upcoming Events

Berlin AI Conference “Humanity Enabled: AI & the Great Economic Awakening”

  • 10
  • Dec
  • 2020

This conference will dive deeper into the debate around the economic opportunities and pitfalls of AI. How will companies and societies manage increased pressure amid the race for AI technologies? What policies are called for to ensure that labor markets and educational institutions are prepared for future economic dynamics? Will massive tech-driven productivity gains require changes to prevailing social benefit schemes or the economic system?
#AspenAI20 will bring together top policymakers, philosophers, computer scientists, academics, and representatives from business, media, and politics from around the world to explore these and many more pertinent questions over the course of this two-day conference.
If you wish to register or have further questions, please send an email to Olivia Knodt (knodt@aspeninstitute.de).

Past Events

Tech and the Worker: Lessons from past industrial revolutions

  • 14
  • Jul
  • 2020

On July 14, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted the first event of its series on “Tech and the Worker: Overcoming the Conundrums of the Great Decoupling.” The event focused on lessons from past industrial revolutions and featured presentations from Robert C. Allen, Global Distinguished Professor of Economic History at New York University in Abu Dhabi and Senior Research Fellow at Nuffield College in Oxford; Carl Benedikt Frey, Oxford Martin Citi Fellow and Director of the Programme on the Future of Work at Oxford Martin School; and Jürgen Kocka, Professor Emeritus of Social History and the Free University of Berlin and former President of the Social Science Research Center Berlin. The event explored parallels to past industrial revolutions, all of which have had three large effects: breakneck progress in productivity, social upheaval, and massive concentrations of wealth (and political power). The speakers considered the mid-18th and late 19th century industrial revolutions, in addition to the immediate post-Cold War economic boom. Questions that were explored the participants include: how can lessons from the past help us understand the current technological revolution? What are the historical conditions, policy successes, failures, insights, and myths from the past that will help equip policymakers for the deep digital age?
This workshop was off-the-record and took place in English. It is hosted in partnership with Microsoft and is part of the workshop series entitled “Tech and the Worker: Overcoming the Conundrums of the Great Decoupling,” which consists of the following sessions: 1) Lessons from Past Industrial Revolutions; 2) Rethinking the Social Contract; 3) Automation and the Education Cycle; and 4) Opening Up the Policy Maker’s Toolbox. These discussions ultimately aim to answer the questions: How can Europe, the U.S. and other industrial powers thrive in the face of the great decoupling? How can public policy efforts work to preserve and deepen the dignity of work and meaningful economic participation in the deep digital age?

Virtual Discussion on the topic “Germany, Europe and America – a difficult relationship in times of Corona”

  • 23
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 23rd, on the occasion of the general meeting of the Association of Friends and the traditional Aspen summer party, a virtual discussion on the topic “Germany, Europe and America – a difficult relationship in times of Corona” took place. Aspen Germany’s Executive Director Rüdiger Lentz discussed with the President of the German Marshall Fund, Dr. Karen Donfried, the opportunities and challenges of a future-oriented agenda for transatlantic relations. The recorded event is available on YouTube.
Dr. Karen Donfried is President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Previously, she was Senior Director for European Affairs in the US National Security Council. Other posts included the National Intelligence Council, State Department and Congressional Research Service, where she worked in the European area.

Expert Online Workshop Series: “Causes, Effects, and Policy Approaches – Addressing Emigration from the Western Balkans”

  • 23
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 23-25, the Aspen Institute Germany together with the Southeast Europe Association hosted a digital expert workshop series on “Causes, Effects, and Policy Approaches – Addressing Emigration from the Western Balkans.” The event provided a forum for more than 30 experts from the Western Balkan and the EU in the field of migration and also included representatives of international organizations, regional business associations and youth organizations.
Short input papers by selected researchers provided the basis for the respective expert discussions. Workshop 1 analyzed the trends, motives, and effects of emigration from the Western Balkan region based on insights by Miran Lavrić, Associate professor of Sociology at the University of Maribor, and Nenad Jevtović, Director of the Institute for Development and Innovation in Serbia. The focus of Workshop 2 was on concrete measures and strategies to cope with the challenge of emigration, departing from suggestions by Mirna Jusić, Charles University Prague, and Jelena Predojević-Despić, Institute of Social Sciences in Belgrade. Best-practice examples and lessons learned from Romania in the field of brain gain policies were added to the discussion by Remus Anghel, Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities, and Monica Roman, Bucharest University of Economics. Workshop 3 covered the role of the diaspora with contributions by Nermin Oruč, Director of the Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research (CREDI) in Sarajevo, and Lumnije Jusufi from Humboldt-University in Berlin. Furthermore, participants discussed the potential of regional approaches in addressing the challenge departing from ideas put forward by Silvana Mojsovska, University “Ss.Cyril and Methodius” North Macedonia, and Dafina Peci, Governing Board member of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). Following the presentations, the participants were divided into small working groups to jointly elaborate specific policy recommendations for the respective topics.
The event was supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The topics and results discussed will feed into a high-level conference on emigration from the Western Balkans, which will be jointly organized by Southeast Europe Association and Aspen Germany in October 2020 in the framework of the German EU Council Presidency.

Background Discussion on the Current Situation in the Western Balkans

  • 22
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 22, 2020 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a background discussion on the current situation in the Western Balkans between representatives of the German Government and staffers of the German Bundestag. Alexander Jung, Deputy Head of Division 212 Bilateral Relations to the Countries of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Federal Chancellery; Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Division E12, EU External Affairs (EU Enlargement, European Neighbourhood Policy, EU External Financing Instruments) at the German Federal Foreign Office, and Sabine Stöhr, Head of Division 209 Western Balkans at the German Federal Foreign Office, shared their assessments of the situation in the region from the perspective of their respective divisions and presented the priorities, initiatives and challenges for the next months. The discussion focused on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the region, the current political situation with regard to past and upcoming elections in the region, and the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. Another topic was the upcoming German Council Presidency and the latest developments in the EU accession processes of the Western Balkan countries. The event is part of a series of regular background discussions to enable regular exchanges on current priorities and challenges in the Western Balkans.

The Not-So-International System? Geo-Politics of Tech and COVID-19

  • 18
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 18, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on “The Not-So-International System? Geo-Politics of Tech and COVID-19” with Vivian Schiller, Executive Director, Aspen Digital; Aleksandar Stojanovic, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, AVA; Jennifer Zhu Scott, Founding Principal, Radian Partners; and Hinrich Thölken, Special Envoy for Digitalization and Digital Transformation, Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
In this final event of our series, we zoomed out to take a big picture look at how the Covid-19 pandemic has played out and impacted global tech-dynamics, including its implications for international cooperation, cyber-security, global governance, and how to arrive at international norms for the use of data and technology in the fight against Covid-19. How is the interoperability of technology and data being put forward? What role are multi-stakeholder approaches playing in overcoming the current crisis? And do international actors foster colaboration in areas which have been highly competitive before the Covid-19 outbreak such as Artificial Intelligence and edge computing?
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany’s YouTube Channel:

Online Discussion “Viktor Orbán’s Growing Interest in the Western Balkans“

  • 17
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 17, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) hosted an online discussion on the topic “Viktor Orbán’s Growing Interest in the Western Balkans“ with Goran Buldioski, Director of the Berlin Office of Open Society Foundations and Director of the Open Society Initiative for Europe (OSIFE), Adnan Ćerimagić, Analyst at European Stability Initiative (ESI), Ivana Jeremić, Editor at Balkan Insight, and Péter Krekó, Director at Political Capital Institute and Europe’s Future Fellow, IWM/Erste Stiftung. Together with the other participants of the event, they discussed the influence of Hungary in the Western Balkans, more specifically in Serbia and North Macedonia. The focus was on the economic ties between Hungary, Serbia and North Macedonia, the relationship and common interests of Viktor Orbán and Aleksandar Vučić, and the role of civil society. The effects on the EU enlargement process and rule of law as well as the relevance of other external actors in the region were also discussed. The event was jointly moderated by Valeska Esch, Deputy Executive Director, and Program Director Europe, Aspen Institute Germany, and Milan Nič, Head, Robert Bosch Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 11
  • Jun
  • 2020

- c a n c e l l e d -

Due to the corona crisis the seminar for June 2020 has been cancelled. The nomination and registration process for the seminar taking place on November 12-15, 2020, has already started. Please contact Ingrid Müller-Brazell.
From Juni 11 to 14, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany will organize the 28th edition of the Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice.” Using the Socratic method, expert moderators guide the participants’ debate on the most fundamental questions of the human condition. With the help of selected philosophical texts ranging from antiquity to modernity, participants will reflect and question the most universal and controversial facets of the human existence, including the role of the individual, the relationship of individual freedom and the order of society, as well as the limits of power. “Philosophy and Practice” is a unique opportunity to reflect and question our own values and the implications for the individual leadership style with participants from across society within a confidential atmosphere.

 

Virtual Discussion: A Conversation on Trump’s Washington

  • 11
  • Jun
  • 2020

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 the best articles has been published as a German-language book by Weltkiosk under the title "Briefe aus Trumps Washington" im May 2020. In a conversation with Tyson Barker, Deputy Director and Fellow at Aspen Germany, Susan Glasser shared her views on the U.S. administration, the changing political culture in Washington and the U.S. in the world. Among the topics discussed were the current protests against racism and police brutality, Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming presidential election and Trump’s announcement of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany’s YouTube Channel:

COVID-19, Tech and Ethics in Democratic Societies

  • 10
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 10, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on "COVID-19, Tech and Ethics in Democratic Societies" together with Christiane Woopen, Chair, European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) & Director, Cologne Center for Ethics, Rights, Economics, and Social Sciences of Health (CERES). We explored the ethical trade-offs the use of technology has posed for citizens, governments, health providers, developers, and businesses in the fight against COVID-19, the creeping or lingering effects on democracy, and many more questions.
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany’s YouTube Channel:

Online Expert Workshop: “The COVID-19 Pandemic in the Western Balkans: Effects on Democracy, Rule of Law, and Civil Society”

  • 9
  • Jun
  • 2020

On June 9, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted the first issue of its online Expert Workshop Series „The COVID-19 Pandemic in the Western Balkans: Consequences and Policy Approaches“. The closed-door workshop focused on “Effects on Democracy, Rule of Law, and Civil Society” in the wake of the public health crisis and gathered more than 30 experts from the Western Balkan countries, representatives of EU member states as well as from EU institutions.
After welcoming remarks by Ambassador Susanne Schütz, Director for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey and the EFTA States at the German Federal Foreign Office, members of the Think for Europe Network (TEN), a network of six Western Balkan think tanks, presented their working paper on the recent developments in the region concerning the independence of institutions, the respect for citizens’ rights, the political and societal climate, as well as the situation of critical voices and vulnerable groups. The ensuing breakout sessions focused on discussing ideas on how to prevent negative effects in these areas and how to seize potential windows of opportunity. Some of the ideas voiced included supporting independent media and civil society in their function as watchdogs, and strictly linking additional EU support for the region to the criteria of good governance. Further results of this workshop will be published in the upcoming weeks.
The Expert Workshop Series was organized in the framework of Aspen’s Regional Dialog on the Western Balkans, kindly supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. Upcoming issues will focus on the pandemic’s effects on regional cooperation, the influence of third countries in the region as well as economic and social developments in the aftermath of the public health crisis.

Virtual Discussion on “Resilience and Foresight – The World after the Pandemic”

  • 29
  • May
  • 2020

On May 29, Aspen Romania in cooperation with Aspen Germany hosted a virtual discussion on "Resilience and Foresight - The World after the Pandemic" with Ambassador Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, and Ambassador Baiba Braže, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO. The webinar addressed the issues of resilience and foresight in a post-pandemic world in the context of the necessary global recovery after the crisis created by the Covid-19 outbreak. The webinar also focused on resilience to fake news. As the intensity and damage potential of the campaign against fake news has increased since the pandemic, the webinar also discussed strategies to identify and combat fake news.
The video recording of the session may be (re)watched on the Aspen Institute Romania Youtube account.

Road to Election Night | Virtual Discussion “Politics in the New World Presidential Approval, COVID-19, and the 2020 Election”

  • 28
  • May
  • 2020

On May 28, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a virtual discussion on the topic “Politics in the New World: Presidential Approval, COVID-19, and the 2020 Election” with Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research at Pew Research Center. In a conversation with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Carroll Doherty explained how President Trump is perceived by US citizens during the current crisis. Based on ideological and geographical lines, where and by whom is he seen as an effective leader? And how might COVID-19 affect the circumstances of the upcoming presidential election? Months away from Election Day, a divisive debate on vote by mail versus growing concerns about voter fraud is already in full swing. This session of our virtual event series “Road to Election Night 2020” will focused on the pandemic’s implications for trends in US political values and US views on policy issues and priorities.

This recorded discussion is available on Aspen Germany’s YouTube channel.

Data Conundrums in the Age of COVID-19

  • 27
  • May
  • 2020

On May 27, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on "Data Conundrums in the Age of COVID-19" with María Álvarez, Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, Google; Chris Boos, Co-founder PEPP-PT Initiative; Founder and Managing Director, Arago; Member of the German Government's Digital Council; and Ulrich Kelber, Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information.
New digital tools have become a central part of Germany’s COVID-19 Exit Strategy. But they have also presented new questions regarding the privacy and protection of citizens’ personal data. How can governments, companies and users guarantee that contact tracing apps, symptom monitoring technology and other technologies are safeguarding hard won data protections? Have citizen expectations regarding data protection changed? What level of data access is necessary for these tools to become effective? This discussion examined what if any, are the tradeoffs confronting society between quick deployment of COVID-19 mitigating technology and preservation of data protection and privacy.         
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany's YouTube Channel:

Online Expert Discussion about the Current Economic Situation in North Macedonia

  • 27
  • May
  • 2020

On May 27, 2020, the German Eastern Business Association supported by the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an online expert discussion about the current economic situation in North Macedonia. Dr. Blagica Petreski, Chief Economist and CEO of Finance Think, and Marjan Nikolov, President of the Center for Economic Analysis, discussed the current government measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the following economic crisis, the role of the skills shortage and the strengthening of the economy after the crisis. The upcoming elections and the current political situation as well as the investment climate were also discussed. The event was moderated by Anja Quiring, Regional Director South Eastern Europe, German Eastern Business Association. You can find further information on the discussion here.

Virtual Discussion: Transatlantic Solidarity in Times of COVID-19 – A Bipartisan Congressional Perspective

  • 19
  • May
  • 2020

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 Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Europe, Eurasia, Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States House of Representatives.
This virtual conversation with the two leading Euro-Watchers in the US House of Representatives and a pan-European audience focused on how COVID-19 has affected transatlantic relations and solidarity. It addressed issues around US leadership, transatlantic trade, NATO’s role in the COVID-19 crisis and China.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany’s YouTube Channel:


Virtual Discussion: China, the U.S. & the Global Economy post-COVID-19: An Outlook

  • 15
  • May
  • 2020

On May 15, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual discussion on “China, the U.S. & the Global Economy post-COVID-19: An Outlook” with Robert B. Zoellick, Former President of the World Bank, U.S. Trade Representative & U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and co-commentator Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Head of External Economic Policy at The Federation of German Industries (BDI). The COVID-19 pandemic has brought much of the global economic activity to a halt. Together with Aspen Germany’s Executive Director Rüdiger Lentz, the two experts discussed how the crisis has impacted economic and financial structures around the world as well as necessary measures for a steady recovery. Topics included the future of transatlantic trade relations and China’s unique role post-COVID-19. This recorded discussion is available on Aspen Germany’s YouTube channel.

Digital Sovereignty & Gaia-X in Times of Crisis

  • 14
  • May
  • 2020

On May 14, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on "Digital Sovereignty & Gaia-X in Times of Crisis" together with Danyal Bayaz, Member of the German Bundestag (Alliance 90/The Greens) and Special Representative of Start-ups for The Greens; Marco-Alexander Breit, Head of Artificial Intelligence Unit, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; and Ursula Morgenstern, CEO and Managing Director, Atos Deutschland.
In this discussion, we explored how Germany’s flagship tech initiative to establish a competitive and secure data infrastructure for Europe, known as Gaia-X, is faring. Our speakers shed light on the next stages of development and the many open questions that remain, both in technical terms and in the context of this pandemic.
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany's YouTube Channel:

Online Discussion: “Political Developments in Serbia and Their Implications”

  • 12
  • May
  • 2020

On May 12, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an online discussion on the topic "Political Developments in Serbia and Their Implications" with Vukosava Crnjanski, Founder and Director, Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), Sonja Licht, President, Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (BFPE), Srđan Majstorović, Chairman of the Governing Board, European Policy Centre (CEP), and Sabine Stöhr, Head of Division 209 Western Balkans, German Federal Foreign Office. The online discussion focused on the latest political developments in Serbia. Despite a state of emergency and the strictest lockdown measures in the region, Serbia was hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic than neighboring states. At the same time, criticism has been getting louder that President Aleksandar Vučić is using the crisis to further undermine the Serbian democracy and strengthen his rule and that he is even turning his back on the EU relying more and more on China. The discussion therefore reviewed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Serbian democracy, the role of the civil society and the influence of Russia and China. Another topic that was also discussed was the Serbian parliamentary elections which had to be postponed due to the pandemic as well as the current developments with regard to the EU accession process of Serbia and the dialog with Kosovo. The event was moderated by Valeska Esch, Deputy Executive Director and Program Director Europe at Aspen Institute Germany.

Germany Mobilizes Tech: Whole of Technology Responses to COVID-19

  • 6
  • May
  • 2020

On May 6, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on "Germany Mobilizes Tech: Whole of Technology Responses to COVID-19" together with Peter Albiez, Country Manager Germany, Pfizer; Thomas Jarzombek, Commissioner for the Digital Industry and Start-ups and Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; Member of the German Bundestag (CDU/CSU); Christina Lang, CEO and Co-Founder, Tech4Germany; and Jens Redmer, Head of Product Policy, Google. This discussion examined how Germany is marshaling the power of emerging technology in the fight against COVID-19. We heared from the people working on the ground to support innovation from the Germany-wide Hackathon that mobilized over 42,000 participants to the latest in infection tracking technology.
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.
This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany's YouTube Channel:

Virtual discussion: New Ways of Communication between Politicians and Citizens

  • 5
  • May
  • 2020

On May 05, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual discussion on new ways of communication between politicians and citizens with Philipp Amthor, Member of the German Bundestag. As the youngest CDU/CSU member of the German Bundestag, Philipp Amthor stands for modern conservative policies. His social media followers know him as #Sachthemen influencer. Together with Aspen Germany‘s Executive Director Rüdiger Lentz, he discussed why traditional tools of communication between politicians and citizens are outdated. The recorded event is available on our YouTube channel.

Virtual Conversation Series: COVID-19 and German Tech Policy

  • 30
  • Apr
  • 2020

On April 30, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on “COVID-19 and German Tech Policy" together with Saskia Esken, chairperson of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and member of the Bundestag. This on-the-record discussion focused on how German policy-makers can shape tech policy that helps Germany recover from the twin health and economic crises stemming from the Coronavirus. These included how best to deploy new technologies in areas like testing, tracking, diagnostics and building capacity. It also included government responses to protect start-ups from the impact of COVID-19 economic crisis, encourage future R&D and prepare for tech-driven transformation that the crisis is likely to alter and, in some ways, accelerate. This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany's YouTube Channel.
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It will give participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.

