Jackson Janes is the President Emeritus of the American-German Institute at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, where he has been affiliated since 1989.
Dr. Janes has been engaged in German-American affairs in numerous capacities over many years. He has studied and taught in German universities in Freiburg, Giessen and Tübingen. He was the Director of the German-American Institute in Tübingen (1977-1980) and then directed the European office of The German Marshall Fund of the United States in Bonn (1980-1985). Before joining AGI, he served as Director of Program Development at the University Center for International Studies at the University of Pittsburgh (1986-1988). He was also Chair of the German Speaking Areas in Europe Program at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, DC, from 1999-2000 and is Honorary President of the International Association for the Study of German Politics .
Dr. Janes is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Atlantic Council of the United States, and American Purpose. He serves on the advisory boards of the Berlin office of the American Jewish Committee, and the Beirat der Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik (ZfAS). He serves on the Selection Committee for the Bundeskanzler Fellowships for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Dr. Janes has lectured throughout Europe and the United States and has published extensively on issues dealing with Germany, German-American relations, and transatlantic affairs. In addition to regular commentary given to European and American news radio, he has appeared on CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS, CBC, and is a frequent commentator on German television. Dr. Janes is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Education.
In 2005, Dr. Janes was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Germany’s highest civilian award.
Education:
Ph.D., International Relations, Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California
M.A., Divinity School, University of Chicago
B.A., Sociology, Colgate University
Expertise:
Transatlantic relations, German-American relations, domestic German politics, German-EU relations, transatlantic affairs.
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The Need to Think Bigger
Recent events in Europe, especially Spain, have once again ignited numerous debates about the potential breakup of the euro zone. In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle laid out and defended what he felt was needed to fix Europe. However, according to Executive Director Jack Janes and Senior Fellow Alexander Privitera, Mr. Westerwelle’s plan does not go far enough.
NATO’s Future: Reconnecting Means with Ends
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes examines the windy atmosphere of debates surrounding the recent NATO summit in Chicago. As the 28 member states look to find common answers to a long list of security issues, they must also reassess and redefine the ends of means that NATO stands for.
Political Weather Vanes: Germany’s Regional Elections
In this At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes examines the results of the May 6 elections in Schleswig-Holstein, the upcoming elections in NRW on May 13, and the significance of regional elections as barometers of Germany’s changing political weather.
Merkel’s Melting Majority
There is a well-known German slogan about the fate of those seeking re-election these days: ‘wer regiert, verliert.’ An American translation − voters are restless, rebellious, and ready to blame …
The French Elections and the Franco-German Equation
In advance of the French Presidential elections, Executive Director Jack Janes examines the changing parameters of Franco-German relations in light of the challenges both countries currently face. If Francois Hollande becomes the new President, any resulting changes in the continuity of one the most important bi-national relationships in Europe will be felt beyond the borders of Germany and France.
Saarland’s Signals
In this At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes examines the results of the state election in Saarland and their potential signals for both the subsequent state elections to follow during 2012, as well as the national election in 2013.
Can Joachim Gauck Make Germany Likable?
Germany is at a crossroads: become the Continent’s leader or be seen as the neighborhood bully. In a stroke of national fortune, it is about to install, as its next president, a man known more for his integrity and moral leadership than for his political acumen, a man who can help make sure his country follows the first course.
Afghanistan Afterward
In this At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes looks at the proposed troop withdraw date for Afghanistan in the wake of the civilian killings by a U.S. soldier over the past weekend. Following over a decade of conflict in Afghanistan, coalition forces now seem increasingly eager to transfer responsibility to the Afghan people. However, it has become very clear that a number of challenges remain for the future stability of Afghanistan, especially once coalition forces do leave.
Variations on Democracy
In this At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes examines the election – whether at local, regional, or federal levels – as a cornerstone of a successful modern day democracy.
Managing Majorities
In this weeks At issue, Executive Director Jack Janes looks at Chancellor Merkel’s struggle to sustain political support for the increasingly complicated agenda of the euro zone, as well as the interests and actors shaping the battle lines.
The End of One Presidency – the Beginning of a New President: Joachim Gauck
In this At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes reacts to the unexpected resignation of German President Christian Wulff, brought about by the decision to investigate his dealings while serving as Minister President of Lower Saxony. While his exit from office appears to have little effect on Chancellor Merkel’s current approval ratings, it has highlighted a bigger issue in Germany – namely the growing mistrust between politicians and the German population. With Joachim Gauck emerging as the favorite to become the next President, he must focus immediately on rebuilding the bridge between the governed and the governing.
Measuring Movement in Munich
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes writes from this year’s annual Munich Security Conference (MSC). A benchmark for the defense discussions of the transatlantic community for almost fifty years, the conference has had to continually incorporate new global threats and concerns in its agenda. With the centers of global power continuing to shift away from Cold War era alignments, the challenges for the US and Europe require increased dialogue with more partners and players around the globe.
