15th Annual Foreign Policy Conference
On the way toward greater responsibility?
Lessons from a century of extremes for the future of German Foreign Policy
Date and location
Thursday, June 19, 2014, public event, 5:00 to 7:30 pm
Heinrich Böll Foundation, Schumannstrasse 8, D-10117 Berlin
Background
The crisis in Ukraine is confronting German foreign policy with one of its greatest challenges in recent decades. Almost exactly 25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain put an end to a policy of confrontation and threat, the achievements of a European order of peace, based on non-violence and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, are in danger.Earlier this year, German President Gauck, Foreign Minister Steinmeier and Defense Minister von der Leyen each advocated a more decisive German foreign and security policy commitment. Those calls for Germany to bear greater international responsibility are now being put to an unexpected stress test.
The debate on the possibilities and limits of German foreign policy cannot be divorced from the context of history. In 2014, Europe is commemorating a century of wars and revolutions. The conclusions to be drawn for our present actions are controversial, however, as can be seen currently with regard to Ukraine. This raises the question of how far policy can rely on historical experiences and the lessons that history has in store for us.
Together with our international guests, we will be discussing whether German foreign policy is ready to respond appropriately to current challenges. What exactly does more “international responsibility” for Germany mean? Will it be necessary for Germany and Europe to redefine its policy toward Russia? What options are available between the poles of conflict and cooperation? Can Germany provide the impetus for a reset of the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood Policy and for a common European foreign and security policy? The annual conference will also cover the impact of the new East-West conflict in Europe on the future of transatlantic relations. Must we “emancipate ourselves from the United States”, as Egon Bahr put it, or will we have to work toward reviving the Western community of values in response to the new fault lines in the international order? In particular, we would like to explore how Germany could take greater responsibility for a renewal of transatlantic security and cooperation in concrete terms.
Agenda June 19, 2014 – public opening event
5:00 pm Welcome and introduction
Ralf Fücks, President, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin
5:15 pm Lessons from a century of extremes: what does international responsibility mean for Germany?
Keynote
Prof. Heinrich August Winkler, Professor Emeritus of Modern History, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Discussion
Dr. François Heisbourg, Special Advisor, Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS),Paris
Cem Özdemir, MP, Chairperson, Alliance 90/The Greens, Berlin
Cathryn Cluever, Executive Director, Future of Diplomacy Project, John F.Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge
Beata Pęksa, Plenipotentiary for the Eastern Partnership, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Warsaw
Prof. Heinrich August Winkler, Professor Emeritus of Modern History, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Chair:
Ralf Fücks, President, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin
7:30 pm Informal conclusion