Virtual Conversation on “COVID-19: The European Union – Risk or chance”

  • 23
  • Apr
  • 2020

On April 23, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on “ COVID-19: The European Union – Risk or chance” with Elmar Brok, former member of the European Parliament, member of the board of directors of the EVP, member of the Federal board of the CDU, Vice-president of the Centrist Democrat International. He stressed that the fight against Covid-19 was not a national matter and that individual national rehabilitation programs would not be enough. Only a unified European approach would be effective in overcoming the crisis. He pleaded for more competences on a European level in order to meet common challenges in a collective and effective way.

The recorded event is available on our YouTube channel.

Virtual Discussion: Covering Trump and the 2020 Election

  • 20
  • Apr
  • 2020

On April 20, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a virtual discussion on the topic "Covering Trump and the 2020 Election: Journalists' Challenges on the Campaign Trail“ with Matt Karnitschnig, Chief Europe Correspondent at POLITICO. Given current restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our event series "Road to Election Night 2020" continued virtually on Zoom. At Aspen Germany, it remains our prime concern to provide opportunities for in-depth discussion en route to the 2020 election. In a conversation with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Matt Karnitschnig discussed current developments on the campaign trail leading up to November’s consequential U.S. presidential election. The discussion touched on a range of topics, including the risks for Trump’s reelection chances given the current pandemic as well as the immediate threat of an economic crisis in the United States. Repercussion of those developments on President Trump, the Democratic front-runner Joe Biden, their respective campaigns, and key events were further addressed.

The recorded event is available on our YouTube channel.

Virtual Conversation Series: AI and the Fight Against COVID-19

  • 17
  • Apr
  • 2020

On April 17, 2020, Aspen Germany hosted a virtual conversation on “AI and the Fight Against COVID-19” together with Anna Christmann, Member of the German Bundestag (Alliance 90/The Greens) and Spokeswoman for Innovation and Technology; Nicolas Miailhe, Founder & President of The Future Society; and Shannon Vallor, Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh.
The speakers looked at problems and possibilities of using artificial intelligence in the fight against COVID-19. Topics included the prediction of spreading patterns, the detection of the virus in patients, the search for sustainable treatment methods and the creation of movement profiles via tracing applications. This discussion was recorded and can be found on Aspen Germany's YouTube Channel.
This conversation is part of an interactive series on “COVID-19 and Technology”. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.

Online Discussion “The Political Crisis in Kosovo and the Consequences for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue”

  • 2
  • Apr
  • 2020

The Aspen Institute Germany together with the Group for Legal and Political Studies hosted an online discussion on the topic “The Political Crisis in Kosovo and the Consequences for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue” with Taulant Kryeziu, Acting Deputy Minister for European Integration of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Arbëresha Loxha, Executive Director at Group for Legal and Political Studies, Peter Beyer, Member of the German Bundestag and Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation at the German Federal Foreign Office, and Ambassador Susanne Schütz, Director for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey and the EFTA States at the German Federal Foreign Office. The event was moderated by Valeska Esch, Deputy Executive Director and Program Director Europe at Aspen Institute Germany. The online discussion focused on the current political developments in Kosovo. The government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti recently fell as a consequence of a no-confidence motion initiated by their coalition partner. Disagreements between the political parties in Kosovo include adequate responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the future of the dialog between Belgrade and Pristina. The participants discussed the next steps, the consequences for Kosovo’s European and transatlantic relations, visa liberalization, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and how to adequately response to Codvid-19 pandemic amid the political crisis. Another topic that caused some debate was the EU-US relationship, in particular regarding the differences vis a vis the vote of no confidence as well as the future interaction of the EU and US Envoys for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

 

Virtual Conversation Series: COVID-19, Tech and Democratic Readiness

  • 31
  • Mar
  • 2020

On March 31, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a virtual Zoom-based conversation on "COVID-19, Tech and Democratic Readiness" together with Sir Julian King, former European Commissioner for the Security Union (2016-19). This conversation looked at national and EU actions to protect democracies in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. It touched on a range of topics from disinformation to contact tracing and data usage in monitoring the infection spread. The conversation started with 20 minutes of discussion followed by 20 minutes of Q&A from an audience of more than 120 participants.

This conversation is part of an interactive Zoom-based series on "COVID-19 and Technology". It will give participants the opportunity to engage with leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, thinkers and civil society in interactive discussions looking at how tech is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Germany, Europe, the transatlantic space and the world. Talks will address how technology like AI, 3D printing and big data are supporting diagnostics, medical production, resilience and analytics of infection spreading. They will address issues around the geo-politics of tech in the pandemic, the race for a vaccine, cybersecurity, disinformation and fake news, and the use (and misuse) of data. This virtual conversation series takes place in partnership with Google.

 

Road to Election Night 2020: Brown Bag Lunch „Super Tuesday Readout: Meet the Parties!”

  • 4
  • Mar
  • 2020

On March 4, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on the topic “Super Tuesday Readout: Meet the Parties!” with Candice Kerestan, Chair of Democrats Abroad Germany, and Ralph Freund, Vice President and Spokesperson of Republicans Abroad Germany e.V. In a crowded and heavily contested field of Democratic candidates, Super Tuesday was a game changer on the road to the 2020 presidential election. 14 states held their primaries on March 3, with a total of roughly 1,350 pledged delegates awarded on the same day. 1,991 are needed to win the party’s nomination. Who emerged as frontrunner? And who was forced to drop out of the race? The Leadership of Republicans and Democrats Abroad Germany helped to make sense of the results – and learn more about the parties’ positions and main issues of the 2020 election. In doing so, general developments within the two big parties were discussed as well as the broader state of American democracy.

Leadership Seminar Philosophy and Practice

  • 20
  • Feb
  • 2020

“Now, if happiness is activity in conformity with virtue, it is to be expected that it should conform with the highest virtue…”
Aristotle set the tone for the 27th edition of Aspen Germany’s Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”, which took place from 20 to 23 February, 2020 at Gut Klostermuehle. The seminar was moderated by Carol Gluck and Leigh Hafrey. They navigated 13 participants from Germany as well as from Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom, Romania, and Montenegro through lively and sometimes controversial discussions on the fundamental questions of human existence, society, and order, and - of course - leadership in many different aspects.
In a protected and confidential setting, far away from the daily strains of politics, finance, law and human rights, culture and the media, the debate along classic and modern texts tackled recurring leitmotifs and core questions, inspiring intense intellectual exchange and a retransfer of abstract examples to hands-on settings.

 

Background Discussion on the Current Situation in the Western Balkans

  • 20
  • Feb
  • 2020

On February 20, 2020 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a background discussion on the current situation in the Western Balkans between representatives of the German Government and staffers of the German Bundestag. Alexander Jung, Deputy Head of Division 212 Bilateral Relations to the Countries of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Federal Chancellery; Sabine Stöhr, Head of Division 209 Western Balkans at the German Federal Foreign Office; Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Division E12, EU External Affairs (EU Enlargement, European Neighbourhood Policy, EU External Financing Instruments) at the German Federal Foreign Office; Helge Tolksdorf, Head of Division EU-Enlargement, Southeastern Europe, Turkey at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Daniela Bergelt, Political Advisor for Serbia and Belarus, Division 302 “Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe and Caucasus” at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development shared the priorities and assessments of the situation in the region from the perspective of their respective divisions and presented an outlook for this year. The discussion focused on the current reform processes and domestic political developments within the countries of the Western Balkans, the new proposal of the European Commission on the enlargement of the European Union and the discussions regarding the accession negotiations within the EU. The event is part of a series of regular background discussions to enable regular exchanges on current priorities and challenges in the Western Balkans. 

Munich Security Conference Read-Out with Elbridge Colby

  • 17
  • Feb
  • 2020

On February 17, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy Berlin hosted a Munich Security Conference Read-Out with U.S. foreign policy and security expert Elbridge Colby in discussion with Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany. Our distinguished guest shared exclusive insights and his main takeaways from this year's conference. Topics included U.S. foreign policy challenges concerning China, Germany’s critical role in NATO and European security, as well as the importance of the Munich Security Conference for a constructive exchange despite diverging views on matters of mutual concern.

Elbridge Colby is the Co-Founder and Principal of the Marathon Initiative, a policy initiative focused on preparing the United States and its allies and partners for sustained great power competition. He is also a Senior Advisor at WestExec Advisors, where he supports the firm’s work on defense, technology, aerospace, and related areas. Following various positions within the U.S. government service, Colby served as Defense Program Director at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, DC until 2019.

Breakfast Briefing with Peter Berkowitz and Sebastian Groth

  • 16
  • Feb
  • 2020

On February 16, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the American Council on Germany (ACG) hosted a breakfast briefing with Peter Berkowitz, Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State, and Sebastian Groth, Director of Policy Planning at the German Federal Foreign Office, on “Shaping Foreign Policy in Uncertain Times: Views from Washington and Berlin.” On the periphery of the Munich Security Conference, the participants discussed current foreign policy challenges facing the United States and Germany, the state of transatlantic relations, as well as their main takeaways from MSC 2020.

Workshop on “Addressing the China Challenge”

  • 12
  • Feb
  • 2020

On February 12, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a workshop titled “Addressing the China Challenge” with experts from industry, academia and politics. The workshop was moderated by Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Senior Fellow and Director of the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS and Tyson Barker, Fellow and Program Director at the Aspen Institute Germany.

After a brief opening input by Theresa Fallon, Founder & Director of the Brussels-based Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies (CREAS), the participants discussed joint challenges and benefits for Europe and the U.S. stemming from China’s rise as well as their possible impacts on the transatlantic partnership. Based on these assessments, a second workshop phase emphasized the goals that should guide a European approach towards China. Prof. Dr. Frank N. Pieke, former Director and CEO of the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and Professor of Modern China Studies at the University of Leiden, provided another impulse for the subsequent debate of specific recommendations for U.S. – EU cooperation on China. The final round of discussion about specific policies and instruments identified many possible areas of cooperation, focusing on issues where European and U.S. interests align, or burden-sharing appears feasible. The session is part of an ongoing project by the CNAS Transatlantic Security Program, and the information from this session will be used to inform a full-length report on this topic to be published later this spring.

Optimistic Foresight with Bina Venkataraman

  • 30
  • Jan
  • 2020
On 30 January, 2020, The Aspen Institute Germany in partnership with Value for Good, and the Harvard Alumni Club of Berlin hosted a book discussion with Bina Venkataraman to discuss her latest book "The Optimist's Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age". Observing the spread of a deadly virus, the climate apocalypse, populism, increasing polarization in society as well as the threat of violent clashes dominate the news with doomsday scenarios. Bina Venkataraman contrasts this with a focus on optimism and forward-thinking: hands-on examples show tools and strategies for effective mechanisms to provide reliable predictions of looming threats. Optimistic leadership skills can go beyond the individual and may serve to initiate sustainable change in behaviour and thinking. Thinking outside established coalitions and pattern may lead out of myopia and in connection with adequate measures and incentives, as well as lead to positive system adjustments. Looking through the optimist’s telescope entailed a vivid discussion with a full house of guests and was moderated by Clara Péron, Alumna of the Aspen Leadership Seminar and Founder of Value for Good, and Vice-President of the Harvard Alumni Club of Berlin, and Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany.
Aspen Germany Road to Election Night 2020 with Dan Hamilton

Road to Election Night 2020: Brown Bag Lunch “Ground Rules & Outlook – Ask the Expert!”

  • 30
  • Jan
  • 2020
On January 30, 2020, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on the topic "US Election 2020: Ground Rules & Outlook – Ask the Expert!" with Prof. Dan Hamilton, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy and Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS. This was the kick-off session of our event series "Road to Election Night 2020", which culminates with an election party on November 3 – the biggest Berlin-based event dedicated to the U.S. presidential race. The focus of this first session was to familiarize participants with the basic ground rules of the U.S. election system – how does this system generally work and what makes it so special? And how might this play out for a polarizing Republican incumbent opposing a diverse field of Democratic candidates? This roundtable helped the participants in getting a better feeling for the months and events ahead and served as an opportunity to raise individual questions. Hamilton emphasized the republican character of the United States when discussing the ground rules as well as the prospects of winning the respective party nomination and the Presidency itself. On this basis, it is not merely about winning the public vote but gaining the support of many individual states. With so-called rural battleground states growing in importance, the first caucuses and primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada will likely lead the way. Dan Hamilton has held a variety of senior positions in the U.S. Department of State, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State; Associate Director of the Policy Planning Staff for two Secretaries of State; and Policy Director in the Bureau of European Affairs.

Brown Bag Lunch: “Does the World Need the West? Ideas for the Future of the Liberal Order”

  • 18
  • Dec
  • 2019

On December 18, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on “Does the world Need the West? Ideas for the Future of the Liberal Order” with Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, Vice President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and Head of the Berlin Office, Dr. Franziska Brantner, Member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary Executive Officer (Bündnis 90/Die Grüne), and Brigadier General (ret.) Rainer Meyer zum Felde, Senior Fellow, Institute for Security Policy Kiel (ISPK), Stiftung Wissenschaft & Demokratie (SWuD). In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff first highlighted the core theses of his recently published book “Die Welt braucht den Westen: Neustart für eine liberale Ordnung” (The World Needs the West: A New Start for a Liberal Order). With this plea for the renewal of the liberal project, Kleine-Brockhoff called for a “robust liberalism” that represents a contemporary interpretation of democratic liberalism: more faithful to principles and regulations, more modest and more aware of its limits, but at the same time more prepared to defend itself. In this way, the liberal international order could also be preserved in the new power-political reality of competing systems of order. After a parliamentary commentary by Dr. Franziska Brantner and a security policy positioning by Brigadier General (ret.) Rainer Meyer zum Felde, all participants discussed the military strategic feasibility of the proposed ideas.

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Panel Discussion “Between Slow Reforms in the Western Balkans and the EU’s Absorption Capacity – Quo Vadis EU Enlargement?”

  • 12
  • Dec
  • 2019

To round up the annual Working Group Western Balkans, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a public evening event on “Between Slow Reforms in the Western Balkans and the EU’s Absorption Capacity – Quo Vadis EU Enlargement?”. The failure of this October’s European Council to agree to the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia despite substantial progress in both countries has come as a deep shock to the Western Balkans, leading to an overall questioning of the credibility of the membership perspective. Some even say that this was a historical mistake through which the EU has lost its credibility in the region. In addition, issues regarding the rule of law, governance, democracy, and economic development, which have been the target of reform processes, continue to stand in the way of progress in the countries’ further EU integration. The conditionality approach, which has been seen as a key EU tool to initiate and accompany reform processes in countries looking to join the European Union, seems damaged. At the same time, all 28 EU member states explicitly reaffirmed the membership perspective for countries in the region and France has put forward suggestions how to reform the accession process. The panel therefore discussed how to move forward from here, both in the EU, its member states, but also in the WB6 and what this means for the situation in the region in particular. Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, Director for EU Policies (Enlargement, Neighborhood, Sanctions, Internal Market, Justice and Home Affairs, Economic and Monetary Union), Special Representative for the Negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework at the German Federal Foreign Office and Prof. Dr. Tanja Miščević, Deputy Secretary General at the Regional Cooperation Council discussed this with high-level government representatives from the Western Balkans Six. The discussion was moderated by Hedvig Morvai, Director of Strategy and Europe at ERSTE Foundation and introduced by a short video in which young people from the Western Balkans formulate what they expect from their politicians vis á vis the EU accession process. The Aspen Institute Germany would like to thank Deutsche Welle, which produced the video as part of the Balkan Boosters project, for their contribution. The video can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Working Group Western Balkans

  • 11
  • Dec
  • 2019

The Aspen Institute Germany hosted its annual Working Group Western Balkans on December 11-12, 2019 in Berlin to conclude its Western Balkans Program 2019. The goal of this working group was to develop concrete policy recommendations as a result of the issues discussed throughout the Aspen Western Balkans conferences this year and to identify the next steps that should be taken by Western Balkans, German, and EU decision-makers. The key topics during the Aspen conferences in 2019 included economic development and emigration as well as strengthening parliaments and their role in the Western Balkans. Moreover, the working group took stock of the current situation in the EU integration process of the Western Balkan countries and discussed ways of reinvigorating this process. The working group consisted of one high-level government representative from the Western Balkans Six, select experts as well as representatives from the EU, the German Government, and Bundestag.

Background Briefing on EU Accession Negotiations with Countries in the Western Balkans

  • 4
  • Dec
  • 2019

On December 04, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a background discussion on the EU accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries. Sabine Stöhr, Head of the Western Balkans Division at the Federal Foreign Office and Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Division E12, EU External Relations (EU Enlargement, European Neighborhood Policy), discussed the EU accession process and latest developments in the region with staffers of the German Bundestag. The discussion focused especially on the the failure of the European Council to agree on opening EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, the consequences for both countries, the membership perspective for the Western Balkan region overall as well as the next steps that are to be expected at the European level.

Discussion: “Foreign and Security Policy Challenges for the US and Germany”

  • 3
  • Dec
  • 2019

On December 3, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an evening event on “Foreign and Security Policy Challenges for the US and Germany” with Ian Brzezinski, Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and former Deputy Assistant State Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO, and Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, Special Envoy for the Political Director at the Federal Ministry of Defense. The two experts discussed the current security challenges against the background of the return of great power competition, NATO’s strategic orientation and current US foreign policy. The importance of transatlantic relations in coping with these global challenges was stressed, as was the need for greater European and German engagement.

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Digital Dish on the Blockchain Strategies of Germany and the EU

  • 2
  • Dec
  • 2019

On December 2, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Digital Dish on the "Blockchain Strategies of Germany and the EU" together with Thomas Heilmann, Member of the German Bundestag (CDU); Katharina Gehra, CEO & Co-Founder, Immutable Insight; Co-author, Block52 Podcast; Supervisory Board, Fürstlich Castell'sche Bank; and Daniel Resas, Associated Partner at Schnittker Möllmann Partners and Senior Fellow at the Zicklin Center (The Wharton School). In conversation with by Oliver Voß, editor in the economic department of the publishing house Der Tagesspiegel, the planned crypto-currency Libra and aspects relating to the security as well as the economic background of blockchain-related innovations were debated. In the context of global developments in the e-finance market, the urgency of a German position as well as the remaining technical, regulatory and ethical challenges were also discussed.
Digital Dish is a regular series that brings one or two provocative thinkers together for an intimate, off-the-record lunch or dinner to discuss issues related to the most pressing tech policy debates. It features prominent speakers including policymakers, elected officials, activists, innovators, thought-leaders, business representatives from both sides of the Atlantic and a mix of frontier thinkers on tech policy and specialists focusing on the U.S.-European relationship.

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Brown Bag Lunch: “A World in Transition: From Multilateralism back to Great Power Competition?“

  • 29
  • Nov
  • 2019

On November 29, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the Embassy of the United States of America in Berlin hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on “A World in Transition: From Multilateralism back to Great Power Competition?” with Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy, and Dr. Jana Puglierin, Program Director of the Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations. The participants discussed the extent to which the world is again characterized by great power competition and what role Europe is playing in this. In view of the increasing tensions between the United States and China, the discussion addressed how Europe should position itself politically, strategically, and economically. In addition, other security policy issues came up for discussion, such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union, the future of NATO, and how to deal with the 5G network expansion.

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American-Style Thanksgiving Dinner

  • 28
  • Nov
  • 2019

Happy Turkey Day! On November 28, 2019, the Aspen Germany Leadership Program, the German Stanford Association and the Harvard University Alumni Club of Berlin hosted an American-style Thanksgiving Dinner.

More than 100 friends and family of the three organizations came together at Harnack Haus, the Max Planck Society’s conference venue and guesthouse. The impressive building provided a festive setting to celebrate one of the most important American holidays with traditional food and the roast turkey, which is an absolute must. The good food was supplemented with great food for thought with a talk by Lisa Witter, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Apolitical, on "Thanks(giving) on the brain (and we’re not talking tryptophan): Applying lessons to life, politics and policy in today’s polarized world". The evening left a great crowd in thankful spirits, being amazingly aware of the dopamine-related processes thankfulness triggers in the brain, in addition to inspiring conversations with old and new friends alike.

