The CDU – Finally! – Will Choose Its New Leader
But Will the Winner Make Way for Markus Söder as Chancellor Candidate? The slow-motion departure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel enters a new phase this weekend, as her Christian Democratic …
Germany: A Different Kind of Democratic Dysfunctionality
Much recent discussion of the crisis of liberal democracy has focused on polarization. Polarization is widely – and rightly – seen as a threat to democracy. “If one thing is …
The 2021 Bundestag Election Year
One of the most consequential German elections in memory will take place on September 26, 2021, when a new Bundestag, a new coalition government, and a new chancellor will be …
Episode 35: The Christian Democratic Union after Merkel: The Race for CDU Chairmanship and the 2021 Federal Election
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not stand for re-election when voters go to the polls on September 26, 2021. Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is one of the most successful …
Jeff Rathke on Obama’s Views of Relationships with Key EU Partners
AICGS President Jeff Rathke joined Deutsche Welle’s The Day with Brent Goff to discuss excerpts from President Barack Obama’s recently published memoir, in which Obama discusses the United States’ as …
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Seeing the Green Light
What to Expect from the German Green Party on Foreign and Security Policy in 2021 and Beyond Despite not being one of their original core topics, the German Greens are …
Bundestag Elections 2021
No Government Without the Greens? After a sobering result in the 2017 elections, the current rise of the Green Party gives reason to expect government participation in 2021. The former …
The 2020 U.S. Elections: Initial Reactions
With the 2020 U.S. presidential election now called for Joe Biden, the world has witnessed the inner strength of a democratic system: the ability to self-correct, alter course, and peacefully …
Jeff Rathke on the Biden Administration’s Approach to Europe
Looking at how a new Biden administration will approach Europe, AICGS President Jeff Rathke is cautious, telling Handelsblatt (in German) that domestic concerns will supersede foreign relations, especially when politically …
AICGS Asks: What to Expect from the Biden Administration?
AICGS asks: What are the one or two most important areas of economic, trade, financial, technology, public health, or climate policy where there is the greatest need for German-American or …
Allies’ Reactions to the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
AICGS will be compiling German and European leaders’ reactions to the U.S. election. This post will be updated. Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany, CDU November 7: Merkel released an official …
Election Observations from Germany
An Election Day that leaves many of us perplexed. Four observations: First: There is a lot of talk again about European autonomy and strategic sovereignty of the Europeans. Only, I …
What Happens to America’s Transatlantic Relations after the U.S. Elections?
Until the election of Donald Trump in 2016 transatlantic relations were undergoing a steady shift in focus. As the European Union grew from an embryonic six-nation grouping in 1957 into …
Jeff Rathke on Transatlantic Relations after the U.S. Election
Asked how transatlantic relations should look after the U.S. presidential election, AICGS President Jeff Rathke tells Handelsblatt (in German) that Washington should prioritize shared interests where the U.S. and its …
