Summer School 2007

DGAP’s 11th International Summer School „Complex Challenges, Comprehensive Responses – Linking Security and Development“ (July 8 -21, 2007) brought together 33 students and recent graduates from all over Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Russia, the US and, for the first time, Africa. Coming from the fields of foreign, security and development policy, they strived to work out solutions to global challenges of the 21st century. During lectures and debates with politicians, scholars and representatives of German ministries, they specifically discussed interfaces of security and development.

After each lecture, participants split up into regional working groups on Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and discussed implications for each particular region individually. The participants’ diversity in their heritage and their cultural and academic background provided a fascinating, sometimes controversial, but always constructive work atmosphere. The Summer School thus became a unique intellectual and cultural experience. Each of the participants agreed: “The intercultural dialog was the essential point of the Summer School. Next to the content, it was the most important thing”.

The Summer School ended on July 20th, with participants presenting specific policy recommendations for their working group’s regions. Their presentations were followed by members of DGAP research institute as well as representatives of the press and academia, and proved that participants had the potential to become true decision-makers of tomorrow.

With DGAP’s 11th International Summer School, the Alumni network of the International Forum on Strategic Thinking has grown to about 700 young, internationally linked members with the will and the potential to move forward.

 

Downloads