Dinner Discussion with Vint Cerf on “AI and Global Governance”

  • 25
  • Nov
  • 2019

On November 25, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive dinner discussion with Internet pioneer Vinton G. Cerf – who serves as Vice President & Chief Internet Evangelist at Google – in the context of this year’s Internet Governance Forum in Berlin. The discussion revolved around the global governance of AI and was moderated by Michaela Küfner, Chief Political Editor at Deutsche Welle. Participants explored the challenges and parameters of a truly inclusive and international AI governance structure, addressing the political, legal, and ethical concerns that would need to be addressed. At the same time, the group discussed approaches to foster the innovative potential of this technology for the benefit of humanity.

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International Security and Technology Crisis Simulation

  • 21
  • Nov
  • 2019

On November 21, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany had the pleasure of hosting a National Security and Technology Crisis simulation at the Embassy of Estonia in Berlin together with the Atlantic Council. The G7 crisis simulation brought together a group of International security experts from Germany, Europe and the US. Today’s world is more connected than at any point in history. As the relationships of governments, institutions, private sector actors, and citizens continue to transcend borders, we must adapt global governance to meet those needs. The simulation raised awareness how tech impacts international security. The simulation is generously supported by our partner Microsoft.

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Leadership Seminar Philosophy and Practice

  • 7
  • Nov
  • 2019

Outside the city center and close to nature in of Brandenburg’s lake district, Aspen Germany convened the participants of the 26th edition of the Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”.
Using the Socratic method and under the skillful guidance of expert moderators Leigh Hafrey and Ruth Girardet, participants discussed the most fundamental questions of the human condition. The seminar offers a group of select participant the opportunity to debate their own actions in a protected and confidential atmosphere and to sharpen their definition of good and ethical leadership. Diverse perspective and inspiring controversies drew from an abundance of experience and a variety of interpretations.
The Seminar offered the rare opportunity to reflect on own values and to discuss leadership with participants from across society within a confidential atmosphere.

Berlin Transatlantic Forum 2019 “Fit for Purpose? The Transatlantic Relationship and the World of Tomorrow”

  • 6
  • Nov
  • 2019

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 U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, former President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick and Minister of State Niels Annen offered a retrospect in the 1989’s historic events and an analysis of today’s challenges for the transatlantic partnership.
In his welcome remarks Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, highlighted the importance of the transatlantic bond not only for German unification, but especially for the city of Berlin.
The conference also featured TED-style pitches on the future of Atlanticism from Member of the Bundestag Franziska Brantner, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, Cathryn Clüver from Harvard, Henry Farrell from George Washington University, Michael Anton from Hillsdale College and Yu Jie from Chatham House. Putting the focus on the next generation of transatlantic decision-makers, Member of the European Parliament Robert Biedron, CSIS’s Rachel Ellehuus, Andras Fekete-Györ from Momentum Movement in Hungary, Member of the Bundestag Metin Hakverdi and Annabelle Chapman, Correspondent for The Economist, discussed the differences in priorities and outlook for the Europe-US relationship in the post-Cold War generation.
Finally, exploring the influence of digitalization on national security, Katrin Suder, Chair of the Digital Council to the German Chancellor and the Cabinet, and former NATO SACEUR Philip M. Breedlove talked about how new actors and cyber warfare challenge the conventional set-up of national defense and military alliances.
The Berlin Transatlantic Forum is made possible by partners including the Lotto Stiftung Berlin, Volkswagen AG and Lockheed Martin.
The conversation with Dr. Madeleine K. Albright was recorded and aired by Deutschlandfunk Kultur on November 9, 2019 and can be found on its website.
A transcription of Robert Zoellick's speech can be found here.
The TED-style talks highlighted different aspects of the transatlantic relationship and its future development. Listen here to Cathryn Clüver’s talk on the role of cities and states in international relations and how their actions are shaping the transatlantic partnership.

 

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Aspen Gala 2019

  • 6
  • Nov
  • 2019

On November 6, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted its fourth Aspen Gala to present the 2019 Shepard Stone Award to Dr. Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State and US Ambassador to the UN, and Robert Zoellick, former President of the World Bank and US Chief Negotiator during the Two-Plus-Four Negotiations. The award recognizes outstanding transatlantic leadership and achievements in politics, culture, society, and science that reflect and promote the shared values of the United States and Germany. Dr. Madeleine Albright and Robert Zoellick have dedicated their lives to promoting a free society, democratic values and transatlantic partnership. The tradition was introduced in 2014 to mark the 40th anniversary of Aspen Germany and to commemorate the exceptional achievements of Shepard Stone, founder and first Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany. Previous recipients of the Shepard Stone Award are Wolf Biermann, Dr. Guido Goldman, Leonard Lauder and Dr. Mathias Döpfner. This year, the laudatory speech was held by Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Bundestag. Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President of The Aspen Institute, praised Aspen’s extraordinary growth from a meeting in Colorado to a network of 11 institutes on four continents. The festive evening celebrating the transatlantic partnership was entitled “Building the Future. Together.” and brought together over 200 guests and friends of Aspen Germany from the realms of politics, culture, diplomacy, and civil society.

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Western Balkans Conference on “The Western Balkans Between Economic Development and Emigration”

  • 29
  • Oct
  • 2019

From October 29 to November 1, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a closed conference in Budva with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office and in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry of Montenegro on “The Western Balkans Between Economic Development and Emigration”. Among the conference participants were government representatives, Members of Parliament, mayors from the Western Balkans as well as experts from civil society from the region, Germany, and the EU. The aim of this conference was to offer a platform for these high-level participants to discuss central challenges the Western Balkans countries and their partners are facing. The following questions were in the focus of the discussions: Why are people leaving the WB6? How can economic activity and growth be fostered in the Western Balkans? How can attractive jobs be created in a sustainable way? What role can the digital economy play for economic development? How can entrepreneurs and start-ups be better supported? To what extend do underdeveloped networks of critical infrastructure constitute an additional obstacle to regional economic development? What role can the Regional Economic Area play and how can its creation be sped up? Besides these questions, the recent failure to come to an agreement about the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia at the last European Council meeting and how this will impact the future of the WB6 and EU relations was discussed during the event.

Discussion: “From Juncker to von der Leyen: A new start or more of the same?“

  • 28
  • Oct
  • 2019

On 28 October 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany, in cooperation with the Embassy of Finland in the Federal Republic of Germany, hosted an evening event on the topic "From Juncker to von der Leyen: New Start or Carry on?“ After an input statement by H.E. Anne Sipiläinen, Ambassador of Finland to the Federal Republic of Germany, and Dr. Jörg Wojahn, Representative of the European Commission in Germany, Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, moderated a discussion with Judy Dempsey, Nonresident Senior Fellow and Editor-in-Chief of Strategic Europe at Carnegie Europe, Rebecca Harms, Former Member of the European Parliament (Bündnis 90/Die Grüne) and former Chairwoman of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, Dr. Doris Pack, President of the EPP Women (European People's Party), President of the Robert Schuman Institute (RSI) and former Member of the European Parliament and the Bundestag (CDU/CSU), and Dr. Jörg Wojahn. Especially in view of current challenges, such as the threat of an unregulated Brexit, and a European community that threatens to drift further apart on various core issues, the participants dared to look ahead to the next five years. To this end, the main topics of the designated Commission President's agenda were taken up and their feasibility discussed by the panel. This resulted in a wide range of topics, in which the European Green Deal was addressed as well as the future of the transatlantic relationship and the challenges of digitisation. All participants also agreed that new enthusiasm for European cooperation must be generated and that it must become more tangible for individual citizens.

Roundtable Discussion “Resolving the Enlargement Deadlock: Between Rule of Law Deficiencies in the WB6 and the EU’s Absorption Capacity“

  • 24
  • Oct
  • 2019

On October 24, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Resolving the Enlargement Deadlock: Between Rule of Law Deficiencies in the WB6 and the EU’s Absorption Capacity“. Ardita Abazi Imeri, Head of Programs, European Policy Institute (EPI), Milena Lazarević, Programme Director, European Policy Centre (CEP), Arbëresha Loxha, Executive Director, Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), Dina Bajramspahić, Researcher, Institut Alternativa (IA), and Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Division E12, EU External Relations (EU Enlargement, European Neighborhood Policy), German Federal Foreign Office, discussed the rule of law in the region, its integration processes and related reforms as well as the EU’s absorption capacity with staffers of the German Bundestag, experts from civil society, and the interested public. The focus of the discussion was on the methodology of the EU enlargement process and its shortcomings, especially in terms of regional democratization processes and rule of law reforms. After the failure of the European Council to agree on opening EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, experts from the Think for Europe Network (TEN) took this opportunity to point out some methodological shortcomings in the process, which especially France had offered concerns about, and proposed potential solutions. These were discussed with Mr. Motak, who emphasized that the German government is in favor of opening accession negotiations with both countries as soon as possible.

Digital Dish with Member of the Bundestag Nadine Schön (CDU) on “The CDU’s Digital Strategy”

  • 22
  • Oct
  • 2019

On October 22, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a “Digital Dish" on the CDU digital strategy with Nadine Schön, deputy chairwoman of the CDU/ CSU Bundestag group and lead voice on the "Digital Agenda." The discussion focused on the digital charter, digital infrastructure, e-governance, tech-education, and data sovereignty, but also explored geopolitical issues concerning the role of Germany and the European Union in the digital age.
In conversation with Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow at Aspen Germany, Nadine Schön addressed Germany’s tech goals and examined how public administration and the private sector can become more digital. Participants were also interested in strategies that guarantee IT-security and a European industrial policy in areas where China and the US are dominant players. The discussion was hosted in partnership with Telefonica Germany.
Digital Dish is a regular series that brings one or two provocative thinkers together for an intimate, off-the-record lunch or dinner to discuss issues related to the most pressing tech policy debates. It features prominent speakers including policy-makers, elected officials, activists, innovators, thought-leaders, business representatives from both sides of the Atlantic and a mix of frontier thinkers on tech policy and specialists focusing on the U.S.-European relationship.

Brown Bag Lunch: “Made in China? From a New Economic System to a New Global Order”

  • 14
  • Oct
  • 2019

On October 14, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on the topic “Made in China? From a New Economic System to a New Global Order” with Dr. Theo Sommer, author and former editor-in-chief and publisher DIE ZEIT, and Hanna Katharina Müller, Head of Division “Political models of order and militant democracy,” Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building und Community. The discussion focused on the various implications of the People’s Republic’s increasingly confident claim to international leadership. In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Dr. Theo Sommer and Hanna Katharina Müller shared their views on China’s economic, social, and military transformation in recent years and decades. Afterwards, all participants discussed controversially the future role of China in the world as well as how to respond appropriately on a national and European level.

Exclusive Discussion on „Can the Republican Party Survive Trump?“

  • 18
  • Sep
  • 2019
On September 18, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the American Academy in Berlin hosted an exclusive lunch discussion on “Can the Republican Party Survive Trump?” with David Frum, Staff Writer at The Atlantic and former Speechwriter for President George W. Bush. With the quest for the democratic presidential nominee underway and a president piling up cash for his campaign “war room,” the ever-widening rift between Republicans and Democrats provided ample material for a fruitful discussion. Will the Republican and the Democratic Party succeed in formulating unifying messages on the campaign trail – and will the Republican Party break with its president on certain issues?  David Frum, who has published widely on these questions, helped to shed light on the lasting impact Trump had and continues to have on the American presidency and the cornerstones of US democracy. Further, he took a look at the current top tier of Democratic candidates and discussed the role of voter demographics in the upcoming presidential elections. The event was co-hosted by GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB.

Book Presentation and Discussion: „The 2-Hour Boss: More Time and Success with the Autonomy Principle“ with Insa Klasing

  • 11
  • Sep
  • 2019
On September 11, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus hosted a book presentation and discussion with Insa Klasing, Co-Founder and CEO of TheNextWe. Insa Klasing talked about her new book “The 2-Hour Boss: More Time and Success with the Autonomy Principle” (“Der 2-Stunden-Chef: Mehr Zeit und Erfolg mit dem Autonomie-Prinzip.“) In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, and after words of welcome by Catherine von Fürstenberg-Dussmann, Insa Klasing discussed how to achieve more with less leadership. A horseback riding accident forced the then head of KFC in the DACH region to take an unforeseen break and gave Insa Klasing the opportunity to give her employees the autonomy to make free decisions. She found that both her employees and she as CEO benefited from the 2-hour leadership. Catherine von Fürstenberg-Dussmann further provided interesting input on the feasibility of "2-hour leadership" in a large company and rounded off the lively discussion on leadership requirements in the modern workplace.

Roundtable Discussion on the topic “Current Political Developments in Kosovo and the Role of the Opposition”

  • 11
  • Sep
  • 2019
While most international attention about the Republic of Kosovo goes to the Belgrade-Pristina dialog, the roundtable discussion focused on the domestic political situation in the country and in particular the role of the opposition. Albin Kurti, President of Vetëvendosje! and designated Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, and Josip Juratović, Member of the German Bundestag, discussed the following questions: What is the current political situation? What do obvious divisions within the government mean for the country? What would be likely coalitions and what will this mean for the future of the country? What is the status of much-needed reforms? What does the dominance of the Belgrade-Pristina dialog mean for the internal development of democracy in the country? How can the Serbian community be better integrated in political decision-making?

Aspen Seminar for Young European Leaders 2019 in Annecy

  • 5
  • Sep
  • 2019
On September 5-8, 2019, the third Aspen Seminar for Young European Leaders took place in Annecy, France, jointly organized by the Aspen Initiative for Europe, the Aspen Institute France and the Aspen Institute Germany. The seminar brought together 26 participants, aged 25-35, from Europe and other regions around the world. On the basis of classical and modern texts of renowned European and non-European philosophers and thinkers, the participants reflected on timeless ideas and their own beliefs and values as well as on European ideals and their continued relevance in today’s world. The seminar was moderated by Leigh Hafrey, Senior Lecturer in the Behavioral and Policy Sciences at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and Miguel Herrero, Professor of Classics at Madrid’s Complutense University.

Brown Bag Lunch: “Populism and its Impact on Elections: A Threat to Democracy?”

  • 4
  • Sep
  • 2019
On September 4, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on "Populism and its Effects on Elections: A Danger for Democracy?" with Maria Fiedler, Political Correspondent, Der Tagesspiegel, and Martin Klingst, Political Correspondent, Die Zeit. In view of the results of the state parliamentary elections in Brandenburg and Saxony, the upcoming elections in Thuringia and the American presidential elections in 2020, the discussion focused on the effects of populism in Germany and the USA. In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Maria Fiedler and Martin Klingst shared impressions of their trips to the rural regions of the Eastern German states with the participants. The participants further discussed how to deal with the growing popularity of the AfD and the increasingly voiced dissatisfaction of many citizens. Concerning the U.S., the participants were particularly interested in Trump's current prospects for four more years in the White House.

Debrief on the 2019 Western Balkans Summit in Poznań

  • 9
  • Jul
  • 2019

On July 09, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany organized an informal debrief on the 2019 Berlin Process Summit in Poznań. Christiane Hullmann, Deputy Head of Division 209 Western Balkans at the German Federal Foreign Office, Matthias Lüttenberg, Head of Division 212 Bilateral Relations to the Countries of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia at the Federal Chancellery, Helge Tolksdorf, Head of Division EU-Enlargement, Southeastern Europe, Turkey in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Valeska Esch, Program Director with the Aspen Institute Germany shared their experiences and elaborated on their perspectives on the summit’s outcomes. With representatives from the German Foreign Office, the Federal Chancellery, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and civil society, the summit was analyzed in depth and with respect to all of its parallel events. The participants consisted of representatives from the Bundestag and civil society, such as journalists, think tanks or political foundations.

Second Trilateral Conference with Members of U.S. Congress, the Russian Duma and Federation Council, and Bundestag “Addressing Mutual Foreign Policy Challenges”

  • 29
  • Jun
  • 2019

In June, the Aspen Institute Germany, in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Foundation of Germany, organized its second trilateral conference with Members from the U.S. Congress, the Russian Duma and Federation Council, and the German Bundestag in Berlin. After a successful launch of the format in 2016, this year the focus was again on picking up threads of discussion and discussing current problems in a trusting and non-public dialogue. Topics ranged from issues of arms control and the European security architecture to the Middle East and international trade. The moderated discussion between the delegations focused on exploring the scope for action and possible solutions regarding these pressing issues. A round of competent academics from the participating countries, specially selected for this purpose, helped to find appropriate entry points and to stimulate the necessary discussion between the parliamentarians. The format was judged by all sides to be very enriching and it was advocated to keep the discussion channels open and to strengthen them.

Exclusive Roundtable Discussion on “America the Unpredictable: Do Allies and Partners Still Count?”

  • 28
  • Jun
  • 2019
On June 28, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive roundtable discussion on “America the Unpredictable: Do Allies and Partners Still Count?” with Ambassador Rick Burt, Former US Ambassador to Germany, and Prof. Daniel Hamilton, Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Our distinguished guests discussed the need for Germany to become better in defining and pursuing its interests as well as the increasingly perceived disconnect between Berlin and the rest of Europe. Further complicating the questions on the table, the participants focused on China’s increasing engagement on a global scale and possible repercussions for the transatlantic relationship. Nevertheless, all guests agreed that US-German relations remained a vital partnership that deserved all necessary efforts and the fullest support on both sides.

Exclusive Dinner with the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Stevo Pendarovski

  • 24
  • Jun
  • 2019
On June 24, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive dinner with the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Stevo Pendarovski, and his delegation at the China Club in Berlin. The dinner, on the occasion of the inaugural visit of the newly elected President of the Republic of North Macedonia, offered the opportunity for an open exchange in a small, exclusive setting with members of the German Bundestag, and government, journalists, and experts. The following discussion focused on the EU integration process and NATO membership of the Republic of North Macedonia, recent political developments in the country, the region, as well as in the EU.

Discussion: “NATO at 70: Continued Success or Imminent Decline?”

  • 19
  • Jun
  • 2019
On June 19, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a debate on the topic “NATO at 70: Continued Success or Imminent Decline?” with Christiane Hoffmann, Diplomatic Correspondent, Der Spiegel, Ambassador Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the North Atlantic Council, and Dr. Andrew Michta, Dean, College of International and Security Studies, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. The event was opened with an input statement on multilateralism by Hendrik Meijer, author of “Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century.” The subsequent discussion addressed NATO’s current and future direction beyond the 2 percent debate. The focus was on the commitment of Germany and the other NATO partners to the defense alliance as well as internal and external challenges facing NATO. There was also extensive discussion on how to guarantee cooperation and success in the future.

Background Briefing on the Current Situation in the Western Balkans

  • 13
  • Jun
  • 2019

On June 13, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a background discussion on the current situation in Albania and North Macedonia with regards to the possible opening of EU accession negotiations with both countries this year. Sabine Stöhr, Head of the Western Balkans Division at the Federal Foreign Office and Alexander Jung, Deputy Head of Division 212 Bilateral Relations to the Countries of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Federal Chancellery discussed the EU accession process and latest developments in the two countries with staffers of the German Bundestag.

