BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//American Council On Germany - ECPv6.15.16.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:American Council On Germany
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.acgusa.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for American Council On Germany
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250326T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250326T130000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250319T195224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250319T195224Z
UID:10001092-1742990400-1742994000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Rising Above or Lagging Behind? Inequality in Higher Education
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As part of the Transatlantic Tandem Talks\, join the ACG\, University of Cologne NY Office\, DAAD North America\, DWIH NY\, & partners for a discussion with experts from both sides of the Atlantic as they compare the higher education systems in the U.S. and Germany\, analyze the current state of inequality in higher education\, and explore its causes\, consequences\, and potential pathways toward greater equity. Speakers include Prof. Dr. Claudia Buchmann\, College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor in Sociology at The Ohio State University and Prof. Dr. Marita Jacob\, Professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Management\, Economics and Social Sciences (WiSo) at the University of Cologne; and moderated by Peter R. Kerrigan\, Deputy Director of the German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) Regional Office in New York office[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Frising-above-or-lagging-behind-inequality-in-higher-education-registration-1224986550749%3Faff%3Doddtdtcreator%26mc_cid%3D1bd68617c8%26mc_eid%3D0cb490be7a”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prof. Dr. Claudia Buchmann is a College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor in Sociology at The Ohio State University. She is internationally known for her research on gender inequalities in education\, with a focus on how women have come to attain more education than men in much of the world today. Her award-winning book The Rise of Women: The Growing Gender Gap in Education and What it Means for American Schools (2013\, Russell Sage Foundation). Her prior research includes cross-national and comparative studies of the impact of economic policies and educational systems on educational outcomes and social well-being as well as case studies of stratification and mobility in Africa. A theme uniting her varied research projects is a concern for the intersection of institutional factors with family- and individual-level processes in determining social inequalities. Dr. Buchmann’s influential scholarship has been published in many top journals and has received widespread attention from the academic community and the news media\, including The New York Times\, Washington Post\, National Public Radio\, and the BBC. She is a recipient of the Joan N. Huber Faculty Fellowship\, and her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health\, the Spencer Foundation\, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. She has served as deputy editor of the American Sociological Review and on the editorial boards of Sociology of Education and Research in Social Stratification and Mobility. More recently\, she served on the Wissenschaft Zentrum Berlin (WZB) advisory board in Germany and on the International Sociological Association’s Research Committee on Social Stratification (RC28). Dr. Buchmann is an advisory board member of the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi)\, Germany. Buchmann received her BA in German from the University of Wisconsin and her PhD in Sociology and African Studies from Indiana University. \nProf. Dr. Marita Jacob is a Professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Management\, Economics\, and Social Sciences (WiSo) at the University of Cologne and is actively involved in the WiSo-Key Research Initiative Demography and Social Inequality. Additionally\, she serves as the Faculty’s Vice Dean for Academic Careers. After her studies in social sciences\, mathematics\, and economics\, she worked as a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and received her PhD at the Free University of Berlin. She then continued as a Postdoc at the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg. Before joining the University of Cologne\, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Mannheim. Her research focuses on social inequalities in education\, employment\, and family dynamics. She is particularly interested in how factors such as family background\, gender\, and ethnic origin influence educational decisions\, with a recent emphasis on strategies to mitigate social inequalities in higher education. Her work also explores the relationship between gender equality in the labor market and family dynamics. In her latest research on enrollment disparities\, she examined how intensive counseling can help reduce social inequalities in enrollment\, specifically among native and immigrant students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. She also investigated the role of gendered risk and return preferences and gender differences in the choice of academic majors in higher education. \nPeter R. Kerrigan (moderator) is the Deputy Director of the German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) Regional Office in the New York office and is the Director of Marketing and Outreach for DAAD in North America. He is responsible for all areas of marketing German higher education and research and DAAD’s scholarship programs in the U.S. and Canada. Peter served as Vice President of Membership Development and Services at The Forum on Education Abroad; Assistant Director of the Higher Education Resource Group at the Institute of International Education (IIE); and Senior Program Coordinator in the Work Abroad Division of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Peter is an active speaker in the field of international education and has presented at conferences and workshops around the world. He has served in various volunteer governance positions for the European Association for International Education (EAIE)\, NAFSA: Association of International Educators\, and The Forum on Education Abroad. He is helping EAIE restructure its mentorship program and serves as the Chair of EAIE’s Social Responsibility Thematic Committee. Peter helped found and grow the Rainbow Scholarship at the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA). This scholarship enables financially disadvantaged LGBTQI students to study abroad.  In September 2016\, Peter received EAIE’s Transatlantic Leadership Award. Peter was awarded an M.A. in Political Science by the Freie Universität\, Berlin\, Germany\, and a B.A. in Political Science and German by Bates College\, Maine\, USA.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/rising-above-or-lagging-behind-inequality-in-higher-education/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250327T151551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T151551Z
