AICGS: ANALYSES : The AICGS Advisor

After September 27
In this week's At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes discusses the various hurdles facing each of the German parties as they try to garner support before the September 27 national election, including the increasingly difficult task of predicting unpredictable voters.
To read this essay, please click here.

A Weakening President
Alexander Privitera, news anchor for the German television station N24 and frequent participant in AICGS events, analyzes President Obama's rough summer, writing that the debate is no longer about health care policy, rather his leadership. Privitera elaborates on some of the German concerns that could cause Obama trouble over the next few months, most notably Afghanistan, and argues that Obama could take a few pointers from Merkel in silencing his critics.
To read this essay, please click here.

The Battle for the Bundestag 2009
AICGS is pleased to announce the debut of The Battle for the Bundestag 2009 - AICGS' coverage of the German federal election. We are excited to provide you with this platform for insights into the campaigns, knowledge of the issues, and discussion of the election. Highlighted by The Battle for the Bundestag 2009 blog, we will bring you updates from Berlin and the United States on the run-up to the German election; once the votes are tallied, we will provide additional analysis of the results. Our coverage will focus on those issues most pertinent to the election debate in economic policy, foreign and domestic policy, the view from across the Atlantic, and campaign politics. We encourage you to check back often and welcome your feedback. We are looking forward to a lively exchange on the blog and in the German election campaign!
To access the AICGS election portal, please click here.
To access the AICGS election blog, please click here.

The New Ostpolitik
Stefan Theil, a correspondent for Newsweek and a regular Advisor contributor, along with Owen Matthews, writes about Germany's partnering with its "new best friend" Russia and how the odd relationship is being nurtured by big business deals which reflect the depth of what has become Europe's most powerful new partnership. This article originally appeared in the August 3, 2009, edition of Newsweek.
To read this article, please click here.

Germany at 60 in Europe
Amidst a major anniversary year for Germany, Senior Non-resident Fellow Dr. Jeffrey J. Anderson, Graf Goltz Professor and Director of the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University, examines Germany's changing role in Europe and discusses how Germany's shifting historical memory has impacted foreign policy since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Dr. Anderson argues that there is reason to believe that a more assertive Germany, motivated more openly by national interests but still acting with and through Europe, makes for a more effective and reliable transatlantic partner for the United States.
To read this essay, please click here (PDF).

Postwar Federalism at 60: Showing its Age
Senior Non-Resident Fellow Dr. Wade Jacoby, Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University, writes that something seems to have gone wrong with German federalism, and that exactly what went wrong is the subject of a lot of head scratching. As recent reform efforts have been watered-down and have had far-reaching unintended consequences, Dr. Jacoby argues, it is unclear how federalism will continue to evolve in Germany.
To read this essay, please click here (PDF).

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Successfully Integrating Immigrant Children in Compulsory Education Systems
On August 26, 2009, AICGS will hold a discussion with Dr. Ann Keller-Lally, DAAD/AICGS Fellow, on "Successfully Integrating Immigrant Children in Compulsory Education Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Federal Educational Policy in the United States and Germany." As the U.S. and German labor forces rely heavily on immigration to fill the gaps in their own populations, successful integration of immigrants has become paramount in maintaining a competitive edge in the global economy. This discussion will explore federal educational policies related to immigrant children and the challenges that hinder effective integration of immigrant students, as well as other related topics.
To RSVP and for more information, please click here.

Upcoming Event: The German Elections - A Party System for the Future?
Please save the date - October 5, 2009 - for an AICGS conference on "The German Elections - A Party System for the Future?" This conference will focus on the implications of the German elections and the development of the German party system. Please mark your calendars; the event details will be announced at a later date.

Announcements

DAAD/AICGS Fellowship Opportunities: Deadline Approaching
AICGS is now accepting applications for the DAAD/AICGS Fellowship program, sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Please note the upcoming application deadline: for spring 2010 (January 2010 - June 2010), the deadline is August 31, 2009.
For application instructions and more information, please click here.

Broken Berlin Wall - Art By Tom Block
As AICGS marks the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, artist, writer, and activist Tom Block has generously placed some of his work inspired by the Wall itself on display at the AICGS offices. In his own words, Block is displaying his work at AICGS "to not only honor the reunification of Germany, but also the necessity to examine our own interior walls." Please follow the link below for pictures, or stop by the office to see the artwork in person.
For pictures and additional information, please click here.

2009 AICGS Global Leadership Award Dinner - Change of Date
On November 4, AICGS will present the 2009 Global Leadership Award to Dr. Manfred Bischoff (Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG) and The Hon. James A. Baker, III (61st U.S. Secretary of State). Please note this change of date in your calendar.
For more information about this year's dinner, please click here.

2009 DAAD Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in German Studies
Every year, AICGS awards the DAAD Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in German and European Studies in recognition of exceptional work in one of the Institute's three major areas of research. The central aim of this prize is to foster a new generation of American scholarship on Germany and encourage innovative contributions to the interdisciplinary scope of German Studies. This year's prize carries a stipend of $5,000 and will be awarded in the field of Politics and International Relations; nominations must be received no later than September 8, 2009.
For more information, please click here (PDF).

Fellowship Opportunity: AICGS Visiting Fellows Program
AICGS would like to announce a new fellowship opportunity, the AICGS Visiting Fellows Program. The Visiting Fellows Program is designed to provide scholars and specialists with a base while conducting their research in Washington, D.C. Visiting Fellows should be working on issues related to the AICGS mission, which is to strengthen the German-American relationship in an evolving Europe and changing world. Applications will be accepted year round.
For more information about this program, please click here.

For past issues of the AICGS Advisor, please check the Advisor Archive.