Aspen NEXT Transatlantic Workshop

  • 12
  • Jun
  • 2019
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 societies and political systems. The group compiled rankings of the most important values of 1989 and today to compare changes in value systems over the last thirty years, developed scenarios of what the world might look like in 2029 in the fields of foreign policy, technology, economy, climate and energy or regarding the future of NATO and discussed the changes in value systems today, their adaptation in order to overcome today’s challenges and how this should reflect in the future of the transatlantic partnership. Conversations with Pawel Swieboda, Deputy Head, European Political Strategy Center, Christopher Rendo, Policy Planning, US State Department, and Niels Annen, State Minister, German Federal Foreign Office, offered a practitioner’s view of how debates around values and current challenges are mirrored in European, US and German foreign policy. The two-day workshop brought 32 participants aged 25 to 35 from the US, Europe and Germany to Berlin, kicking off the Aspen NEXT initiative which aims at engaging the next generation of Atlanticists.

Assembly of the „Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts“ 2019

  • 5
  • Jun
  • 2019

On June 5, 2019, the members of the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts e.V.” met prior to the Aspen summer party to hold their annual assembly in Berlin. The board of the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts” presented its activities and the financial report and the assembly decided on the latest resolutions. Moreover, Dr. Roland Hoffmann-Theinert, Chairman of the Management Board, and Ulrich Misgeld, Treasurer, were reelected for another three years.

Summer Party of the Aspen Institute Germany and the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts”

  • 5
  • Jun
  • 2019
On June 5, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany and the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts e.V.” hosted their annual summer party in Berlin. We had the pleasure to welcome guest of honor and speaker Tina Hassel, Editor in Chief and Chief Correspondent at ARD. The discussion between Tina Hassel and Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, gave an exciting insight into the currently challenging situation in German national politics. Our guest of honor addressed the status of the Grand Coalition, gave insights into her work as Editor in Chief at ARD, and talked about the challenges that established parties as well the media face, especially with regard to key issues for the future. Following the discussion, everyone came together for a wonderful summer reception in the courtyard of the Mendelssohn-Remise.

Workshop on “AI & Bias”

  • 4
  • Jun
  • 2019
The Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive workshop on „AI & Bias“ in cooperation with Microsoft Germany in the morning of June 4. Speakers included Professor Ifeoma Ajunwa (Cornell University), Professor Corinna Bath (University of Braunschweig), Lorena Jaume-Palasí (The Ethical Tech Society), Professor Dr. Eric Hilgendorf (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Joana Reicherts (Microsoft Germany) and Maximilian Poretschkin (Fraunhofer Institute – IAIS). The workshop consisted of two sessions, the first one focusing on how policy-makers, tech companies, civil society and industry should define the contours of automated decision-making and the second one pivoting to the responsibility of policy-makers to address the twin dangers of opacity and algorithmic/data bias. The event included 25 high-level guests and representatives from government, business and international organizations. Among the topics discussed were bias in technologies used in hiring processes, for facial and voice recognition, and in predictive policing. The effects of digitalization and the application of machine learning systems on society and relevant policies and regulations were also discussed. The off-the-record workshop was moderated by Tyson Barker (Program Director) and Olivia Knodt (Program Officer) from the Aspen Institute Germany.

Panel Discussion “Visegrad Countries and Germany – New Avenues of Cooperation and Enhanced Consultation”

  • 3
  • Jun
  • 2019

On June 03, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Berlin, and the Aspen Institute Central Europe hosted a panel discussion on the topic “Visegrad Countries and Germany – New Avenues of Cooperation and Enhanced Consultation”. Beyond robust economic relations between Visegrád 4 countries and Germany, there is still space for closer political ties. State Secretary Claudia Dörr-Voß, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany, State Secretary František Ružička, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Jiří Nantl, Director, Central European Institute of Technology and Chairman of Alliance4Life, and Olaf Osica, Director of International Affairs, European Economic Congress Katowice, discussed conclusions of 2 years of V4-Germany Forum aimed at the joint development of new ideas to further strengthen cooperation through unleashing innovative potential and jointly exploring new opportunities. How can economic relations be further developed beyond a supply chain for large German companies? Which sectors should be considered in order to remain competitive in a changing global economy? How can economic cooperation better translate into closer political cooperation? The discussion was moderated by Jiří Schneider, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Central Europe.

Visegrád 4-Germany Forum 2019 “New Avenues of Cooperation and Enhanced Consultation”

  • 3
  • Jun
  • 2019
On June 03-04, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany, in cooperation with the Aspen Institute Central Europe, hosted a workshop on “New Avenues of Cooperation and Enhanced Consultation” in Berlin. The participants from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Germany engaged in discussions on the political economy of Central Europe, focusing on common interest and key challenges of the Visegrád countries and Germany. During the workshop in Berlin, the key findings and recommendations that were developed during the two previous workshops were presented and discussed with German experts and decision-makers. Moreover, the meeting discussed conclusions of Visegrád 4-Germany Forum aimed at joint development of new ideas to further strengthen cooperation through unleashing innovative potential and jointly exploring new opportunities. Finally, participants had the opportunity to meet State Minister for Europe Michael Roth and to discuss with members of the Parliamentary friendship groups Germany-Poland and Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, and Hungary in the German Bundestag.

Panel Discussion “Visegrad Countries and Germany – New Avenues of Cooperation and Enhanced Consultation”

  • 3
  • Jun
  • 2019
On June 03, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Berlin, and the Aspen Institute Central Europe hosted a panel discussion on the topic “Visegrad Countries and Germany – New Avenues of Cooperation and Enhanced Consultation”. Beyond robust economic relations between Visegrád 4 countries and Germany, there is still space for closer political ties. State Secretary Claudia Dörr-Voß, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the Federal Republic of Germany, State Secretary František Ružička, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Jiří Nantl, Director, Central European Institute of Technology and Chairman of Alliance4Life, and Olaf Osica, Director of International Affairs, European Economic Congress Katowice, discussed conclusions of 2 years of V4-Germany Forum aimed at the joint development of new ideas to further strengthen cooperation through unleashing innovative potential and jointly exploring new opportunities. How can economic relations be further developed beyond a supply chain for large German companies? Which sectors should be considered in order to remain competitive in a changing global economy? How can economic cooperation better translate into closer political cooperation? The discussion was moderated by Jiří Schneider, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Central Europe.

Discussion “Core & Periphery: Germany and its Eastern Neighbors – before Brexit and the European Elections“

  • 20
  • May
  • 2019
On May 20th, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a discussion on “Core & Periphery: Germany and its Eastern Neighbors – before Brexit und the European Elections”. The event began with an input statement by H.E. Emil Hurezeanu, Ambassador of Romania in the Federal Republic of Germany, and welcome remarks by Jiří Schneider, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Central Europe. Afterwards, Dr. Lazăr Comănescu, Former Ambassador and Former Foreign Minister of Romania, Prof. Sebastian Płóciennik, Head of the Weimar Triangle Program at the Polish Institute for International Affairs (PISM), and Marieluise Beck, Former Parliamentary State Secretary and Director of Central and Eastern Europe at Zentrum Liberale Moderne, discussed the EU East-West divide and Germany’s role as honest broker and neighbor – especially with regard to the Visegrad countries and the Romanian EU Council Presidency. Bettina Vestring moderated the discussion.

Parliamentary conference on “Strengthening Regional Parliamentary Cooperation in Support For RYCO and Parliaments’ Engagement in the Berlin Process and Beyond”

  • 20
  • May
  • 2019
On May 20-21, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a conference on “Strengthening Regional Parliamentary Cooperation in Support For RYCO and Parliaments’ Engagement in the Berlin Process and Beyond” in cooperation with the Franco-German Youth Office. The conference was supported by the German Foreign Office, RYCO, and Crossborder Factory. The aim of the conference was to support the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) as engine of regional cooperation and as the voice of the young generation, as well as to develop and discuss concrete ideas for regional cooperation among parliamentarians of the Western Balkans. During the conference the participants furthermore reflected on how the parliaments could be involved in the Berlin process more closely. The conference brought together Parliamentarians from the Western Balkans, Members of the German Bundestag and the French Assemblée Nationale. Building on experiences of parliamentary cooperation between Germany and France, the conference discussed furthermore thematic areas and potential frameworks of regional cooperation and support for RYCO for Members of Parliament in the Western Balkans.

Roundtable Discussion on “Shaping the Path to Montenegro’s EU Integration – Key Challenges and Current Political Developments”

  • 17
  • May
  • 2019
On May 17, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic “Shaping the Path to Montenegro’s EU Integration – Key Challenges and Current Political Developments” in cooperation with the Centre for Monitoring and Research (CeMI) and the Institute Alternative (IA) in Podgorica, Montenegro. Zlatko Vujović, President of CeMI‘s Governing Board, Ms. Nikoleta Đukanović, CeMI‘s Executive Director, Ana Đurnić, Public Policy Researcher at the Institute Alternativa (IA), and Ambassador Dr. Christian Hellbach, Director for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey and the EFTA States in the German Federal Foreign Office discussed the state of reforms in Montenegro as well as the country’s EU integration process against the background of recent political developments in the region.

Berlin CyberSecurityForum 2019

  • 16
  • May
  • 2019

On May 16-17, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany and the Ministry of the Interior, Digitisation and Migration of Baden-Württemberg hosted their high-level conference „Berlin CyberSecurityForum 2019“. It brought together more than 250 European, American and international top policy makers, legislators, engineers, hackers, civil society, academics and representatives of the business, privacy and security communities as well as media. Speakers and participants explored the challenges of today and tomorrow in keeping our digital space secure across keynotes, panel discussions, and seven seminar-style breakout sessions. Throughout the two days, discussion topics included the „Cyber Great Game“, Germany’s approach to cybersecurity the effects of AI on the cyber landscape, Ukraine as a laboratory for cyber as a domain of attack, cyber-security & privacy as well as cyber risk management issues, „Cyber Warrior“ recruitment strategies of the military, and the debate around cyber norms and internet governance. Speakers included Sir Julian King, EU Commissioner for the Security Union; Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Ambassador at Large for Cyber Diplomacy at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Arne Schönbohm, President of the Federal Office for Information Security; and Ryan Calo, Lane Powell and D. Wayne Gittinger Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Law. Additionally, we thank our supporters and partners – Microsoft, DXC.Technology, Atlantic Council, Brunswick Group, Deutsche Telekom AG, Brandenburgisches Institut für Gesellschaft und Sicherheit - BIGS, Internet Economy Foundation - IE.F, Cyber-Sicherheitsrat Deutschland e.V. and our media partners Tagesspiegel Background Digitalisierung & KI and the German language podcast Sicherheitshalber.

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Western Balkans Conference on “Strengthening Parliaments and Their Role in The Western Balkans Reform Processes“

  • 7
  • May
  • 2019
On May 7-10, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a conference on “Strengthening Parliaments and Their Role in The Western Balkans Reform Processes“ with the support of the Federal Foreign Office. The aim of this conference was to offer a platform for high-level participants from the Western Balkans, Germany, as well as international organizations to discuss central challenges the Western Balkan countries and their partners are facing. Over the course of two days, the participants discussed the role of parliaments in the WB reform processes: Is the EU’s quid pro quo principle of conditionality still working as a reform engine? How can parliaments play a bigger role in encouraging the reform processes? How can the oversight function of parliaments be strengthened as a core role in the political systems of parliamentary democracies? Which role does party financing play in the Western Balkans and how can the parliament become more transparent and accountable? Meetings and discussions with State Secretary Prof. Dr. Risse, Director of the German Bundestag, Patrick Sensburg, Member of the Parliamentary Oversight Panel for the Intelligence Services, Reinhold Robbe, Former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces and a presentation on the platform abgeordnetenwatch.de by Léa Briand complemented this event.

Discussion with Janina Kugel

  • 24
  • Apr
  • 2019
On April 24, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a discussion with Janina Kugel, Chief Human Resources Officer and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, on “The Future of Work: How Digitalization is Revolutionizing the Workplace.” The discussion at the China Club Berlin offered the opportunity for an exchange on the challenges and opportunities of digitalization as well as on strategies to actively shape the future of work. Janina Kugel provided valuable insights into the efforts of Siemens to use digital change to its advantage and to prepare different generations of employees for new work demands. The discussion also dealt with the social responsibility of companies in light of profound societal changes for example through digitalization and demographic change.

Roundtable Discussion on „Albania and EU Accession Talks – Partnering with the Citizens’ Quest for Democracy”

  • 11
  • Apr
  • 2019
On April 11, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic “Albania and EU Accession Talks – Partnering with the Citizens’ Quest for Democracy” in cooperation with the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) from Tirana, Albania. Sotiraq Hroni, Executive Director at the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), Mr. Gjergji Vurmo, Program Director at the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), and Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, Special Representative for the Negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework and Deputy Director General for European Affairs of the German Federal Foreign Office, discussed the upcoming EC Progress Report and the subsequent June 2019 European Council decision on the opening of EU accession talks with Albania, as well as recent developments in the country.

Exclusive Discussion with Nik Gowing

  • 10
  • Apr
  • 2019
Are we ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow? – On April 10, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany and GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB co-hosted an exclusive discussion with guest of honor Nik Gowing, Founder, Director and Co-Author of “Thinking the Unthinkable.” Addressing international leaders from various personal and professional backgrounds, Nik Gowing shared his thoughts on the new challenges facing leaders across the world. The following discussion provided an opportunity for all participants to share their own experiences on global leadership challenges. It focused on new pressures on corporate and political leaders, the ‘new normal’ of de-stabilization, and the mindset and behavior appropriate for the new disruptions.

Conference on Artificial Intelligence – “Humanity Defined: Politics and Ethics in the AI Age”

  • 28
  • Mar
  • 2019
The Aspen Institute Germany’s second annual Berlin AI conference – Humanity Defined: Politics and Ethics in the AI Age – brought together more than 350 top policy-makers, philosophers, computer scientists, academics and representatives from business as well as media at the State Representation of Baden-Württemberg in Berlin on March 28-29, 2019. We explored this year’s theme across five keynote speeches, four panel discussions, and three seminar-style breakout sessions. Aspen also introduced an Oxford-style debate to the program, bringing together teams arguing “for” or “against” the motion: “Artificial Intelligence will be a Net Positive for Humanity.” Parallel to the program the conference featured various stands and demos, including matches between the Robot-Soccer teams from Leipzig und Berlin. Throughout the two days, discussion topics included the global AI race, healthcare in the digital age, AI’s potential benefit to everyday life, humanizing AI through design principles, and Germany’s AI strategy. The audience engaged with experts over the challenges as well as the opportunities that AI offers, including questions on how to build AI to reflect civic values, ensure objectivity in innovation, and develop a model for ethical AI and ethics in warfare. Speakers included Katarina Barley, German Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection; Cathy O’Neil, Mathematician and Author of Weapons of Math Destruction; Kenneth Stanley, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Central Florida; Thomas Metzinger, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; and Hans Peter Brondmo from Moonshot at X. The conference was generously supported by its co-organizers the Heinz and Heide Dürr Stiftung and the State Representation of Baden-Württemberg. Additionally, we thank our supporters and partners – the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Microsoft, Pfizer, the Aspen Initiative for Europe, KI-Bundesverband e.V. and our media partners KCRW Berlin, Berlin Policy Journal, Internationale Politik and Deutschlandfunk Nova.

Reception Co-Hosted by the Governing Mayor of Berlin

  • 28
  • Mar
  • 2019
On March 28, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany, in cooperation with the Governing Mayor of Berlin, hosted a festive reception for the representatives of the international Aspen Institutes worldwide and the #AspenAI19 conference in the Säulensaal of the Red City Hall. On behalf of the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Finance Senator Dr. Mathias Kollatz welcomed the guests. He focused in his speech on digitization and the associated opportunities for the expansion of an innovative and a smart capital city. Berlin was already a leading science and research location, a creative hotspot, and one of the world's leading start-up metropolises. More than 70,000 people worked in the digital economy, and a further 270,000 jobs could be created by 2030. The "Master Plan Industry" should secure this development and would continue to support it. The subsequent reception was used by the international guests for an exchange with the Berlin friends of the Aspen Institute.

Exclusive Dinner with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer

  • 27
  • Mar
  • 2019
On March 27, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Daimler AG hosted an exclusive evening event on the occasion of the meeting of representatives of all 13 Aspen Institutes worldwide and the Board of Trustees. The Aspen International Committee met in Berlin for the first time in 30 years and this evening marked the opening of the two-day program. Guest of honor and keynote speaker was Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Chairwoman of the CDU. In her free speech she presented to the guests her assessment of the current challenges of national and international politics and her ideas of modern conservatism with regard to the challenges of the future. She stressed, that in view of the tense situation, it was important to intensify transatlantic relations at all levels. The multiple interdependencies in the fields of business, science and education, but also at the personal level, together with the shared values, were a good basis for this. In the following discussions, these ideas were further lively discussed and explained.

Aspen International Committee Meeting in Berlin

  • 27
  • Mar
  • 2019

For the first time in over 30 years, the Aspen Institute Germany welcomed the Presidents and Chairmen of all Aspen Institutes from 13 countries around the globe for the annual International Committee Meeting in Berlin on March 27-29. Highlights on the agenda were an exclusive dinner discussion with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Chairwoman of the CDU Germany, as well as a reception at the Rotes Rathaus co-hosted by the Governing Mayor of Berlin. Naturally, discovering Berlin’s historical and political sights was also a must during a city tour guided by Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Germany. Despite the full-packed schedule, lack of sleep, and the typical “Berlin weather,” the international participants thoroughly enjoyed seeing and learning about the many possibilities this city has to offer. A visit of the annual AI conference on „Humanity Defined: Politics and Ethics in the AI Age” at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg was an additional and much appreciated benefit of this year’s meeting.

Panel Discussion: “Is illiberalism epidemic? Lessons from Europe”

  • 19
  • Mar
  • 2019
On March 19, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic “Is Illiberalism Epidemic? Lessons from Europe” in cooperation with the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities in Skopje. Prof. Dr. Tanja Börzel, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script”, Chair for European Integration at the Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political Science of the Freie Universität Berlin, Prof. Dr. Katerina Kolozova, Executive Director at the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities in Skopje, and Dr. Anton Shekhovtsov, Research Associate at the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation in Kiev, discussed the rise in popularity of the anti-liberal discourse among the far right and far left parties in Europe as well as populism as rhetorical-ideological orientation.

Discussion „Pick and Choose? The UK’s Farewell to Europe“

  • 19
  • Mar
  • 2019
On March 19, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a discussion on “Pick and Choose? The UK’s Farewell to Europe” at the Permanent Representation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in Berlin. The event began with an input statement by Ambassador Dr. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in London. The subsequent panel discussion with Ambassador Dr. Wittig, Damien McGuiness, BBC Correspondent, and Metin Hakverdi, Member of the German Bundestag and Brexit rapporteur for the Social Democrats (SPD), provided an opportunity to assess the political, societal, and economic consequences of the UK’s decision to leave the EU as well as possible repercussions on the Anglo-German relationship. The discussion also targeted the question whether Brexit may either trigger a spillover of societal tensions to the rest of Europe or serve as a salutary shock. Additionally, the participants discussed possible scenarios in the Brexit process ranging from an extension of the Article 50 period to a second referendum. Bettina Vestring, freelance journalist and author, moderated the discussion.

Workshop: “AI and the Future of Work“

  • 14
  • Mar
  • 2019
On the morning of March 14, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Microsoft Germany, the Italian Embassy in Berlin, and the Aspen Initiative for Europe hosted an exclusive workshop on “AI and the Future of Work.“ In two rounds about 40 high-level guests along with representatives and experts from government, business, and international organizations were able to discuss the effects of digitalization on politics, the economy, and society as well as concrete implications on job markets. Speakers in the workshop included Julia Borggräfe (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs), Jens Brandenburg (MP, FDP), Alexander Britz (Microsoft Germany), Stijn Broecke (OECD), and Mario Mariniello (European Political Strategy Centre, European Commission). In the first session the speakers dealt with the question who the winners and losers of the digital revolution will be and how governments, societies and businesses can turn the rapid transformations into profits. The second session dealt with the expected radical changes on job markets as well as the opportunities and challenges to guarantee dignity of work and a living wage in the AI age. Additionally, the speakers and participants discussed possible strategies and options to that end, like a universal basic income (UBI) or new forms of taxation. The off-the-record discussion was moderated by Tyson Barker (Program Director) and Olivia Knodt (Program Officer) from the Aspen Institute Germany.

