DGAP

Russia and Germany in the modern information society

www.dgap.org — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 +0000

The German and Russian strategies and problems regarding the building of an information society were at the core of the session that the working group ‘laboratory for the future’ held within the framework of the eighth Petersburg Dialogue. 30 participants, among them young politicians, experts, and journalists, engaged in a discussion which ultimately revealed that both countries’ understanding regarding the free access to information as well as the ensuing challenges were similar.

China and India – the next superpowers?

www.dgap.org — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0000

China and India are the most important developing countries these days. Because of the rapid growth of the Chinese economy, the country has raised to the most important trading partner in the Asian region. India has become during the last years especially in the area of software and IT development the worldwide market leader. What does the economic rise of these Asian countries mean for the rest of the world? What are the odds for a political raprochement between China and Japan now that the economic relations are so good like never before?

Eurosceptics could form their own group in EP

www.dgap.org — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:00:00 +0000

On 13 October, Alexander Count Lambsdorff, Member of the European Parliament from the Free Demopcratic Party, briefed guests of DGAP’s Alfred von Oppenheim Centre on some of the crucial decisions the EU is facing in 2009. He explained the underlying dynamics of the upcoming elections of the European Parliament, speculating about the possibilities of a new parliamentary groups formed by eurosceptic parties from across Europe.

NATO and Art. 5

www.dgap.org — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0000

»NATO as defence alliance: a new balance between Article 5 and crisis management?« was the subject discussed at the latest meeting of the »Study Group for Strategic Affairs«.

Russia’s Energy Strategy and Europe’s Energy Security

www.dgap.org — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:30:00 +0000

The consequences of the global financial crises have been the topic of a “Russia breakfast” organized by the Centre Russia/Eurasia of the DGAP with support of Basic Element, the Committee on Eastern European Relations and Deutsche Bank on the 14th of October 2008 in Berlin. The head of the Centre for International Energy Market Studies of the Russian Academy of Science, Tatjana Mitrova, pointed out in her presentation that with the current financial crisis the situation for Russian energy companies has significantly changed. Also for the big enterprises in this sector the financing of important investment projects is query. Furthermore she emphasized the hope that the current developments will lead to a more pragmatic cooperation between Russia and the EU in energy questions.

Meeting with Ambassadors: Great Britain

www.dgap.org — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:00:00 +0000

The position as an island separates Great Britain from the European continent, but the United Kingdom does not only have some specific features as far as the geography is concerned. The long tradition of the parliamentary democracy, the commitment to the neoliberal economic system and a certain pragmatism are regarded as typical British virtues and characterized the impression of Great Britain in Europe for a long time. Has the impression changed in the recent time? How does the country react on social and political changes, like the increasing immigration, particularly from South Asia and East Europe, or the current financial crisis?

Regional Forum should promote the peace process in the Middle East

www.dgap.org — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:30:00 +0000

The situation in the Middle East has been instable for a long time and has threatened the peace in the region. In order to calm down the situation in countries such as Lebanon or Israel all countries of the Middle Eastern region should take the initiative and approach each other – for example within the scope of a so-called Regional Forum. H.E. Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, foreign minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, explained the proposal of his country for the foundation of such a Regional Forum in his speech on October 27th in the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in front about 100 invited guests.

Trust and long-term contracts for more energy security

www.dgap.org — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:00:00 +0000

In spite of the importance of issues like the financial crises and currently low prices for oil and gas the problem of energy security is still on the agenda. The energy demand of politically and economically emerging countries like China and India will enormously increase during the next years, said Prof. Rudolf Dolzer, Director of the Institute for International Law at the University of Bonn as well as member of the Scientific Directorate of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). Besides, the world wide energy requirement is probably going to double within the next four or five years. However, the resources are diminishing. In view of this situation Dolzer recommends a more intensive cooperation with the producing countries of oil and gas. He explained his imagination of a long-term energy security during his speech on 31st of November in the DGAP.

