Society, Culture & Politics Program
Enhances understanding of the impact of culture on German- American relations and analyzes how cultural beliefs and values, evolving interpretations of historical experiences, and shifting conceptions of national identity shape perspectives and policy responses in the German-American dialogue. The Society, Culture & Politics Program is currently focused on issues of Immigration and Integration, considering the subject as it relates to education, organization, and technology. Under the topic of Reconciliation in Europe and Asia, AICGS looks to Germany for lessons for Japan’s international reconciliation in Northeast Asia.
A Century and a Half of the Social Democratic Party in Germany
The 150th anniversary of the Social Democratic Party was marked this week by a gathering of SPD leadership in Leipzig. Germany’s oldest political party reflected on its roots as a movement that began with a commitment reflected in the name of the SPD’s first formation in 1863: the Allgemeinen Deutschen Arbeiterverein (General… Read more >
Wait and See
Europeans are looking at September 22nd as the day that could finally deliver some badly needed change to the continent. This is not to say that many Germany watchers expect Angela Merkel to loose power. However, there is widespread belief that if Merkel is confirmed at the helm of Germany for a… Read more >
The Official German Commitment to Fighting Anti-Semitism
Budapest On May 6, 2013, in a major speech to the World Jewish Congress in Budapest, German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle continued an official German tradition. Like German foreign ministers and chancellors before him, he enunciated the five golden rules of Germany’s postwar commitment to Jews: acknowledgement of the breadth and depth… Read more >
Knocking on Germany’s Door
There may be a lot of grumbling in parts of Europe about German arrogance in dealing with the euro crisis, but it has not interfered with record numbers of people immigrating to Germany. Last year that number totaled more than a million new immigrants (Statistisches Bundesamt), a wave not seen in over… Read more >
At Issue Interview: Reinhard Buetikofer
In this latest installment of the AICGS At Issue Interview Series, AICGS President Jack Janes sat down with Green Party member Reinhard Buetikofer to discuss the state of the Green Party as it prepares for Germany’s general election in September. Which domestic and European-wide issues could play a major role for all… Read more >
Renewing the Green Agenda
The Green Party in Germany geared up for the battle for Berlin this past weekend at their party conference. With the elections now less than five months away, the party is betting its chances on both its own platform and a commitment to form a government with the Social Democrats if the… Read more >
Germany, not Japan, as Essential Partner of the United States
This recent essay from Harry & Helen Gray Senior Fellow Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman explores the ever-evolving German-American relationship in the context of the U.S.’ proposed “pivot” toward Asia under the current Obama administration. While many believe that Japan will become America’s key ally as it attempts to hedge against a rising… Read more >
A Discussion with Dr. Gale Mattox and Dr. Kuniko Ashizawa
In this latest installment of the At Issue Interview Series, AICGS President Jack Janes sat down with Dr. Gale Mattox, Senior Visiting Fellow of the AICGS Foreign & Domestic Policy Program, and Dr. Kuniko Ashizawa, Visiting Fellow at the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, to discuss the… Read more >
At Issue Interview: Dr. Slawomir Debski
In this AICGS At Issue Interview, Senior Fellow Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman sat down with Dr. Slawomir Debski, Director of the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding, to discuss the parameters of Polish-Russian Reconciliation. Dr. Debski discusses the actions and initiatives currently being undertaken in Polish-Russian reconciliation, as well as how his… Read more >
Germany’s Alternatives
There is a new metric in Germany to measure its “normalization.” Just like many of its neighbors, Germany now has a political movement forming as a backlash against the euro. The “Alternative for Germany” group is preparing itself for the next elections in September and its timing may be quite prescient. The… Read more >