Book Presentation and Discussion: “Trumps America: Journey to a White Country” with Martin Klingst

  • 11
  • Mar
  • 2019
On March 11, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus hosted a book presentation and discussion with Martin Klingst, Senior Political Correspondent at Die Zeit. Klingst spoke about his new book “Trumps Amerika: Reise in ein Weißes Land” (Trump’s America: Journey to a White Country). In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, and after words of welcome by Catherine von Fürstenberg-Dussmann, Klingst read key passages and discussed main theses from his trip report on the Midwest. By portraying different U.S. citizens who voted for Trump in 2016 Klingst emphasized the range of social groups in the “flyover states” Trump successfully approached over the course of his presidential campaign.

Scenario Workshop on “How to Achieve Economic Competitiveness in the Western Balkans by 2030?”

  • 6
  • Mar
  • 2019
From March 6-7, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany organized a Scenario Workshop on the topic “How to Achieve Economic Competitiveness in the Western Balkans by 2030?”. The workshop started off with input statements by Helge Tolksdorf, Head of the Division EU-Enlargement, Southeastern Europe, Turkey at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Hendrik Bosshammer, Economist and Project Manager “South East Europe Competitiveness Outlook” at the OECD on the current economic structure and competitiveness of the Western Balkan economies. The participants then identified key trends and drivers in European and world economies and analyzed their respective impact. The overarching aim of the workshop was to develop a best-case scenario for the Western Balkans for 2030 and have a discussion about what needs to be done to reach this normative endpoint (backcasting). The group of participants was composed of experts from economic think tanks from the Western Balkans, representatives from German Federal Ministries, the OECD and business representatives.

Visegrád 4-Germany Forum 2019 “Research, Innovation and Technology”

  • 25
  • Feb
  • 2019
On February 25, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany, in cooperation with the Aspen Institute Central Europe, hosted a workshop on “Research, Innovation and Technology” in Budapest. The participants from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Germany engaged in discussions on the political economy of Central Europe, focusing on common interest and key challenges of the Visegrád countries and Germany. During the workshop the drivers of economic development such as small and medium-sized enterprises and opportunities and best practices of cooperation in the field of research and development were discussed. Moreover, it sought to foster mutual understanding of diverging positions of the Visegrád countries and Germany.

Leadership Seminar Philosophy and Practice

  • 21
  • Feb
  • 2019
Far from routine, the big city, and everyday work, 17 individuals took part in the 24th Aspen Leadership Seminar from February 21 to 24, 2019, contemplating topics such as human nature, the individual and society, societal order and many more. Seeking abstraction, distance, and reflection, the Aspen Leadership Seminar offers leaders the unique opportunity to question their actions, to obtain awareness of their role within society, and to define what makes for good and ethical leadership. Guided by experienced moderators Leigh Hafrey and Ruth Girardet, participants debated on the basis of philosophical text excerpts ranging from antiquity to modernity. The Seminar united a unique group of selected decisionmakers from the public, private, and economic sector with extremely diverse backgrounds and professional fields, thus bringing a broad range of experiences, viewpoints, and interpretations to the table. Contact: mueller@aspeninstitute.de / Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 28

MSC 2019 Debrief mit Jim Townsend and Peter Beyer

  • 18
  • Feb
  • 2019
On February 18, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany had the pleasure of welcoming Peter Beyer, Member of the Bundestag and the German government’s Transatlantic Coordinator, and Jim Townsend, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD), for a debrief on the 2019 Munich Security Conference. Our distinguished guests shared exclusive insights and their main takeaways from this year’s conference. On the table was the state of transatlantic relations, Germany’s role in a changing global order, and the importance of the MSC that allowed for constructive and open exchange despite diverging views on matters of mutual concern.

Breakfast Briefing with Ambassador Kurt Volker and Peter Beyer

  • 17
  • Feb
  • 2019
On February 17, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an informal breakfast briefing on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference with Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, and Peter Beyer, Member of the Bundestag and the German government’s Transatlantic Coordinator. The participants discussed current U.S. foreign policy challenges, the state of transatlantic relations, as well as their main takeaways from MSC 2019.

MSC 2019 Side Event

  • 16
  • Feb
  • 2019

On February 16, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt and Bonn University’s Center for International Security and Governance (CISG) hosted an official MSC 2019 Side Event in Munich on “Embedding Leadership: German Strategy in the Making.” After an introduction by Gunther Hellmann, Professor for Political Science at Goethe University Frankfurt, Niels Annen, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, offered his thoughts on the changing context of Germany’s foreign and security policy. Subsequently, Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University, François Heisbourg, Senior Advisor for Europe at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and Special Advisor at the Paris-based Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, and Kiron Skinner, Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State, discussed general questions of security policy and strategy-making and how Germany’s security has changed in a European and global context. Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), moderated the discussion.

Exclusive breakfast discussion with Montenegro’s Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Srđan Darmanović

  • 12
  • Feb
  • 2019
On February 12, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive breakfast discussion with Montenegro's Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Srđan Darmanović on Montenegro's Euro-Atlantic Integration. Montenegro is the youngest NATO member state and considered to be one of the frontrunners in the EU integration process of the Western Balkan countries. The smallest country in the region has started its accession negotiations with the EU in 2012 and the EU has outlined 2025 as a potential but ambitious timeframe for its accession. This breakfast discussion gave the opportunity to discuss the progress of Montenegro’s reform process and the major challenges on its way ahead. To start off the discussion H.E. Srđan Darmanović gave a short overview of Montenegro’s progress in its Euro-Atlantic integration process and his assessment of the latest developments in the region. The following discussion focused on the cooperation between Montenegro and Germany and the role of the EU and other global actors in the region.

Roundtable Discussion on “A European Future for Kosovo?”

  • 29
  • Jan
  • 2019
On January 29, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a roundtable discussion on the question “A European Future for Kosovo?” with Fisnik Korenica, Senior Research Fellow at Group for Legal and Political Studies, Peter Beyer, Member of the German Bundestag, Rapporteur for Kosovo, Serbia, and Montenegro in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation in the Federal Foreign Office, and Sabine Stöhr, Head of Western Balkans Division at the Federal Foreign Office. After short input statements by the three speakers, the participants discussed Kosovo’s progress on the EU integration path and the country’s expectations, opportunities, and key challenges ahead. Current topics were discussed, including the latest developments on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the 100% trade tariffs imposed by Kosovo on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as prospects for a potential decision on the visa liberalization process by the European Council. Furthermore, long-term issues were tackled, including reform processes regarding rule of law and the fight against corruption as well as the role Germany, the EU and other actors will play in Kosovo in the future.

Brown Bag Lunch on “China’s Tech Strategy: Priorities, Challenges and Ties with Europe”

  • 24
  • Jan
  • 2019
On January 24, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch with Jennifer Zhu Scott, Founding Principle of Radian Partners, on the topic “China’s Tech Strategy: Priorities, Challenges, and Ties with Europe” in Berlin. China’s tech boom is creating a new superpower of tycoons and tinkerers. Companies like Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, and Didi are redefining what it means to be a wired society. After a short input statement by Jennifer Zhu Scott and a response by Donata Hopfen, we discussed with all participants what expectations come with this boom and what effects this development has on social behavior and government control. Another topic was how China is thinking about Europe as a partner, a competitor and a market for tech and what comes next when China tries to take the lead in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and quantum computers. A particular focus was on IP security, property rights and a European digital policy.

Background Briefing on the Current Situation in the Western Balkans

  • 21
  • Jan
  • 2019
On January 21, 2019 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a background discussion on the current situation in the Western Balkans with Alexander Jung, Deputy Head of Division 212 Bilateral Relations to the Countries of Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Federal Chancellery; Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Division E12, EU External Relations (EU Enlargement, European Neighborhood Policy, Migration) at the Federal Foreign Office; Dirk Schattschneider, Head of Division 302, Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe and Caucasus at the Federal Ministry for Ecomomic Cooperation and Development; Sabine Stöhr, Head of Division 209 Western Balkans at the Federal Foreign Office; and Helge Tolksdorf, Head of Division EU-Enlargement, Southeastern Europe, Turkey at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Bundestag staffers with an interest in the Western Balkans were invited to this event that aimed at networking and fostering open exchange. At the beginning of the discussion, the speakers presented their work and priorities of their divisions, the challenges and priorities in the region, and an outlook for the year. Also discussed were the developments and reforms of the countries in the Western Balkans, as well as the influence of other global actors in the region.

Discussion on “Alliance ou Mésalliance? Europe Waits for Macron & Merkel“

  • 15
  • Jan
  • 2019
On January 15, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Daimler hosted a discussion on “Alliance ou Mésalliance? Europe Waits for Macron & Merkel.” The event began with an input statement by H.E. Anne-Marie Descôtes, Ambassador of the French Republic in Berlin. The subsequent panel discussion with H.E. Anne-Marie Descôtes, Dr. Almut Möller, Head of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Eckart von Klaeden, Vice President and Head of External Affairs at Daimler AG, provided an opportunity to discuss the current political and economic questions, challenges, and fields of cooperation in the Franco-German partnership. The discussion focused on Macron’s reform policy, the yellow vests’ protests, and German-French cooperation in politics and industry. The panelists and participants also addressed the implications of the Brexit for the Franco-German duo and the future of the European Union.

Aspen NextGen Network AI-Workshop

  • 7
  • Dec
  • 2018
On December 7, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany – in partnership with the Aspen Institute U.S. and Microsoft – hosted a one-day December NextGen Network AI-Workshop in Berlin that brought together a group of Germany’s future leaders to examine opportunities and ethical challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. Participants discussed what core values will be most important in the future when thinking about AI development and society and identified central principles shaping ethical AI policy in Germany, Europe and globally. Building on the value sets and recommendations, the participants came up with four future scenarios in which they see practical benefit from AI in the lives of German citizens.

Exclusive Discussion on “Iran and War Games in the Middle East: An Israeli Perspective” with H.E. Jeremy Issacharoff

  • 3
  • Dec
  • 2018
On December 3, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive discussion with H.E. Jeremy Issacharoff, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Germany, on the topic “Iran and War Games in the Middle East: An Israeli Perspective.” In a discussion with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director at the Aspen Institute Germany, H.E. Jeremy Issacharoff shared his thoughts on the current situation in the Middle East and Israel. The discussion first addressed the geostrategic situation and the relations and conflicts between the countries in the region as well as the influence of other international players in the area. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the German-Israeli relationship, and the German perception of Israel were addressed as well.  At the end of the discussion, participants were able to ask the ambassador further questions.

Exclusive Breakfast Discussion with Ambassador Kurt Volker

  • 28
  • Nov
  • 2018
On November 28, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive breakfast discussion with Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership and former US Ambassador to NATO, on the topic “Partnership in Peril? Transatlantic Relations and Germany’s Role in a Shifting Global Order.” Triggered by a number of developments on both sides of the Atlantic, the participants discussed the centrality of the transatlantic partnership as well as the role of US leadership in a shifting global order. Germany’s future role in global politics in a post-Merkel era was further addressed. Ambassador Kurt Volker, a leading expert in US foreign and national security policy, assessed the current state of transatlantic relations and shed light on the challenges and opportunities arising out of these pressing issues. An outlook by each participant regarding the further development of transatlantic affairs concluded the discussion.

American Style Thanksgiving Dinner

  • 22
  • Nov
  • 2018
Happy Turkey Day! On November 22, 2018, the Aspen Leadership Program, the German Stanford Association and the Harvard Alumni Club hosted an American Thanksgiving Dinner, complete with the traditional main course: turkey. However, the evening not only featured good food and celebration. Prof. Amir Eshel of Stanford University, Professor of Comparative Literature and German Studies, and Dr. Thomas Sparr, director of the Suhrkamp Verlag publishing house, discussed the recently published book “Zeichnungen”, featuring Gerhard Richter’s “Birkenau” cycle and a series of poems written in accordance by Amir Eshel. The conversation was moderated by Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany. Pianist Shihyun Lee’s performance of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s “Lieder ohne Worte” rounded off the evening.

Discussion “Roadblocks on the Way to EU Enlargement – How Can the Reform Processes in the Western Balkans Be Reenergized?”

  • 21
  • Nov
  • 2018
To round up the annual Working Group Southeast Europe, the Aspen Institute Germany held a public evening event on “Roadblocks on the Way to EU Enlargement – How Can the Reform Processes in the Western Balkans Be Reenergized?”. While the EU enlargement strategy clearly spells out that the EU’s door is open to further accessions, it underlines the specific challenges the Western Balkans have to address and emphasizes the need for fundamental reforms. At the same time, progress of the Western Balkan countries in the accession process has been limited in the past years and the question remains how this can be reinvigorated. Dr. Christian Hellbach, Director for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey and the EFTA States at the Federal Foreign Office and Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, Western Balkans Director in the European Commission’s DG NEAR, discussed this with high-level government representatives from the Western Balkans Six. The discussion was moderated by Rüdiger Lentz, Director of the Aspen Institute, and tackled various topics. Among others, the EU accession prospects for the region, the name agreement between Macedonia and Greece, the election results of Bosnia and Herzegovina and solutions for a normalization agreement between Kosovo and Serbia were discussed. The exchange turned out to be very lively, stressing the need for increased reform efforts, cooperation and willingness to compromise within the region.

Workshop: “Are we surrendering values-based leadership to digitalization?”

  • 20
  • Nov
  • 2018
What does “digitalization” really mean? What do we mean by “values-based” leadership? What marks the relationship between the two? How do we envision a future in which digitalization is a tool for values-based leadership? These questions were, among many others, discussed during an interactive workshop held on November 20, 2018. Initiated by Dr. Kay P. Hradilak, Aspen Leadership Alumnus, Member of the Association of Friends of Aspen and Business Chief Consultant for SAP Germany, the workshop offered participants the opportunity to debate, reflect, and design the ideal company of the future in small groups after a short introductory meditation.

Digital Dish on “Europe’s Digital Single Market – Are We There Yet?“

  • 20
  • Nov
  • 2018
On November 20, Aspen Germany hosted its 5th digital dish examining the role of the European Union in bringing digital competitiveness to Germany. The wide-ranging conversation touched on the progress made in the Juncker Commission’s signature initiative – the Digital Single Market—as well as national and EU-wide discussions of a digital tax. Finally, speakers talked about the role that tech policy would play in the 2019 European Parliament elections. The dynamic talk was driven by three speakers: Dr. Matthias Bauer, Senior Economist at the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE); Luukas Ilves, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow at The Lisbon Council, Former Coordinator for Digital Strategy during the Estonian EU-Presidency in 2017; and Simon Vaut, Designated Candidate of the SPD Brandenburg for the European Parliamentary Elections 2019. Aspen’s Tyson Barker moderated the conversation.  The off-the-record lunch discussion was attended by over 30 senior guests and was hosted in partnership with Telefonica Germany. 

Aspen Working Group Southeast Europe

  • 20
  • Nov
  • 2018
To conclude this year’s Aspen Southeast Europe program, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted its Southeast Europe Working Group on November 20-22, 2018. Under the overarching topic “Taking Stock of the EU Enlargement Strategy and Its Impact on Reform Processes in the Western Balkans”, the main goal was to develop concrete policy recommendations as a result of the issues discussed at the Aspen events throughout the year. The working group consisted of high-level government representatives from the Western Balkans Six, select experts as well as representatives from the German Government, Bundestag, and the EU.   The key topics during the Working Group evolved around the rule of law, as well as political influence on independent institutions in the Western Balkans. Both aspects were discussed against the background of the European Commission’s 2018 Enlargement Strategy and its implications for the reform processes. The Working Group identified concrete policy recommendations, discussed their advantages and inconveniences, and pointed out the respective steps that should be taken by Western Balkans, German, and EU decision-makers. To round up the discussions, the conference group met with members of the Parliamentary Group “Southeast Europe” in the German Bundestag.

Aspen Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 8
  • Nov
  • 2018
What marks the relationship between individual freedom and societal order? What is human nature? What are the most important aspects of ethical leadership and to what extent are they applicable? These and many other questions were heatedly discussed during the 23rd Aspen Leadership Seminar from November 8 to 11, 2018. Guided by moderators Carol Gluck and Anna Kuchenbecker, participants reflected on fundamental questions of the human existence based on philosophical text excerpts ranging from antiquity to modernity. Secluded and far from daily routine and the turmoil of the city, the Seminar brought together a selected circle of high-level decision-makers from the private, financial, and public sector with a broad range of different backgrounds. Thus emerged a group that included not only a cross-section of German society, but of European society.

Background Briefing on the US Midterm Elections

  • 8
  • Nov
  • 2018
On November 8, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Background Briefing on the US Midterm Elections with Benjamin Wolfmeier, Member of Republicans Overseas Germany e.V., and Diego Rivas, Chapter Chair of Democrats Abroad in Berlin. The discussion targeted the election outcomes and opportunities arising out of the election results for both the Democratic and the Republican Party as well as for the Trump administration. In addition, current trends, such as the significantly higher voter turnout in comparison with 2014 and the increased proportion of women in Congress, were discussed. After input statements by Benjamin Wolfmeier and Diego Rivas, Jacob Schrot, Chief to Staff to Dr. Stephan Harbarth (Member of Bundestag, CDU/CSU) and Dr. Dietlind Tiemann (Member of Bundestag, CDU/CSU) and Founder of the Young Transatlantic Initiative, moderated the discussion with all participants.

Brown Bag Lunch on “Inside AfD: A Critical Analysis of the New People’s Party” with Franziska Schreiber

  • 30
  • Oct
  • 2018
On October 30, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on the topic “Inside AfD: A Critical Analysis of the New People´s Party” with Franziska Schreiber, author and former member of the board of the Junge Alternative (JA), the youth organization of the Alternative of Germany (AfD). Especially the events that have unfolded in Chemnitz over the last weeks have nourished the debate on whether the German Federal Office for Protection of the Constitution should monitor the party. A political assessment of the situation is still going on. Simultaneously, accusations targeting the radicalization of the party and its potential threat to democracy are increasingly voiced. In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Franziska Schreiber presented the main theses of her recently published book “Inside AfD: Der Bericht einer Aussteigerin” and discussed the structures and motives of the AfD with all participants. The event also addressed current questions. For example, whether the AfD is weakened by Angela Merkel’s gradual farewell from politics and to what extent the party will be able and necessary to form a government in state parliaments in the future.

Scenario Workshop on “The Future of European Security and its Impact on Europe’s Center and Peripheries”

  • 29
  • Oct
  • 2018
From October 29 to 31, 2018, the Aspen Institute organized a Scenario Workshop on the topic "The Future of European Security and its Impact on Europe's Centers and Peripheries". Participants included experts from a network of security think tanks from the Western Balkans as well as German experts and representatives of Federal Ministries. The workshop looked at potential future scenarios for European and in particular South and Southeast European security. It started off by discussing the main characteristics and threats of the emerging security environment. It was then taken into account which roles EU and non-EU countries will play in the future and which interests they might have in South and Southeastern Europe. Furthermore, it was analyzed how global trends, key drivers of change and Black Swans (low probability, high impact events) might affect European security within the next decade. Based on these discussions, scenarios for 2028 for South and Southeastern Europe were developed.

