The May 22 Election in Bremen – AGI Coverage
Another Land election, another historical result for the Greens: For the first time ever, the Greens bested the CDU, coming in a strong second in the May 22 elections. The SPD will retain power in coalition with the Greens, but the headline remains the Greens’ success and the failure of the CDU and FDP in the smallest of the Bundesländer. Pundits have labeled Bremen as the ‘final warning’ for Chancellor Merkel’s federal coalition ahead of the 2013 federal election, further showing the CDU’s weakness in large cities and the lasting impact of Fukushima on German voters.
Above the Fray No More
For the United States, there is much to fear from Europe’s debt crisis but not much it can do, writes Bruce Stokes of The National Journal, a regular contributor to the Advisor. Washington has a huge financial stake in the taming of the euro crisis, Stokes argues, but the tools that exist to limit the damage are very limited. This article originally appeared in the May 28, 2011, edition of The National Journal.
The President’s European Tour #9
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes looks at President Obama’s upcoming trip to Europe and examines the projected benefits, purposes, and expectations attached to a week in Ireland, the UK, France, and Poland.
Recapping Obama’s European Tour
President Obama’s recent swing through Europe rekindled much of the positive energy that accompanied his election – despite some increasingly thorny issues that had to be discussed. Whether or not Obama can turn this goodwill into practical results on a range of issues, however, remains to be seen. This section features essays from Jan Techau, Kurt Volker, Daniel Fata, and Dr. Jackson Janes, all of whom focus on the long-term implications for transatlantic relations in the wake of the trip.
Germany’s Global Role at Risk: New Challenges for Stability in the Middle East
Germany’s struggle to understand and to define its global responsibilities through the euro crisis, Afghanistan, and now Libya has taken the country’s policy course through more turns than in the Nürburgring racetrack, writes Ambassador J.D. Bindenagel, vice president at DePaul University and a regular contributor to the Advisor. Because of its unclear policies, Germany faces the challenge of being sidelined when the danger of the moment in the Middle East urgently needs European leadership, Bindenagel argues. This essay originally appeared in the May 18, 2011, edition of Süddeutsche Zeitung.
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Support Our WorkBundeswehr Reform: Operation Accomplished! But is the Patient Dead?
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière announced one of the biggest shake-ups in decades for the German military when he presented his plans for the Bundeswehr’s realignment on May 18, writes AICGS Visiting Fellow Mr. Uwe Brinkmann, professor of law at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr. In his essay, Mr. Brinkmann examines the proposed changes and gives some views on how the reforms could affect Germany’s role within NATO and the transatlantic military alliance in general.
AGI Podcast: German and American Media Reactions to the Killing of Osama bin Laden
In a new AICGS Podcast, John Dickerson of Slate Magazine and Alexander Privitera of N24 discuss with Dr. Jackson Janes German and American media reactions to the death of Osama bin Laden and how they reflect the national views of this incident. Additionally, the discussants examine what this means for Germany’s participation in Afghanistan as well as future allied military engagements.
New AGI Podcast: German Jihad
In this AICGS Podcast, Dr. Guido Steinberg of SWP discusses his new book called “German Jihad” with Dr. Jackson Janes of AICGS and examines why Germany is increasingly becoming a recruitment target for Jihadists and radicals.
AGI Podcast: Germany’s Role in Libya and the Middle East
In a new AICGS Podcast, Member of the Bundestag Dr. Andreas Schockenhoff, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU-parliamentary group for Foreign Affairs, examines the roles of Germany, NATO, and the EU in dealing with the conflict in Libya and across the greater Middle East-North Africa region. Moderated by Dr. Jackson Janes, Dr. Schockenhoff touches on Turkey’s role in the Middle East, potential Libyan comparisons to Kosovo, and the importance of Egypt in overall regional stability.
Germany, Israel, and the “Special Relationship”
In a new AICGS Podcast, AICGS Fellows Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman and Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner discuss with Dr. Jackson Janes the status of Germany’s “special relationship” with Israel after Chancellor Merkel’s visit and bilateral cabinet meetings, focusing on Germany’s role in the greater Middle East and the importance of interaction at all levels of society.
The Second Face of Barack Obama
Dramatic events like the killing of Osama bin Laden can often change the course of political debate, writes Ambassador John Kornblum, AICGS Trustee and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany. In this case, killing bin Laden has added new luster to the image of President Obama and to the role of the U.S. as the leading world power, and an America battered by economic problems, social unrest, and foreign conflicts will certainly draw strength from Sunday’s SEAL mission. This essay originally appeared in the May 6, 2011, edition of Handelsblatt.
The End of bin Laden: A Chance to Refocus
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes discusses the domestic debates in Germany and the U.S. over the killing of Osama bin Laden and how these debates reflect the national psyches of the transatlantic partners.