Russia and the global financial crisis

www.dgap.org — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0000

The reaction of the Russian government on the financial crisis and the current status of the Russian economic policy was the topic of a Russia-Breakfast and a presentation by Alexander Lebedev, president of the enterprise National Reserve Corporation (NRC), on the 13th of November in Berlin. At this events organized by the Centre Russia/Eurasia of the DGAP in cooperation with the Committee on Eastern European Relations, Basic Element and Deutsche Bank the influential Russian entrepreneur Lebedev assessed the current economic situation in Russia. For Mr. Lebedev the financial crisis is a big chance for Russian economy: Suddenly there is a big pressure on the Russian leadership to do necessary reforms and to improve the conditions for sustainable development in areas like finance and production.

The Road Ahead - U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Future Prospects for Transatlantic ...

www.dgap.org — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:30:00 +0000

President-elect Barack Obama will soon and publicly ask German foreign policymakers for concrete offers in the Middle East. Surprisingly, Iraq will not play an important role. Instead, Obama will ask for more German troops in Afghanistan, economic sanctions vis-a-vis Iran, and admission of former Guantanamo Bay inmates. This was the conclusion drawn at a panel discussion at the DGAP on November 18th in front of more than 70 guests. The panel included the US-expert on the Middle East from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, J. Scott Carpenter, the Head of the Near East Division at the German Federal Foreign Office, Boris Ruge, and DGAP Guest Fellow, Zoé Nautré. The event was moderated by the Director of DGAP’s Research Institute, Prof. Dr. Eberhard Sandschneider.

Summer Edition 2008: NATO at a Crossroads

www.dgap.org — Sun, 23 Nov 114679 23:00:00 +0000

The current issue of IP-Global Edition, NATO at a Crossroads, looks at the Atlantic Alliance in the aftermath of the spring summit in Bucharest. Is the nearly 60-year old alliance a European security pact, a global intervention force, a peacekeeping presence, or a US-led coalition of democracies? Should it take on energy security, nation building, cyber warfare, counter-terrorism, or some mixture of these tasks? It is unclear whether the Americans and the Europeans (and the Europeans among themselves) even agree on the nature of the threats they aim to counter, presumably a key prerequisite for a collective security pact. IP-Global Edition takes up these discussions where they were left off in Bucharest.

NATO’s Global Aspirations

www.dgap.org — Sun, 23 Sep 121100 23:00:00 +0000

Bucharest was initially dubbed the “enlargement summit.” But this epithet was soon obsolete, despite the go-ahead for Albania and Croatia to join. Western European opposition to Ukrainian and Georgian membership plans was too strong. Would enlargement necessarily increase NATO’s capacity?

What Obama Did Right

www.dgap.org — Tue, 02 Jul 121309 23:00:00 +0000

Barack Obama hat es geschafft. Nach einem langen, ermüdenden Zweikampf mit Hillary Clinton ist er de facto Präsidentschaftskandidat der Demokraten. Clinton hat im Vorwahlkampf zwar viele Fehler gemacht. Mindestens genauso wichtig für den Erfolg Obamas waren allerdings dessen eigene Leistungen. Dem Herausforderer gelang es, mit seiner Kritik am Irak-Krieg das richtige Thema zu besetzen; er konzentrierte seine Kampagne auf einen entscheidenden Gewinn der Vorwahlen in Iowa und führte den Vorwahlkampf auch in untypischen, kleineren Bundesstaaten; ihm gelang die Mobilisierung einer gewaltigen Anhängerschaft über das Internet, die ihm als eine schier unerschöpfliche Quelle für Wahlkampfspenden diente und die finanzielle Überlegenheit sicherte; schließlich griff er den Wunsch nach Veränderung im Land effektiv durch seine Person und sein Rednertalent auf.

Which model for Europe?

www.dgap.org — Wed, 04 Sep 121557 23:00:00 +0000

Disappointed by the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, both British and German governments are seeking ways to counter stagnation within the EU. What potential—indeed, what political will—exists for a deeper Anglo-German cooperation, and how can this be utilized to push Europe forward? Constructive bilateral relations would undoubtedly promote mutual interests whilst also benefiting multilateral efficiency.

The General Election: What to Look For

www.dgap.org — Thu, 27 May 121627 23:00:00 +0000

After the drama, color, and passion of the primary election campaign, the epic battle between Hillary and Obama and the remarkable comeback of John McCain, even political Washington is catching its collective breath. With the conventions to come in late August—early September, there is just time enough now to catch up on sleep, fund raise like crazy, and prepare for the dash to the finish line in November. This rare political lull strikes me as the perfect time to gauge what we should all be looking for as the general election campaign unwinds.

