The “Culture of Restraint” Is No More
A pretty, elegant blond with sharp features and an even sharper mind could become the face of Germany’s new role in the world. Just weeks ago, she had no idea …
Germans React to a “Year of Action” with Modest Support but Many are Unconvinced
In the days after the annual State of the Union address, Germans have been modestly supportive of U.S. President Barack Obama’s outline for a “Year of Action,” but some commentators …
The Evolving Reaction to Electronic Eavesdropping
The spectrum of dramatically differing U.S. and German reactions to the revelation of National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping of electronic communications, along with the parallel domestic debates in both countries, …
All Politics Can Be Local, but All Privacy is Increasingly Global
The immediate analysis of President Obama’s State of the Union address was in full action even before the speech ended on Tuesday evening. In some ways, it is an exercise …
Surprise out of Germany
Although Chancellor Angela Merkel’s selection of the previous Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ursula von der Leyen, as Minister of Defense last month was a huge surprise—especially to her …
Recent Authors
AGI provides knowledge, insights, and networks as tools to solve the challenges ahead.
Support Our WorkState of the (Dis)Union
At first glance, the verbal showdown between President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address and the Republican response by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers was an unfair fight. Traditionally, this …
A Second Look at the German-American Agenda
In December, AGI took the pulse of the German-American relationship and we expressed concern about its future. That paper also sketched out the most critical issues on the bilateral agenda. …
Angela Merkel’s NSA Challenge
Newly-elected German Chancellor Angela Merkel will soon make the almost mandatory trip to Washington, despite the cell phone embarrassment caused by NSA surveillance programs and practices. The monitoring apparently started …
Germany’s NSA Naivete
Following President Obama’s exclusive interview with ZDF on Friday, Senior Editor of Der Tagesspiegel Malte Lehming noted that the German media largely characterized the president’s remarks as “too vague, too …
From the AGI Bookshelf: The Myth of America’s Decline
Joe Joffe’s latest book (Liverlight Publishing, 2013) is a modern day version of what Alexis de Tocqueville attempted some one hundred and eighty years ago. Both authors grapple with the …
Towards Closing the Cyber Sanitation Gap
While the revelations of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about state-sponsored intrusions into online privacy have been deeply unsettling to many, the growing everyday threats to our online activities posed …
Germany, Comfortable Alone
The German foreign policy apparatus is on the verge of change, predicts Michael Inacker, an AGI Board of Trustees Member. Germany’s increasingly distanced relationships with long-time allies, including the United …