UID:10001095-1743073200-1743076800@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Hot Topics\, Cold Realities: The Green Energy Transition – Dead in its Tracks?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources has been unfolding over decades. While the idea of sustainable energy emerged in the 20th century\, it accelerated in the new millennium\, driven by rising environmental concerns\, growing awareness of climate change\, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under President Biden and his signature climate legislation and the European Green Deal aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050\, the global momentum for a green transition gained significant momentum. \nHowever\, the war in Ukraine and new governments in the United States and Germany have ushered in a political shift from clean energy to more secure and affordable energy sources. President Trump’s push to “Drill Baby\, Drill” and the priorities of Germany’s incoming Chancellor Merz on defense capabilities over climate concerns in a new geopolitical era\, raise questions about the future of the green energy transition. \nJoin 1014 and the ACG on March 27 to discuss this development with Cameron Abadi\, Deputy Editor at Foreign Policy and Co-Host of FP’s Ones and Tooze podcast\, and Dr. Kira Vinke\, Head of Center for Climate and Foreign Policy at the German Council on Foreign Relations.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2FWN_uq23Zi30QkOvpwfwh3oe6Q” css=”.vc_custom_1743088520214{background-color: #1e73be !important;}”][vc_column_text]Cameron Abadi is a deputy editor at Foreign Policy and co-host of FP’s Ones and Tooze podcast. He previously worked at the New Republic and Foreign Affairs and as a correspondent in Germany and Iran. His writing has appeared in Bloomberg Businessweek\, the New Yorker\, the New Republic\, and Der Spiegel. \nDr. Kira Vinke is head of the Center for Climate and Foreign Policy at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). She is also a member of the Advisory Board to the Federal Government for Civilian Crisis Prevention and Peacebuilding\, which she co-chaired from 2018 to January 2025. From 2014-2022\, she worked at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Before joining DGAP\, she headed the East Africa Peru India Climate Capacities (EPICC) project there. \nShe completed her doctoral dissertation (summa cum laude) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on the subject of climate change and migration; her studies were funded by the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/hot-topics-cold-realities-the-green-energy-transition-dead-in-its-tracks/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250331T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250331T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250327T195814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T195814Z
UID:10001102-1743411600-1743415200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Germany on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, March 31\, at 9:00 a.m. ET for a Kaffeepause with ACG Fellowship alumna Miriam Hollstein\, Chief Political Reporter for Stern[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F8717431054416%2FWN_7YHdqtXQSGSWsxWdN656DA” css=”.vc_custom_1743105471338{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Miriam Hollstein serves as the Chief Political Reporter for Stern. Before this\, she was the Chief Report from January 2022 to Septepmber 23 atT-Online in Berlin. Prior to this position\, she served as the Chief Political Reporter for FUNKE Zentralredaktion from November 2020 to December 2021. She wrote for the Berliner Zeitung while still a student and worked as an editor for Internationale Politik. She worked as a foreign reporter for the Welt am Sonntag\, and from 2006-2014 was a WELT-Gruppe’s domestic policy editor and reporter. From 2015 to 2020\, she worked for the Bild am Sonntag\, first as a domestic policy and then from 2018 as chief reporter of politics. Her reporting brought her into regular contact with the office of the German Chancellor. Since March 2020\, she has worked as a freelance writer and moderator. \nIn 2009\, she published the first graphic biography of Angela Merkel\, entitled “Miss Tschörmanie\,” together with illustrator Heiko Sakurai. She appears regularly on the German news program “Phoenix\,” where she speaks on political and societal issues. She regularly travels internationally for reporting assignments. In addition\, she was a 2005 Marshall Memorial Fellow\, a 2008 ACG McCloy Fellow\, and was recognized in 2015 by the DEFA Stiftung (German Film Corporation Foundation) for her contribution to preserving German film heritage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-116/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250402T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250402T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250327T151901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T151901Z
UID:10001096-1743591600-1743595200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Istanbul’s Political Crisis: Implications of Ekrem İmamoğlu’s Arrest