How to Respond to Russia?

www.dgap.org — Tue, 17 Feb 122004 23:00:00 +0000

Jan Techau explains that, when formulating a response to Russia, the United States and Europe should take into consideration Russia’s fears as well as its sources of power. Techau calls for a “careful dispensing” of further NATO membership, and insists that Europe liberalize its energy markets and tap into new sources of energy in order to check Russia’s energy grip on the continent.

The Wizard of Oz Conventions

www.dgap.org — Sat, 14 Apr 122091 23:00:00 +0000

Like the Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow from the glorious 1939 movie, both Barack Obama and John McCain began their conventions missing something vital. The standard playbook for American presidential elections is that candidates should move to the extremes (the left for the Democrats, the right for the Republicans) during the primaries, before gravitating toward the political center during the general election campaign, in the hopes of winning over the elusive independent voters who traditionally decide the contest.

In Machtlosigkeit vereint/United in Powerlessness

www.dgap.org — Sun, 02 Dec 122181 23:00:00 +0000

In einem Kommentar für Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty beleuchtet Jan Techau die europäischen Aspekte der Georgienkrise. Die Tatsache, dass Europa als ganzem keinerlei kurzfristige Mittel zur Einwirkung auf das russische Verhalten zur Verfügung stehen, ist für Techau bedeutsamer als die Trennung nach „neuem“ und „altem“ Europa. Die Europäer seinen in Ohmacht vereint – und mit ihnen die Amerikaner. Doch weder das zaghafte Aussitzen der Europäer noch der aggressive Wertemissionarismus der Amerikaner gegenüber Russland biete einen Ausweg aus der Ohnmachtsfalle. Nun sei es an der Zeit, auf der Basis der nun klarer werdenden gemeinsamen Interessen eine gemeinsame langfristige Linie gegenüber Russland zu definieren.

Russian ambitions in the energy sphere and the global financial crisis

www.dgap.org — Sun, 30 Nov 122403 23:00:00 +0000

For the time being, the current financial crisis has halted the Russian economic boom. The government is compelled to invest $ 100 billion for the bail-out of the banking system, money that comes from the Kremlin’s foreign-currency reserves totalling $ 600 billion. Currently, capital outflow exceeds the inflow. Having financed their acquisitions with Western money, Russian oligarchs feel the pain too, as credits, due to the liquidity crisis, are not granted anymore. The reform and modernization programme, proposed by Russian president Medvedev earlier this year seems to have been postponed. The state appears to be gaining ground again. If the global price of oil continues to fall, Moscow will not be able to implement the ambitious budget set for 2009. As yet, however, it is too early to issue an obituary to Russia’s economy. Speaking at the “Russia Breakfast” on the implications of the financial crisis for Russian energy policy, Tatiana Mitrova, head of the Centre for International Energy Market Studies at the Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences emphasized that the current condition represents a serious test case for the Russian economic system.

Running on Empty: The US Elections and German-American Relations

www.dgap.org — Sun, 01 Jun 122600 23:00:00 +0000

Change is coming to America. An African-American will be president for the first time in the country’s history, which marks the beginning of a new era. However, it is not merely America that voted for change. Co-publisher of Die Zeit, Josef Joffe, has a point: this was a world election with a world candidate.

12th International Summer School "Regional Leaders, Global Challenges: Issues, Interests ...

www.dgap.org — Fri, 16 Nov 122632 23:00:00 +0000

In a world more and more characterized by multipolar structures, stability is an ever more evasive aim. Political theory tells us that multipolar systems are much less stable than bipolar or hegemonic ones. For the next generation of global political leaders it is paramount to understand how tectonic shifts in our present global order will influence the relative position of their own countries. The shifting parameters of rising powers, trends of regional cooperation and integration will set the stage for an emerging new world order where not only states and markets, but increasingly also transnational networks will play an ever more important role. In this sense, we could address networks in a double perspective: in the real world which we try to shape and understand and also in the world of young leaders who will have to shoulder the bulk of work and responsibility in the years and decades ahead.