Book Presentation and Discussion: “The World in Danger: Germany and Europe in Uncertain Times” with Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger

  • 23
  • Oct
  • 2018
On October 23, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus hosted a book presentation and discussion with Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference and Senior Professor for Social Policy and Diplomatic Practice at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. Ambassador Ischinger spoke about his new book “Welt in Gefahr: Deutschland und Europa in unsicheren Zeiten” (The world in danger: Germany and Europe in uncertain times). In an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, and after words of welcome by Catherine von Fürstenberg-Dussmann, Ambassador Ischinger discussed the need for a reorientation of German and European foreign policy, the art of diplomacy, and the necessity of an inclusive public debate regarding current global hotspots.

Berlin Transatlantic Forum 2018: “Present at the New Creation? Tech. Power. Democracy.”

  • 16
  • Oct
  • 2018
“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 despite current challenges. The panel was followed by a conversation on American politics with New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy. Turning the focus to the nexus of technology, democracy and power, the panels in the afternoon discussed various aspects of how technology is impacting relations within states – from the dangers of social media to the possibilities for greater transparency – and between states, including cyber threats and the role of technology in military conflicts. The on-the-record conference, attended by over 160 guests, included speakers such as Andreas Michaelis, State Secretary in the German Foreign Office; Julie Smith, Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy; Nina Hachigian, Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles; Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Member of the Bundestag; and Wolfram von Heynitz, Head of the Cyber Policy Coordination Staff at the German Foreign Office.The Berlin Transatlantic Forum was made possible by partners including the Lotto Stiftung Berlin, Volkswagen AG, Lockheed Martin and the Bundespresseamt.

High-Level Dinner and Discussion on the topic “Digital China: Rise of the Silicon Middle Kingdom” with Dr. Edward Tse

  • 16
  • Oct
  • 2018
On October 16, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted and exclusive dinner and discussion on the topic “Digital China: Rise of the Silicon Middle Kingdom” with Dr. Edward Tse, Founder and CEO of Gao Feng Advisory Company and former Chairman for Greater China of Booz & Company. The dinner provided for ample opportunity to assess how China is presenting an alternative model to the United States and Europe in the development and deployment of new tech in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing. It also focused on the strengths and challenges of China’s digital disrupters such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu. Further, the participants were interested in China’s perception of the current trade conflict with the US as well as its approach towards cryptocurrencies. The geostrategic dimension of China’s tech rise was also addressed.

Berlin Transatlantic Forum Oxford-style Debate on the Global Trade Order

  • 15
  • Oct
  • 2018
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 each side of the motion, each side arguing for audience support. Arguing for the motion were Michael J. Smart, former White House and Senate Trade Lead and Managing Partner, Rock Creek Global Advisors, and Stormy-Annika Mildner, Head of Department External Economic Policy, Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e. V. (Federation of German Industries). Arguing against were Maritta Strasser, Bundesgeschäftsführerin der NaturFreunde Deutschlands e.V. and Dean Baker, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research. During the four rounds of debate, moderated by Sumi Somaskanda, the two sides touched on a number of controversial trade issues including investor state dispute settlement, workers’ rights, wages, climate policy, GMOs, tariffs, services liberalization, transparency in negotiations of trade agreements and the role of China. Audience opinion changed little over the course of the debate with 84% in favor of the motion at the beginning and 81% in favor at the end. The event held at the Telefónica BASECAMP was attended by approximately 60 friends and active supporters of the Aspen Institute Germany.

Workshop: „AI and National Security “

  • 15
  • Oct
  • 2018
On the morning of October 15, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Microsoft Germany, the Italian Embassy in Berlin, and the Aspen Initiative for Europe hosted an exclusive workshop on “AI and National Security.” About 30 high-level guests were able to discuss with Wendy R. Anderson, General Manager, Defense and National Security at SparkCognition, Michael C. Horowitz, Professor of Political Science, Associate Director of the Perry World House Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), as well as representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in the realm of national security. In addition, the speakers also dealt with questions of how to keep AI-based weapons systems out of the hands of terrorists and rogue states,and whether the international system should work to provide rules, norms and limitations on the use of AI in warfare at the level of the UN, NATO, and other multilateral fora. Theoff-the-record discussion was moderated by Tyson Barker (Program Director) and Mareike Oldemeinen (Program Officer) from the Aspen Institute Germany.

Leadership Lunch with the 7Mind founders: “Inner leadership through awareness in a digital world?”

  • 10
  • Oct
  • 2018

Leadership in the everyday has many faces. It includes not only goals, visions, and values, but also direct human contact and interaction. In order to demonstrate leading qualities, one must also learn not to neglect one’s own personal needs. Our daily routine usually leaves little room to reflect our needs and our inner leadership. How do we successfully include rest and awareness into our extremely full agendas?
These and many other questions led Jonas Leve and Manuel Ronnefeldt to found 7Mind, a Berlin start-up which seeks to integrate awareness and peace into our (digital) lives via meditation. On October 10, 2018, they presented us with their findings and demonstrated practical exercises for every day in the Digital Hub Cologne. Together, we discussed and experienced first-hand how meditation and awareness regarding ourselves can be the cornerstone for better values-based leadership.

Exclusive Discussion with Minister Abdallah Frangi

  • 27
  • Sep
  • 2018
On September 27, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive evening event with Minister Abdallah Frangi, European affairs advisor to President Mahmud Abbas and former Governor of Gaza, on the topic “Powder Keg Middle East: Israel and Palestine – Obstacles on the Road to Peace” at the China Club Berlin. In a discussion with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Minister Frangi shared his insights of the region. The discussion addressed the current situation in the Palestinian areas, the chances of a peaceful conflict solution between Israel and the Palestinians, and the geostrategic situation in the Middle East.

Fourth Aspen Transatlantic Workshop: “Present at the New Creation? Tech. Power. Democracy.”

  • 27
  • Sep
  • 2018
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 of technology as the driving political, ethical, economic, and security factor of our day has been particularly slow to work its way into our strategic discourse. If technological advancements like AI and cryptocurrencies, revisionist powers, and the rise of populism are rendering the old order unfit for purpose, are we present at the new creation? And if so, how can transatlantic partners guarantee that a new tech-driven order does not emerge out of a fit of absent-mindedness? The fourth Aspen Transatlantic Workshop 2018 grappled with these questions. Together, participants worked off the premise that there is a very narrow window of opportunity – 5 to 6 years – to get the ground rules right for a digital age.

Brown Bag Lunch on “After Helsinki: Reassessing U.S. Policy Toward Russia and Ukraine”

  • 6
  • Sep
  • 2018
On September 6, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the Center for Liberal Modernity and the Embassy of the United States of America in Berlin hosted a Brown Bag Lunch with Alina Polyakova, David M. Rubenstein Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe, The Brookings Institution, on the topic “After Helsinki: Reassessing US Policy Toward Russia and Ukraine.” The Brown Bag started with a short input statement by Alina Polyakova and a response by Marieluise Beck, Director for East-Central and Eastern Europe, Center for Liberal Modernity. In the following discussion with moderator Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany, all participants discussed the current US Policy toward Russia and Ukraine, how it corresponds to German and European interests, and what potential developments can be expected in the future.

Western Balkans Conference on „Curbing Political Influence on Independent Institutions in the Western Balkans“

  • 3
  • Sep
  • 2018
On September 3-6, 2018 the Aspen Institute Germany with the support of the Federal Foreign Office and in cooperation with the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a conference on „Curbing Political Influence on Independent Institutions in the Western Balkans“ in Skopje. The aim of this conference was to offer a platform for high-level participants from the Western Balkans, Germany, as well as international organizations to discuss central challenges the Western Balkan countries and their partners are facing. Among the conference participants were Members of Parliament and Foreign Ministry representatives from the region, as well as experts from civil society and representatives of the German and other EU governments. Over the course of two days, the participants discussed the current situation of institutional independence in the Western Balkans, the independence of public administration, the judiciary, media and the private sector, and how to strengthen their respective institutional independence overall. Opening remarks by the Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, a meeting with the Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev as well as a reception at the German Embassy in Skopje complemented the conference program.

Public Event on „A Euro-Atlantic Future for Macedonia“

  • 3
  • Sep
  • 2018
In cooperation with the Macedonian Think Tanks “Center for Economic Analyses”, “European Policy Institute (EPI)” and “Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’”, the Aspen Institute Germany organized a panel discussion on “A Euro-Atlantic Future for Macedonia?“ in Skopje. The June 2018 signing of the agreement for the resolution of the name dispute between Skopje and Athens has created an opening for Macedonia’s EU and NATO accession prospects. Yet, the process ahead of formalizing the agreement in both countries is crucial for its long term success. In the run-up to the referendum on the name agreement on September 30, 2018, the Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, the Federal Foreign Office’s Special Envoy for Southeast Europe, Turkey, and the EFTA States, Ambassador Dr. Christian Hellbach, Nikola Poposki, President of the National Council for European Integration and former Macedonian Foreign Minister, and Ruslan Stefanov, Director of the Economic Program at the “Center for the Study of Democracy” in Bulgaria, engaged in a lively debate. The discussion focussed on Macedonia’s EU and NATO integration and the importance of the referendum’s outcome for the future of the country.

Background Briefing on the London Summit and the Berlin Process with Matthias Lüttenberg, Christiane Hullmann and Tobias Flessenkemper

  • 12
  • Jul
  • 2018
On July 12, 2018, Bundestag staffers and civil society experts were invited to the Aspen Institute Germany for an informal evaluation of the London Summit and the Berlin Process. Matthias Lüttenberg, Deputy Head of Division 212 (Bilateral Relations with the States of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus) at the Federal Chancellery, and Christiane Hullmann, Deputy Head of Division 209 Western Balkans in the Foreign Office gave an overview of recent developments. Concluding, Tobias Flessenkemper, Senior Fellow and Balkans Project Director at the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE), evaluated the five summits in the context of the Berlin Process from a civil society perspective.

Brown Bag Lunch with Mark Simakovsky

  • 26
  • Jun
  • 2018
On June 26, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on the topic “NATO Summit 2018 – What’s on the Agenda?” with Mark Simakovsky, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Eurasia Center of the Atlantic Council. In a conversation with Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow, Aspen Institute Germany, Simakovsky and all participants discussed the upcoming NATO summit in Brussels, possibilities for reinforcing our collective defense, and the future of national defense spending arrangements.

Brown Bag Lunch with Dr. Anja Mihr

  • 21
  • Jun
  • 2018
On June 21, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Leadership Brown Bag Lunch on the topic „Is Human Rights based Leadership possible?“ with Dr. Anja Mihr, Founder and Program Director of the Humboldt-Viadrina Center on Governance through Human Rights. After a short review of selected political theorists, participants could exchange ideas and intensively discuss human-rights based governance, security versus freedom, differences between institutions and organizations as well as the manifestation in values, norms and standards – also in the context of current phenomena and processes.

Assembly of the Friends of the Aspen Institute 2018

  • 19
  • Jun
  • 2018
On June 19, 2018, the members of the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts” met prior to the summer party to hold the annual assembly in the Mendelssohn-Remise in Berlin. The management board presented the development of members as well as their activity and financial reports and invited all members to discuss the future of the “Verein der Freunde.” Dr. Roland Hoffman-Theinert, Chairman of the “Verein der Freunde,” and Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, both gave a positive summary of the past year and its successful events. Moreover, Eva Katharina Deininger was elected as a new member of the management board.

Aspen Summer Party 2018 of the Aspen Institute Germany and the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts e.V.”

  • 19
  • Jun
  • 2018
On June 19, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany and the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts” hosted the annual Summer Party at the Mendelssohn-Remise in Berlin. Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Dr. Roland Hoffmann-Theinert, Chairman of the Board of the “Verein der Freunde,” and Eckart von Klaeden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Institute Germany, welcomed the guests and briefly discussed the activities and future of the Institute. This year’s guest of honor was State Minister Niels Annen of the Federal Foreign Office, who discussed transatlantic relations, the upcoming NATO-Summit in Brussels, and German foreign policy in a Late-Night-Talk with Rüdiger Lentz. Afterwards, 150 guests enjoyed the summer evening in the courtyard of the historic Remise.

Leadership class of February 2018 follow-up Meet & Greet at the Pan Am Lounge

  • 17
  • Jun
  • 2018
The Aspen Leadership class of February 2018 met at The Pan Am Lounge on June 17, 2018 on the occasion of a follow-up Meet & Greet event. A particular thanks to owner Natascha Bonnermann, who hosted the get-together in an entirely unique, exclusive event venue at the heart of West Berlin. Once a place of leisure for pilots and stewardesses in the employment of the legendary Pan American World Airways as well as a rendezvous for a whole host of international jet-set guests from the worlds of entertainment and politics, the Pan Am Lounge embodies the spirit of optimism integral to the West during the 1960s and throughout the Cold War era. Pristinely restored down to the smallest detail of its furnishings and interiors, the tenth-floor penthouse Lounge with panorama terraces overlooking the capital city conserves and champions the valuable memory of this important era. This unique atmosphere made the reunion for our Alumni an unforgettable evening.

Brown Bag Lunch on “Macedonia One Year After the Political Crisis: Progress and Remaining Challenges on its Way to Euroatlantic Integration”

  • 15
  • Jun
  • 2018
On June 15, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a roundtable discussion with Simonida Kacarska, Director of the European Policy Institute, and Sabine Stöhr, Head of the Western Balkans Division of the German Foreign Office. The topic of the roundtable discussion was “Macedonia One Year After the Political Crisis: Progress and Remaining Challenges on its Way to Euroatlantic Integration”. The speakers provided insights into Macedonia’s current EU accession prospects as well as the country’s current political and economic situation, and the implementation of reform priorities, one year after the Macedonian government came to office. A prominent topic of the discourse was the compromise in the name dispute that was found just a few days before the event and the road ahead for its implementation.

Aspen Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 14
  • Jun
  • 2018
From June 14 to 17, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany held its 22nd Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice.” Led by expert moderators Leigh Hafrey and Ruth Girardet and based on classical and modern texts of renowned philosophers and thinkers, the seminar convened a small circle of high-ranking decision-makers to reflect and discuss the most fundamental questions of the human condition. In a confidential atmosphere, tucked away from the demands of daily routine, decision-makers were given the space to tackle the most universal facets of the human existence, including the role of the individual, the relationship of individual freedom and the order of society, as well as the limits of power. The Seminar is especially recognized for its diversity of participants representing different areas of society not only from Germany but from across Europe.

Social Reception in Honor of H.E. Richard Grenell

  • 12
  • Jun
  • 2018
On June 12, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive social reception in honor of H.E. Richard Grenell, Ambassador of the United States of America to Germany. After welcome remarks by Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, and H.E. Richard Grenell, the participants had the opportunity to meet and greet the Ambassador of the United States of America as well as discuss transatlantic relations. The event has been supported by Daimler and United Parcel Service Germany.

Exclusive Lunch with Tina Hassel

  • 30
  • May
  • 2018
On May 30, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB and Dr. Roland Hoffmann-Theinert, Chairman of the Friends of the Aspen Institute Germany and Member of the Board of Trustees, hosted an exclusive lunch as part of the Board of Trustees meeting with guest of honor Tina Hassel, Editor in Chief and Chief Correspondent at ARD. We discussed German politics from the perspective of the editor in chief and head of the ARD television studio in Berlin, current political challenges, and the role of media.

Presentation of Pew Research Center Study Results and Panel Discussion „Christian Identity and (In)Tolerance in Secular Western Europe”

  • 29
  • May
  • 2018
On May 29, 2018 the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Pew Research Center hosted an evening event for the release of a major new survey on “Christian Identity and (In)Tolerance in Secular Western Europe.” The results of the study were presented by Dr. Neha Sahgal, Associate Director of Research at Pew Research Center, and Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research at Pew Research Center. Following the presentation, the survey results were discussed by Dr. Dirck Ackermann, Office of the Protestant Chaplaincy of the German Armed Forces, Volker Beck, Associate Lecturer at the Center for Religious Studies (CERES) of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Dr. Jan Schneider, Head of Research Unit at the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration, Viola van Melis, Head of the Centre for Research Communication, Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics,” at the University of Münster, and Minister Gregor Hohberg, Chairman of the Board, House One. The discussion was moderated by Martin Klingst, Political Correspondent of the Editorial Department, Die Zeit. The full report can be accessed in multiple languages here.

Aspen Leadership Alumni philosophical roundtable in Frankfurt a.M.

  • 25
  • May
  • 2018
On May 25, 2018, the time had come: Former Leadership Seminar participants coming from Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Cologne gathered for a philosophical roundtable which took place – for the first time – outside of Berlin in Frankfurt am Main. Starting from an excerpt of Democritus the Villa Bonn provided the optimal space not only to talk about values-based leadership but also about ethical issues such as true cognition, adequate human behavior, and the influence of happiness, justice, and humanity in daily life.

Drafting of a Manifesto for Leadership-Mindset-Change

  • 17
  • May
  • 2018
The Aspen Institute Germany and TheNextWe initiated the drafting of a Manifesto for Leadership-Mindset-Change. Leadership Alumna Insa Klasing (class of Nov. 2017), CEO & Co-Founder of TheNextWe, a Berlin based Startup driving mindset-change, kicked off a joint dialog on "Renewing deeply held leadership values in an ever faster changing world". The result is a manifesto for a future leadership culture consisting of five core values that will adapt Germany's competitiveness in times of big data, artificial intelligence and automation to upcoming challenges.

Exclusive Event “Faster, Cheaper, Cleaner, Safer – the Future of Mobility” with Derek M. Pankratz

  • 26
  • Apr
  • 2018
On April 26, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with Daimler and the Embassy of the United States in Berlin hosted an exclusive Public Program event with Derek Pankratz, Senior Research Manager, Deloitte Center for Integrated Research, on the topic “Faster, Cheaper, Cleaner, Safer – the Future of Mobility.” In a discussion moderated by Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow of the Aspen Institute Germany, Mr. Pankratz talked about the future of mobility and the possible societal changes that this will bring. More specifically, they discussed advancements and challenges in new technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles.

The Digital Culture in the United States and Germany

  • 19
  • Apr
  • 2018
On April 19, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted for the first time a joint get-together with the alumni of the Aspen Leadership Program and the “Bundestag and Congress Staffers Exchange”. In a discussion with Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany, Steven Hill, Journalist-in-Residence, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB) and Stephan Humer, Head of the Department of Internet Sociology, Hochschule Fresenius – University of Applied Sciences talked about „The Digital Culture in the United States and Germany”. Steven Hill and Stephan Humer discussed the differences within the German and American society regarding digitalization. The discussion particularly addressed the cultural reasons of the different development in both countries as well as the future vision of digitalization.

Digital Dish with Members of the Bundestag Dieter Janecek (Alliance 90/The GREENS) and Thomas Jarzombek (CDU) on “Digtial Policy in 2018: Priorities and Challenges”

  • 18
  • Apr
  • 2018

On April 18, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a „Digital Dish“ examining Germany’s Digital Policy in 2018: Priorities and Challenges. About 30 high-level guests were able to discuss with Members of the Bundestag Dieter Janecek (Alliance 90/The GREENS) and Thomas Jarzombek (CDU) the opportunities and challenges that digitalization holds for Germany and how they intend to ensure technological change will benefit society. The off-the-record discussion touched on a wide array of topics, ranging from artificial intelligence to data protection, the GDPR, digital infrastructure and digital education in schools and in the workplace. The conversation was moderated by Tyson Barker, Program Director at the Aspen Institute Germany. The event was co-hosted by Telefónica Germany.
Digital Dish is a regular series that brings one or two provocative thinkers together for an intimate, off-the-record lunch to discuss issues related to the most pressing tech policy debates. It features prominent speakers including policy-makers, elected officials, activists, innovators, thought-leaders, business representatives from both sides of the Atlantic and a mix of frontier thinkers on tech policy and specialists focusing on the U.S.-European relationship.

