AICGS 25th Anniversary - June 2008, Berlin, Germany

German-American Relations Under the New U.S. Administration
June 3, 2008
Berlin, Germany

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) held a symposium in Berlin, Germany, on June 3, 2008 gathering experts to discuss the implications of the U.S. elections for the German-American relationship. The Honorable Richard Burt (former U.S. Ambassador to Germany), Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman (AICGS), John Kornblum (former U.S. Ambassador to Germany), Mr. Fred H. Langhammer (Esteé Lauder), and Dr. Miranda Schreurs (Freie Universität Berlin) were led in a discussion by moderators Dr. Michael Inacker (WirtschaftsWoche) and Mr. Stefan Kornelius (Süddeutsche Zeitung).

The symposium, supported by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and the AICGS Business & Economics and Foreign & Domestic Policy Programs, opened with a general assessment of the U.S. election campaign. Both candidates, Democratic Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain, have good chances of becoming the next U.S. president. Germany and much of Europe would very much like to see Mr. Obama win, who they perceive as embracing the European approaches to military, economic, and soft power to engage countries such as Iran. However, even under a President Obama the United States will expect more engagement from Europe in the international arena. Regardless of who will become the next U.S. president, the panelists argued that consultations between Europe and the U.S. are necessary to confront security challenges and economic problems and an agreement about burden-sharing and shared challenges is needed.

Polls in Germany and the U.S. reflect a majority of Germans and Americans willing to be engaged in the international system under certain conditions. In addition, polls in the Middle East, while critical of the U.S., record favorable numbers for other Western democracies such as Germany and France. Tapping into the German willingness to be internationally engaged, the Middle East is one region in which Germany could play an important role, especially as the Federal Republic is regarded as an honest and well-liked broker by all parties. Russia will also have to be taken into account if Europe and the United States want to successfully confront issues in the broader Middle East.

While foreign policy has played a prominent role in the election campaign so far, the discussants expected that economic policy will come to the forefront closer to Election Day. Domestic economic policies will play a role in the election along with economic competition with Asia, notably China. Europe and the United States will have to agree on a common strategy to engage China in international institutions; problems such as climate change cannot be solved without the Asian states. A greater dialogue between the U.S., Germany, and Europe is especially likely regarding climate policies. Both presidential candidates have signaled an interest in implementing a cap and trade system in the U.S. and bills to that effect have already been introduced in Congress. Yet, complete overlap of German and American interests and policies on climate change will also not be likely, arguing again for an ongoing German-American dialogue on this important international challenge.

The panel concluded that Germany and the United States will have to cooperate under the new U.S. president in all areas ranging from security to economics and environmental policies to achieve solutions. Intelligent burden-sharing between Germany and the United States is therefore essential.

Audio from the June 3 Symposium

Click here to view pictures from the symposium.

AICGS would like to thank the Bertelsmann Stiftung, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, and Deutsche Lufthansa AG for their generous support of the event. This event is also supported by the AICGS Business & Economics Program and Foreign & Domestic Policy Program.