Exclusive Discussion with Dr. Johannes Bohnen in Hamburg

  • 18
  • Apr
  • 2018
On April 18, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the members of the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts” Britt Eckelmann, Heike Fölster, Ulrich Plett, and Christine Wolff, and the Hanse Lounge hosted a first Public Program event in Hamburg on the topic of corporate political responsibility (CPR). In a discussion with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Dr. Johannes Bohnen, Managing Partner at BOHNEN Public Affairs, presented his concept on corporate political responsibility and explained how corporations can use it to strengthen their business. It was primarily discussed to what extent corporations should think and act more politically and how this affects their business.

Western Balkans Conference on “Rule of Law in the Western Balkans: Exploring the New EU Enlargement Strategy and Necessary Steps Ahead”

  • 16
  • Apr
  • 2018
On April 16-19, 2018 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a conference on “Rule of Law in the Western Balkans: Exploring the New EU Enlargement Strategy and Necessary Steps Ahead“ with support of the Federal Foreign Office. The aim of this conference was to offer a platform for high-level participants from the Western Balkans, Germany, as well as international organizations to discuss central challenges the Western Balkan countries and their partners are facing. Among the conference participants ranged the Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament from the region, as well as experts from civil society and representatives of the German federal government and the EU. Over the course of two days, the participants discussed the current situation of rule of law in the Western Balkans and the implications of the new enlargement strategy for rule of law reforms. Issues addressed in this context included the independence of the judiciary, depoliticization of public institutions, the fight against corruption, and safeguarding fundamental rights. Meetings with the Deputy Head of Division “Foreign and Security Policy” within the German Federal Chancellery, Dr. Joachim Bertele and the Head of Division “Europe” within the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Dr. Christoph Hübner, as well as with Members of the German Parliament complemented the informal discussions.

Willy Brandt Award for Contemporary History

  • 10
  • Apr
  • 2018
On April 10, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany, the Allied Museum Berlin, and the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation hosted the presentation of the Willy Brandt Award for Contemporary History. The Willy Brandt Award for Contemporary History is awarded every two years by the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation for outstanding academic work. This year’s awardee was the German-American historian Dr. Scott Kause, Fellow at the Center for Contemporary History Potsdam. He received the award for his thesis “Outpost of Freedom,” in which Shepard Stone, founder of the Aspen Institute Germany, plays a prominent role. Wolfgang Thierse, former President of the German Bundestag and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Willy Brandt Foundation, presented the award to Dr. Scott Krause after welcome remarks by Jürgen Lillteicher, Director of the Allied Museum Berlin, and Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany. The laudation was held by the historian Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kocka.

Aspen Digital Dish with Dr. Natalia Jaekel and Christian Rickerts

  • 6
  • Apr
  • 2018

On April 6, the Aspen Institute Germany held its 3rd Digital Dish focusing on state and local digital strategies with Christian Rickerts, State Secretary at the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, and Dr. Natalia Jaekel, Digital Special Envoy for the Land of Baden-Württemberg.
The event compared efforts to tackle digitalization in two of Germany’s top länder– the urban, funky, startup-driven city of Berlin and the innovative, manufacturing and healthcare-powerhouse, Baden-Württemberg. Together the discussants addressed the strategies and challenges of expanding digital infrastructure and fostering innovation ecosystems. Digital education was also a central point of the discussion. The off-the-record conversation was moderated by Tyson Barker, Program Director at the Aspen Institute Germany, and was hosted in cooperation with Telefónica Germany.
Digital Dish is a regular series that brings one or two provocative thinkers together for an intimate, off-the-record lunch to discuss issues related to the most pressing tech policy debates. It features prominent speakers including policy-makers, elected officials, activists, innovators, thought-leaders, business representatives from both sides of the Atlantic and a mix of frontier thinkers on tech policy and specialists focusing on the U.S.-European relationship.

Exclusive Discussion with H.E. Shi Mingde

  • 5
  • Apr
  • 2018
On April 5, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive discussion with H.E. Shi Mingde, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, on the topic “Influence and Responsibility - China’s Role in the World.” In a discussion with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Ambassador Shi talked about China’s economic relations, growing digitalization, the domestic policy of China, and its international relations. The discussion particularly addressed China’s growing importance and responsibility in the world.

Background Discussion on “Political Challenges for the German Government: The Western Balkans and the New Enlargement Strategy of the European Commission”

  • 21
  • Mar
  • 2018
On March 21, 2018 the Aspen Institute Germany together with the Democratization Policy Council (DPC) hosted a background discussion on “Political Challenges for the German Government: The Western Balkans and the New Enlargement Strategy of the European Commission”. The aim of this closed event was to discuss political challenges in the region with representatives from government and parliament and experts after the new European Commission’s enlargement strategy was published and before the new German government will take office. The discussion was opened with statements by Gunther Krichbaum, MP, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, Josip Juratovic, MP, Ambassador Christian Hellbach, Special Envoy for Southeast Europe, Turkey and the EFTA states in the Federal Foreign Office, as well as Bodo Weber, board member of the Democratization Policy Council.

Exclusive Discussion with Sabine Adler and Dr. Stefan Meister

  • 19
  • Mar
  • 2018
On March 19, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive discussion on the topic of the recent Russian presidential election. Sabine Adler, Deutschlandradio Correspondent covering Eastern Europe, and Dr. Stefan Meister, Head of Program on Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia at the Robert Bosch Center of the German Council on Foreign Relations, discussed the significance of the election results for Russia's future role in the world as well as Russian-German relations in particular and EU-Russian relations in general. More specifically, Ms. Adler and Dr. Meister, in a discussion moderated by Rüdiger Lentz, shared their thoughts on the possible effects of Putin’s re-election on Russia's future trade and security policies.

Conference on Artificial Intelligence – “Humanity Disrupted: Artificial Intelligence and Changing Societies”

  • 14
  • Mar
  • 2018
The Aspen Institute Germany’s first annual Berlin AI conference – Humanity Disrupted: Artificial Intelligence and Changing Societies – brought together more than 350 top policy-makers, entrepreneurs, computer scientists, academics and representatives from business as well as media at the Baden-Württemberg State Representation in Berlin on March 14-15, 2018. Throughout the two days of the conference, topics such as AI and economics, ethics, autonomous driving, and politics and democracy were discussed in panel debates as well as smaller breakout sessions. The audience engaged with the experts over the challenges as well as the opportunities that AI has to offer regarding transportation, private home assistance, medical care, warfare, and many others. Speakers included Nicola Beer, Member of the Bundestag, former Minister of State and Secretary General of the FDP; Pedro Domingos, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Washington (see photo), and Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG. The conference was generously supported by the Heinz und Heide Dürr Stiftung, the State Representation of Baden-Württemberg, Daimler, the Aspen Initiative for Europe, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Pfizer, and the Firedrich Naumann Foundation. 

Brown Bag Lunch with Peter Rashish and Fabian Wendenburg

  • 28
  • Feb
  • 2018
On February 28, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch on “The Trump Administration’s Trade Policies in Theory and in Practice” with Peter S. Rashish, Senior Fellow and Director of the Geoeconomics Program at AICGS, and Fabian Wendenburg, Deputy Head of the Department Strategic Planning and Coordination at the Federation of German Industries. After a welcome by moderator Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany, and introductory statements by the two speakers, the participants discussed the current U.S. trade policies under the Trump administration in general as well as their implications on international trade and on transatlantic trade relations in particular.

Aspen Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 22
  • Feb
  • 2018
From February 22 to 25, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany held its 21st Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice.” Led by expert moderators Carol Gluck and Ruth Girardet and based on classical and modern texts of renowned philosophers and thinkers, the seminar convenes a small circle of high ranking decision-makers to reflect and discuss the most fundamental questions of the human condition. In a confidential atmosphere, tucked away from the demands of daily routine, 16 decision-makers were given the space to tackle the most universal facets of the human existence, including the role of the individual, the relationship of individual freedom and the order of society, as well as the limits of power. The Seminar is especially recognized for its diversity of participants representing different areas of society not only from Germany but from across Europe.

Background Briefing on the Current Protests in Iran and the Future of the Iran Deal

  • 22
  • Feb
  • 2018
On February 22, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Background Briefing on Iran with Charlotte Wiedemann, Journalist and Author of the book “Der neue Iran: Eine Gesellschaft tritt aus dem Schatten” and Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad, Associate Fellow in the Program Middle East and North Africa at DGAP, Visiting Fellow at Brookings Doha, Associate of the Iran-Project Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and Scientific Researcher at the Centre of International Cooperation and Development Research of the ULB - Université libre de Bruxelles. After input statements by Ms. Wiedemann and Dr. Fathollah-Nejad on the current situation in Iran, the participants engaged in a lively discussion on the current protests in Iran and the future of the Iran deal.  

Exclusive Dinner with the Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, his delegation and German Members of Parliament

  • 21
  • Feb
  • 2018
On February 21, 2018 the Aspen institute hosted an exclusive dinner with the Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his delegation, comprising the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska, the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov at the China Club Berlin. Invited to the dinner at the China Club Berlin were Members of the European and Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag. The open exchange and lively discussion centered around the topic ”Macedonia’s Road towards a Future in the EU and NATO“.

Brown Bag Lunch with Dr. Amanda Sloat and Metin Hakverdi

  • 19
  • Feb
  • 2018
On February 19, 2018, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch with Dr. Amanda Sloat, Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Metin Hakverdi, member of the German Bundestag (SPD), to discuss the Munich Security Conference 2018 and the new U.S. National Security Strategy. After a quick recap of the Munich Security Conference by Dr. Sloat, Metin Hakverdi, and Aspen's Executive Director Rüdiger Lentz, the participants engaged in an honest discussion about the new U.S. National Security Strategy and its implications for the transatlantic community in a fragmenting world. What particularly stood out about the discussion was the unused potential for collaboration and the need to recommit to the transatlantic relationship.

Exclusive Breakfast Discussion on the Ukraine on the Sidelines of the Munich Security Conference

  • 18
  • Feb
  • 2018
On February 18, 2018 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a breakfast side meeting at the Munich Security Conference with Natalie Jaresko, Chairwoman of the Aspen Institute Kyiv and Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations. The discussion touched on all aspects of Ukraine's internal and international struggle as well as on the role that Europe and the U.S. have in assisting Ukraine on its path to democracy, stability and European integration.

Book Presentation with Andreas Krebs and Paul Williams at Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus

  • 22
  • Jan
  • 2018
On January 22, 2018, Andreas Krebs, Managing Director at CologneInvest, and Paul Williams, Managing Partner at Paul Williams & Associates, presented their new book “Die Illusion der Unbesiegbarkeit: Warum Manager nicht klüger sind als die Incas vor 500 Jahren“ at Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus. In a conversation with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, the two internationally experienced managers discussed the crucial components of lasting business success, the reasons for sudden failures, and how leaders can succeed in keeping organization on course for further success.

Staffers Exchange Alumni Roundtable – Discussion with Guest Lecturers from the John-F.-Kennedy-Institute for North American Studies at the Free University Berlin

  • 19
  • Dec
  • 2017
On December 19th, the Aspen Institute Germany invited three guest lecturers from the John-F.-Kennedy-Institute for North American Studies at the Free University Berlin to discuss the mechanisms and tools of the Trump Administration in an intimate setting with the German alumni from the Aspen’s Bundestag and US Congress Staffers Exchange Program. The alumni had the chance to exchange their views with Vincent Michelot, Professor for American Politics at Sciences Po, Lyon, Markus B. Siewert, Academic Fellow at the Department of Social Sciences at the Free University, and Justin S. Vaughn, Director of the Center for Idaho History and Politics at Boise State University. In a lively discussion moderated by Mirijam Koch, Program Officer at the Aspen Institute Germany, the participants talked about the state of the Trump administration, the possible fragmentation of the Republican Party, the differences and similarities to French President Macron, and the long-term political consequences the Trump Presidency can have on the US governmental system.

“Germany and the United States of America: About the Future of the Transatlantic Relations. A New Foreign Policy After Jamaica?“

  • 6
  • Dec
  • 2017
On December 6, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a panel discussion on the future of transatlantic relations. The focus of the discussion was placed on the transatlantic manifesto “In Spite of It All, America”, an essay written by experts of different Berlin transatlantic think tanks, with the aim of revitalizing and reviving transatlantic relations. Dr. Tobias Lindner (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Michael Link (FDP), and Norbert Röttgen (CDU), all members of the newly elected German Bundestag as well as Jan Techau, director of the Richard C. Holbrooke Forum at the American Academy in Berlin, discussed the manifest with regards to U.S. and German trade, security, climate, energy and digital policies. In an open and interesting discussion, it became apparent that all panelist agreed on the matter that the geopolitical situation is changing drastically and that Germany has a responsibility to solidify its position not only as a nation but also as a member of international institutions such as the European Union and NATO.

Discussion “The EU in Disarray – What Will Become of the Western Balkans?”

  • 30
  • Nov
  • 2017
To conclude its Southeast Europe Program 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a public evening event with a discussion among Bernd Hüttemann, Secretary General of the European Movement Germany, Sonja Licht, President of Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, Sabine Stöhr, Head of Division 209 Western Balkans in Federal Foreign Office, and Helge Tolksdorf, Head of the Division for EU Enlargement, Southeast Europe and Turkey in the Directorate-General for European Policy of the German Federal Ministry of Economics, on “The EU in Disarray – What Will Become of the Western Balkans?”. The main topics of discussion were the effects of the political situation inside the EU on the Western Balkans, the return of geo-politics to the region, and the expectations for the European Commission’s new enlargement strategy.

Aspen Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 2
  • Nov
  • 2017
From November 2 to 5, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany held its 20th Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice.” Led by expert moderators Leigh Hafrey and Ruth Girardet and based on classical and modern texts of renowned philosophers and thinkers, the seminar convenes a small circle of high ranking decision-makers to reflect and discuss the most fundamental questions of the human condition. In a confidential atmosphere, tucked away from the demands of daily routine, 17 decision-makers were given the space to tackle the most universal facets of the human existence, including the role of the individual, the relationship of individual freedom and the order of society, as well as the limits of power. The Seminar is especially recognized for its diversity of participants representing different areas of society not only from Germany but from across Europe.

Aspen Annual Gala 2017

  • 26
  • Oct
  • 2017
On October 26, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted its third Aspen Annual Gala, where the 2017 Shepard Stone Award was presented to two extraordinary individuals: Dr. Guido Goldman, founder of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and Wolf Biermann, poet, composer, and singer. The award recognizes outstanding transatlantic leadership and accomplishments in the realm of politics, culture, society, and science that reflect and promote the shared values of the United States and Germany. The tradition was initiated in 2014 on the occasion of Aspen Germany’s 40th anniversary in memory of the extraordinary achievements of Shepard Stone, the founder and first executive director of the Aspen Institute Germany. The evening included, among others, remarks by Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President of  the Aspen Institute (USA), Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of Aspen Germany, Sawsan Chebli, Secretary of State for Civil Engagement and International Affairs in Berlin, and a written welcome note by Chancellor Angela Merkel, read by Eckart von Klaeden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Institute Germany.

Fourth Berlin Transatlantic Conference: “The World in 2025 – Germany’s role and partners in a shifting world order”

  • 26
  • Oct
  • 2017
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 of underlying tectonic shifts in Western societies and give rise to the question of the very existence of the post-war liberal order. While countries like Russia and China have long been dissatisfied with a system that they see as dominated by Western powers, other challenges have emerged from within Western societies. In this situation, high hopes have been placed on German leadership, and Chancellor Merkel has even been celebrated as the new leader of the free world. The program consisted of intro-statements, panel discussions, and a concluding statement. In addition, we presented worst and best-case scenarios of the future of the liberal order, which were developed during an Aspen scenario workshop in May 2017.

Digital Dish Lunch with Howard Dean on “American Democracy in the Digital Age”

  • 4
  • Oct
  • 2017
On October 4th, a group of 50 senior and next generation experts from politics, business, academia and civil society came together to attend the Aspen Institute Germany's second “Digital Dish” lunch with Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont, candidate for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination and former DNC chair. The event was held in the Telefónica Germany Representation and the conversation focused on the role of technology in American democracy and the changing attitude toward institutions. The wide ranging, off-the record discussion touched on topics from freedom of speech to slacktivism to the state of the two party system in the United States.  The conversation was moderated by Tyson Barker, Program Director and Fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany and was held in partnership with Telefónica Germany.

Book Presentation and Discussion “Abenteuer Freiheit – Ein Wegweiser für unsichere Zeiten“ with Prof. Dr. Carlo Strenger

  • 26
  • Sep
  • 2017
On September 26, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany, Catherine von Fürstenberg-Dussmann, and Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus hosted a lecture and discussion with Prof. Dr. Carlo Strenger, author and professor of psychology and philosophy at Tel Aviv University. Prof. Strenger presented his newest book “Abenteuer Freiheit – Ein Wegweiser für unsichere Zeiten,” in which he argues that freedom and happiness are often taken for granted in our society even though these are valuable privileges that we should constantly fight for. In a conversation with Dr. Anna Kuchenbecker, Deputy Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, and the audience, Prof. Strenger also discussed the meaning of Western values, misconception in our society, and the challenges of an increasingly interconnected, digitalized, and complex world.

The Transatlantic Digital Agenda: Workshop in Brussels – Defining A Digital Social Contract

  • 26
  • Sep
  • 2017
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 and workshops examining different elements of the transatlantic digital agenda. The Brussels Workshop addressed the fundamental question: „Should there be a digital social contract? If so, what should be in it?“ In this context, we rooted our discussion of digital policy in the values of the Enlightenment to discuss ways to guarantee that digital transformation reinforces free trade, free markets, and free peoples. The Brussels workshop consisted of six sessions and a dinner discussion over two days.

Germany before the Election 2017 – A View from the Outside on the German Election. Four Foreign Correspondents on Merkel & Co.

  • 20
  • Sep
  • 2017
On September 20, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany and Deutschlandfunk hosted a panel discussion with four foreign correspondents from the U.S., Great Britain, Poland, and France, moderated by Deutschlandfunk editor Burkhard Birke. Jeremy Cliffe, Berlin bureau chief for The Economist, Matthew Karnitschnig, chief Europe correspondent at Politico, Rosalia Romaniec, Polish journalist and managing editor East-Central Europe at Deutsche Welle, and Pascal Thibaut, correspondent at Radio France Internationale elaborated on central topics, challenges, and figures of the German election campaign from the perspectives of their respective countries. The debate revolved around the potential outcome of the election, Angela Merkel’s role in international politics, possible government coalitions, and the implications of an entry of the AfD into the German Bundestag.

Fifth Leadership Alumni Roundtable: “Life at the extreme – testing one’s limits – Leadership from the perspective of an extreme mountain climber”

  • 19
  • Sep
  • 2017
As part of the Leadership Alumni-Program, the Aspen Institute Germany invited participants to a journey to alpine landscapes in unpredictable climates. Leadership Alumnus (June 2017) and extreme mountain climber Florian Hill guided us through a breathtaking multimedia show about his expeditions and discussed what life at the extreme can teach us about self-reflection and leadership in the corporate world. Visionary thinking, excellent performance, trust and courage, to cross borders – managers and mountain climbers share more qualities than one would initially think. Florian Hill offered insights into moral questions and discussed with us the connection between personal strength and value-based leadership.

Digital Dish with Lars-Hendrik Röller: “Lunch Debrief on the German G20 Presidency and a Look Ahead at Global Governance”

  • 19
  • Sep
  • 2017
On September 19, the Aspen Institute Germany partnered with the Embassy of Spain to Berlin to launch its inaugural Digital Dish luncheon series with a debrief on the 2017 Hamburg G20 Summit and an outlook on global governance with Lars-Hendrik Röller, Chancellor Merkel’s top economic advisor and G7/20 Sherpa. The conversation focused on the themes of trade, climate change, women’s empowerment, Africa and digital transformation in the context of Germany’s 2017 G20 chairmanship under the heading of ‘Shaping an Interconnected World.’ Argentinian Ambassador Luis María Kreckler provided the response and a look ahead toward Argentina’s G20 priorities in Buenos Aires in 2018. Rüdiger Lentz, Aspen Germany Executive Director, and Spanish Ambassador Maria Victoria Morera Villuendas hosted the luncheon. The conversation was off-the-record and held in English with 30 senior representatives from politics, business, academia and the diplomatic community. The Aspen Institute Germany’s Digital Dish series is a regular gathering that features provocative thinkers for an intimate, off-the-record lunch to discuss a special issue related to the most pressing tech policy debates.

25th Anniversary of the State Department-German Federal Foreign Office Exchange Program: Discussion on the State of Transatlantic Relations

  • 14
  • Sep
  • 2017
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 in the German Federal Foreign Office. The off-the-record discussion was moderated by Aspen’s Executive Director Rüdiger Lentz and included many diplomatic exchange alumni. The wide-ranging conversation touched on topics including the EU, North Korea, Iran, Turkey, climate change, TTIP, Russia, the Ukraine and energy. Kent Logsdon, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Berlin, provided introductory remarks.

  • 6
  • Jul
  • 2017
On July 6, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive ‘Kennedy Breakfast’ with the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti at Schöneberg’s city hall. In a conversation with Annette Riedel, Senior Editor at Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Mayor Garcetti discussed the role of mayors on the national and international level, the importance of the digital and creative sectors for his city, and the pioneering role cities play in preventing climate change and fostering sustainability. The interview will be broadcasted in German on Saturday July 8, 2017 at 5.30 pm as part of the program ‘Tacheles’ and will be available online in Deutschlandfunk Kultur media library thereafter. You can listen to the original version in English here. Following the interview, Mr. Garcetti engaged in a discussion with guests.

Bundestag and Congress Staffers Exchange Program

  • 2
  • Jul
  • 2017
For the fourth time, the Aspen Institute Germany invites 20 Staffers from US Congress and German Bundestag to participate in two one-week programs in Berlin and in Washington D.C. After the first part of the Bundestag and Congress Staffers Exchange Program in Berlin, the participants focused on the topics digitalization and trade in Washington, D.C. The Program included opportunities for informal exchange and networking as well as an alumni event with former participants from the United States. In addition to roundtable discussions, the participants had the opportunity to visit the July 4th Parade and enjoyed a fireworks cruise as well a tour of the Capitol including its dome. The Program is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany with funds from the European Recovery Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. This program was made possible by a grant from the Federal Ministry for Economy and Energy (BMWi).

Policy Program Western Balkans Conference on “Improving Perspectives for the Youth: Economic Development and Job Creation in the Western Balkans“

  • 19
  • Jun
  • 2017
On June 19-22, 2017 the Aspen Institute Germany with support of the Federal Foreign Office hosted a conference on “Improving Perspectives for the Youth: Economic Development and Job Creation in the Western Balkans“ in Alt Madlitz. The participants, coming from the region as well as from several member states of the EU, were composed of high-ranking actors and experts from politics, economics and academia. Over the course of two days, they discussed current economic developments in the Western Balkans, especially with regard to job creation. Issues addressed in this context included the role of education and vocational training reforms, the role of digitalization for the economic development of the region, the EU enlargement agenda and its support for economic development, as well as regional economic relations. Meetings with Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy Uwe Beckmeyer, Members of the German Parliament, and the Managing Director of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations complemented the informal discussions.

Aspen Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 15
  • Jun
  • 2017
From June 15 to 18, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany held its 19th Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice.” Led by expert moderators Carol Gluck and Florian Jehle and based on classical and modern texts of renowned philosophers and thinkers, the seminar convenes a small circle of high ranking decision-makers to reflect and discuss the most fundamental questions of the human condition. In a confidential atmosphere, tucked away from the demands of daily routine, 14 decision-makers were given the space to tackle the most universal facets of the human existence, including the role of the individual, the relationship of individual freedom and the order of society, as well as the limits of power. The Seminar is especially recognized for its diversity of participants representing different areas of society not only from Germany but from across Europe.

Aspen Summer Party 2017 of the Aspen Institute Germany and the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts e.V.”

  • 12
  • Jun
  • 2017
On June 12, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany and the “Verein der Freunde of the Aspen Institute e.V.” hosted their annual summer party at the Mendelssohn Remise in Berlin. The evening’s guest of honor was Helga M. Schmid, Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS). In a conversation with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, Ms. Schmid shared her thoughts on “Powerful Alliance or Lame Duck? What can we expect from European Foreign Policy?”. The discussion primarily focused on the EU’s role in security and development policy matters, its role in international conflict prevention and resolution as well as on the importance of combining European resources. Following the discussion, over 100 guests spent a lovely summer night with piano music in the historic Mendelssohn Remise court yard.

Assembly of the Friends of the Aspen Institute 2017

  • 12
  • Jun
  • 2017

Just like the last years, the “Verein der Freunde des Aspen Instituts” met prior to the summer party on June 12, 2017, to hold its annual assembly in the Mendelssohn Remise in Berlin. The board presented their activity and financial reports and assessed that the year 2016 and its events had been a great success. Moreover, Arno Heuermann, Helmut Kranzmaier, and Jan Losemann were reelected for three more years on the Board of the “Verein der Freunde.”

Conference: “Next Europe”

  • 8
  • Jun
  • 2017
What will Europe’s future look like? On June 8, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the European Academy of Sciences and Arts in Salzburg and the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Berlin hosted a conference on the topic “Next Europe.” The conference began with a keynote speech by Elmar Brok, Member and former Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament. The first panel debate on the topic of “Good Governance – Bad Governance: Does Europe need to reinvent itself?” focused on current challenges like the developments in Poland and Hungary and the handling of criticism of the European Union. In a second discussion, the digital transformation, its impact on Europe’s society and economy, and the opportunity for European cooperation in this field were discussed. The conference ended on a very positive note as Richard Kühnel, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Germany, noted that it was worth defending the European dream with self-confidence and trust.

Aspen Southeast Europe Foreign Ministers’ Conference

  • 31
  • May
  • 2017
The Eighth Aspen Southeast Europe Foreign Ministers Conference took place on May 31, 2017 in cooperation with the German Office of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Czech Republic. The conference began with confidential discussions on regional cooperation, economic development and democratization between regional foreign ministers; senior representatives from the German and Czech governments; and members of parliament. These off-the-record discussions were followed by a public event in the afternoon which opened with a panel discussion on economic development in the Western Balkans. Panel topics included successful economic models and reform programs; the question of whether current growth models are sustainable; and current economic challenges for the region such as the brain drain, education, infrastructure, and competitiveness. This was followed by the headline Foreign Ministers’ panel on “Euro-Atlantic Integration in Times of Crises” which was opened by Jakub Dürr, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. Minister Gabriel used the conference to highlight Germany’s commitment to the European future of the region and to promote a greater joint European engagement in the Western Balkans and the initiation of further funds for financial support for the development of the region.

Bundestag and Congress Staffers Exchange Program

  • 28
  • May
  • 2017
For the fourth time, the Aspen Institute Germany invited 20 Staffers from U.S. Congress and German Bundestag to participate in two one-week programs in Berlin (May 28-June 3) and in Washington D.C. (July 2-8). During the first part in Berlin, the participants delved into the topics populism and trade. In addition to roundtable discussions, the participants learned about the history of Berlin and Germany by taking part in a seminar with students from the John F. Kennedy Institute at the Free University of Berlin, and visited the Cecilienhof Palace, the historic site of the Potsdam Conference. They also enjoyed a tour of the Bundestag, including its cupola, led by alumni of the program. The program included opportunities for informal exchange and networking as well as an alumni event with former German participants. After the first part of the Bundestag and Congress Staffers Exchange Program in Berlin, the participants focused on the topics digitalization and trade in Washington, D.C. The program included opportunities for informal exchange and networking as well as an alumni event with former participants from the United States. In addition to roundtable discussions, the participants had the opportunity to visit the July 4th Parade and enjoyed a Fireworks Cruise as well a tour of the Capitol including its dome. The Program is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany with funds from the European Recovery Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Aspen Germany is the project coordinator on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economy and Energy (BMWi).

Discussion: “4 Months Down, 44 Months to Go – Two American Perspectives on President Trump”

  • 24
  • May
  • 2017
On May 24, 2017, the Aspen Institute hosted a discussion and subsequent reception at the China Club Berlin on the topic “4 Months Down, 44 Months to Go – Two American Perspectives on President Trump.” Four months had passed since the inauguration of Donald Trump as 45th president of the United States, and the effects of his presidency have not only been felt in the United States, but also by its allies in Europe and outside the western hemisphere. The Aspen Institute’s distinguished trustees David Knower, Chief Operating Officer, Cerberus Deutschland GmbH, and Frank Sportolari, President, United Parcel Service Deutschland, engaged in a rich and fruitful debate and shared their personal insights from distinctive perspectives. It was argued that Donald Trump constitutes an interesting subject for analysis due to his unconventional style of governing. Topics included Trump’s electoral campaign, U.S.-trade relations, U.S.-German relations and the administration’s approach to the U.S. federal budget.

Third Aspen Transatlantic Workshop: “The Future of the Liberal International Order: The World in 2025”

  • 15
  • May
  • 2017
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, and prosperity for so long – not only in Europe and the US but also in (and for) many other world regions. The liberal international order gained legitimacy largely because of two facts: It was morally superior to oppressive systems and, probably more importantly, it delivered better results. With the rise of new powers (and cultures), normative hegemony is fading.  The workshop employed methods of strategic foresight analysis and scenario thinking. Workshop participants generated four to five scenarios that captured the range of plausible alternative futures. Foresight analysis is most useful when a situation is complex and the outcomes too uncertain to trust a single prediction. It has proven highly effective in helping analysts, decision makers, and policymakers contemplate multiple futures, challenge their assumptions, and anticipate surprise developments by identifying “unknown unknowns” – i.e. factors, forces, or players that one did not realize were important or influential before commencing the exercise.

The Aspen German-American Dialog – Learning From Each Other

  • 7
  • May
  • 2017
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 civil society and parliamentary level. At a conference, hosted at the Federal Foreign Office, MP Annalena Baerbock (Alliance 90/THE GREENS) and Congressman David McKinley (R-WV 1st District) discussed future challenges regarding climate change and electro mobility and together with Jürgen Hardt the shared values in the transatlantic relations. Upon the invitation of the further participating MPs Katharina Dröge (Alliance 90/THE GREENS), Volkmar Klein (CDU) and Annalena Baerbock (Alliance 90/THE GREENS) the civil society representatives deepened the exchange while traveling to the constituencies of Cologne, Siegen, and Potsdam. On site, the participants learned about companies and projects in the areas of work / training, renewable energies, mobility, digitalization and political education / media at the municipal level. The Dialog is funded by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany with funds from the European Recovery Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and supported by the American Council on Germany.

Launch Conference: Transatlantic Digital Agenda: Bridging the Gap

  • 5
  • Apr
  • 2017
The digital revolution is causing some of the most profound and accelerating societal challenges of the 21st century. The potential for a common transatlantic digital market could unleash a new wave of inclusive growth for both sides of the Atlantic. But differences in legal systems, political priorities and the rising tide of populism threaten potential common transatlantic leadership in the digital space. The resulting digital divide between the Euro-Atlantic partners is a key future challenge that both sides must tackle together. With this in mind, the Aspen Institute Germany is joining forces with the Internet Economy Foundation and the Atlantic Council for a new project – the Transatlantic Digital Agenda: Bridging the Gap –to facilitate a series of conferences, seminars and workshops with decision makers in politics, the economy, science and civil society in Germany, Europe and the United States. The project will tackle a range of key issues including: cross border data flows, digital trade, copyright, competition, platforms, Internet of things, cloud computing, AI, innovation, labor market impacts, startups, data protection and privacy, finance, political action online, fake news, surveillance, cybersecurity and global Internet governance. More broadly, this initiative will examine how the set of values at the heart of our contrat social – that guarantees our citizens freedom, equality, democracy, openness, and the rule of law – can be translated into the digital age. The joint project will be launched on April 5th, 2017 in Berlin on the eve of the first ever G20 Digital Ministers Meeting. http://www.bridges.digital/

Discussion and Book Presentation: “Qualitative Freedom: Self-Determination in Cosmopolitan Responsibility – Questions about Sociological and Ecological Sustainability”

  • 4
  • Apr
  • 2017
On April 4, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany and the Liberal Club Berlin-Brandenburg hosted a book presentation and discussion with Professor Dr. Claus Dierksmeier, Director of the Global Ethic Institute at the University of Tübingen. The center of discussion was his new book “Qualitative Freedom: Self-Determination in Cosmopolitan Responsibility.” In a discussion with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute, Professor Dierksmeier explained his book’s five core theses and outlined his understanding of freedom. The participants further talked about different concepts of freedom, their consequences, and what freedom means in the context of contemporary issues like terrorism, climate change, or digitalization.

Brunch Discussion with Pete Buttigieg

  • 2
  • Apr
  • 2017
The Aspen Institute Germany hosted Pete Buttigieg, the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and recent candidate for Chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Sunday, April 2nd for an off-the-record brunch to talk about American progressivism after the 2016 elections and U.S. foreign policy in the Trump era. The 35-year-old, openly gay veteran is considered one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party and a champion for the role of cities in driving state and national policy-making.

Brown Bag Discussion: “A Shifting International Order: New Challenges and Opportunities for Canada’s and New Zealand’s Relations towards Europe”

  • 29
  • Mar
  • 2017
On March 29, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a Brown Bag Lunch discussion featuring H.E. Marie Gervais-Vidricaire, Ambassador of Canada in Berlin, and H.E. Rodney Harris, Ambassador of New Zealand in Berlin. The discussion under Chatham House Rule focused on the challenges and opportunities for Canada’s and New Zealand’s relations towards Europe in a shifting international order. The participants discussed current joint challenges such as the changing role of the U.S. in the international order, international trade relations, and the impact of the Brexit. A special emphasis was placed on the implications of these developments for Canada’s and New Zealand’s political and economic relations towards Germany and other European countries.

Spring Meeting of the Youth Officers 2017, Transatlantic Panel: “The United States after the elections – a shift in the transatlantic relations?”

  • 27
  • Mar
  • 2017
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 Munich Security Conference, Research Associate at the Centre for International Security Policy, Hertie School of Governance. The panel was presented by Thorsten Freers, Senior Program Officer Transatlantic Programs.

Fourth Leadership Alumni Roundtable: “The Conductor’s Perspective: What Business can learn from Orchestras!“

  • 16
  • Mar
  • 2017
The Aspen Institute in cooperation with Dr. Friedrich Kuhn of EgonZehnder International hosted its fourth Aspen Leadership Alumni roundtable featuring Dr. Raphael von Hoensbroech, Managing Director at Konzerthaus Berlin on the topic “The Conductor's Perspective: What Business can learn from Orchestras!“ on March 16, 2017. The conductor is responsible for the performance of his team without actually contributing operatively to the outcome. He is the only musician who does not play a single note. At the same time he is leading highly talented experts with skills he himself does not possess. What is his role in this constellation? How does he add value? Dr. von Hoensbroech discussed these and other questions with an engaged audience. The ability to provide creative space as well as a strong vision are major requirements for a good conductor. To provide a long-lasting productive working environment a conductor should also show his appreciation for every single musician and be able to transfer responsibility the orchestra to foster mutual trust. For several years, Dr. von Hoensbroech was active as a conductor and since his early childhood has been playing the violin. Versed in leadership from both the artistic and the management perspective, he has been bringing together the two worlds into his leadership programs over the past seven years.

Breakfast Talk with Robby Mook

  • 14
  • Mar
  • 2017
On March 14, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany’s Public Program hosted an exclusive discussion with Robby Mook, veteran Democratic political operative and former campaign manager for the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. In a conversation with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, the main themes of the 2016 election campaign were discussed, as well as how the Clinton team attempted to respond to alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election. The discussion highlighted questions about how to tackle fake news, especially in election contexts like the 2016 presidential campaign and the German Federal Election in September 2017.

Brown Bag Discussion: “From Reluctant to Destructive: How Will the Leaders of the Free World Shape the Liberal Order in 2017 and beyond?“

  • 9
  • Mar
  • 2017
On March 9, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a brown bag lunch discussion featuring Dr. Michael J. Mazarr, associate director of RAND Arroyo Center's Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program and senior political scientist at RAND Corporation, and Prof. Dr. Joachim Krause, academic director at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University. The discussion addressed the question: “From Reluctant to Destructive: How Will the Leaders of the Free World Shape the Liberal Order in 2017 and beyond?“ The participants discussed today’s state of the liberal order, its future organization and development as well as current and future challenges under Chatham House Rule. A special emphasis was placed on the future international role of China and Russia as well as on the role of the new U.S. administration, the European Union, and Germany in shaping the international order.

Aspen Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice”

  • 23
  • Feb
  • 2017
From February 23 to 26, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany held its 18th Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice.” Led by expert moderators Leigh Hafrey and Ruth Girardet and based on classical and modern texts of renowned philosophers and thinkers, the seminar convenes a small circle of high ranking decision-makers to reflect and discuss the most fundamental questions of the human condition. In a confidential atmosphere, tucked away from the demands of daily routine, 17 decision-makers were given the space to tackle the most universal facets of the human existence, including the role of the individual, the relationship of individual freedom and the order of society, as well as the limits of power. The Seminar is especially recognized for its diversity of participants representing different areas of society not only from Germany but from across Europe.

Discussion: “Strategic Upheaval and Security Strategy Formation”

  • 17
  • Feb
  • 2017
On February 17, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany and its board member Prof. Dr. Gunther Hellmann of the Goethe University Frankfurt hosted a high-level off-the-record lunch and discussion at the 2017 Munich Security Conference addressing the question of whether or not strategic planning is still possible in an age of uncertainty and upheaval. The lunch included impulse statements by Charlie Kupchan, former Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council under President Barack Obama, and Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO under President George W. Bush. Following these presentations, the participants discussed the role of domestic politics in driving foreign policy decision-making, the role of strategic planning institutions, the general purpose of strategies as well as possible barriers to the development of strategies.

Exclusive Background Discussion with U.S. Governor John R. Kasich (Ohio)

  • 17
  • Feb
  • 2017
On Friday, February 17, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany organized an exclusive background meeting with U.S. Governor John R. Kasich from Ohio, a presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 2016, as a side event to the Munich Security Conference. The dialog with members of the German Bundestag, transatlantic think tanks, and representatives of the German business community mainly focused on the expectations of German transatlanticists regarding the new U.S. administration and possible consequences of Trump’s announcements to radically change the course of U.S. policies. Both sides agreed that the new administration could not be judged on grounds of mere election rhetoric and the first statements of some of the incoming Trump appointees.

The strong man on Bosporus: What is President Erdogan’s agenda?

  • 24
  • Jan
  • 2017
On January 24, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an exclusive discussion at the China Club in Berlin with H.E. Martin Erdmann, currently ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Turkey. The topic of the event was: “The strong man on the Bosporus: What does President Erdoğan want?“. In a conversation with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, current topics pertaining to EU-Turkey relations were discussed, with special emphasis on the German-Turkish relationship. The discussion focused equally on the collaboration in managing the refugee crisis and on the future cooperation within NATO, as well as on the significance of the trade relationship and the present national and global political developments.

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