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On March 23\, 2025\, Ekrem İmamoğlu\, the Mayor of Istanbul and the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan\, was jailed. İmamoğlu had been awaiting trial on corruption charges\, which sparked the largest protests in Turkey in over a decade. Many view these charges as politically motivated. In response\, İmamoğlu’s party – the Republican People’s Party (CHP) – voted to nominate him as their candidate for the 2028 presidential election. Meanwhile\, Germany\, home to an estimated three million people of Turkish heritage\, condemned İmamoğlu’s arrest as “totally unacceptable.” \nGiven Turkey’s crucial role in European security\, migration\, and regional stability\, İmamoğlu’s arrest sent shockwaves through Europe and beyond. What does this mean for Turkey’s relations with Germany and the broader European Union? How might this affect Europe’s foreign policy moving forward? \nJoin us on April 2 for a virtual discussion with Turkey expert Dr. Sinem Adar from the Center for Applied Turkey Studies at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). We will delve into these questions\, explore the circumstances surrounding İmamoğlu’s detention and arrest\, and examine the broader implications for Turkish democracy.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F5817430886430%2FWN_rjoeemeEQ2uJeAi9ovD1Mw” css=”.vc_custom_1743088705010{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Dr. Sinem Adar is with the Center for Applied Turkey Studies of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). She focuses on Turkish domestic politics and foreign policy\, and EU-Turkey relations. Before joining SWP\, Dr. Adar was an Einstein Fellow at Humboldt University. She holds a Doctorate degree in Sociology from Brown University and a Master of Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/istanbuls-political-crisis-implications-of-ekrem-imamoglus-arrest/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250407T171534Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T171534Z
UID:10001105-1744282800-1744286400@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Hot Topics/ Cold Realities: Politics\, Constitutions\, and the Law
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“He who saves his country does not violate any law\,” President Donald Trump posted last month on social media. Since the new administration in the United States took office on January 20\, many legal scholars have raised concerns over an extensive use of executive power\, disregard of judicial orders\, and erosion of checks and balances. This has led to questions about the role of the executive branch in shaping national policy – and whether such actions undermine the Constitution’s principles of separation of powers. \nIn Germany\, the outgoing parliament passed amendments to the constitution which allow for deficit spending and the loosening of the so-called constitutional debt-brake\, a move that is now under scrutiny in the courts. In other European countries\, various policies have been introduced that challenge the rule of law\, undermining judicial independence and consolidating political power. \nJoin 1014 and the American Council on Germany to discuss the current trends of executive power\, judicial oversight\, and constitutional integrity in both the United States and Europe with experts on constitutional law and comparative law Prof. Franz Mayer from the University of Bielefeld\, and Prof. Russel Miller from Washington and Lee University\, Virginia. The conversation will explore the implications of recent legal and political developments and their impact on democratic governance across the Atlantic.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F6717440367356%2FWN__32droqySbaFPlaB1YfQDg” css=”.vc_custom_1744046099256{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Prof. Franz Mayer holds the Chair in Public Law\, European Law\, Public International Law\, Comparative Law and Law and Politics at the University of Bielefeld (Law Faculty). He studied Law\, Political Science and History at the Universities of Bonn and Munich\, at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po) and at Yale Law School. Visiting researcher Harvard Law School 2000; annual Visiting lecturer University of Warsaw since 2000; Visiting professor at Paris 1 (Panthéon-Sorbonne) 2007 and at Paris 2 (Panthéon-Assas) 2010; General Course Academy of European Law\, European University Institute\, Florence\, 2011; Senior Emile Noël Fellow\, NYU School of Law 2011; Visiting professor of Law at Columbia Law School Winter term 2012/2013; Short Term International Visiting Professor of Law at Columbia Law School Fall term 2024 (non-resident). \nProfessor Mayer was Counsel in proceedings at the German Constitutional Court to the German Parliament in the Treaty of Lisbon-trial in 2008-2009 and in the first case related to the Euro-crisis\, the case on the Euro stabilization mechanism 2010-2012\, his most recent case for the German Parliament was the Next Generation EU-case on the €800 billion temporary recovery instrument (2021-2022). He was Counsel at the German Constitutional Court to the German government in the CETA case (2016-2022) and in the case on the Unified European Patent Court (2017-2020). His most recent case for the German government concerns the constitutionality of the new EP election law (2023-2024). In 2023\, he was part of a Franco-German Group of 12 experts invited by the German and the French minister for Europe to write a report on institutional reform of the EU. \nHis teaching and research interests focus on European constitutional and administrative law\, on comparative law\, on the relationship between European law and politics\, on parliaments in times of globalization\, on internet law\, sports law (European soccer law) and more generally on international law and public law. Since 2016\, he has been a member of the German Football Association’s Federal Court (DFB Bundesgericht)\, ethics chamber. He has dual French and German citizenship and lives in Berlin with his family. \nProfessor Russell Miller joined the Washington and Lee law faculty in 2008. His teaching and scholarly research focuses on public law subjects (Constitutional Law\, Administrative Law\, International Law)\, Comparative Law Theory and Methods\, and German Law and Legal Culture. Previously\, he taught at the University of Idaho College of Law. He often has been a guest professor in Germany. Alongside his work at the School of Law\, Professor Miller has a joint-appointment as Lecturer in Literature in Washington and Lee University’s undergraduate College. In that position he works extensively with colleagues and students in W&L’s German and Russian Department. Professor Miller\, a recognized expert in German Law and Legal Culture\, is the author/editor of a number of books in the fields of comparative law and international law. \nProfessor Miller is the co-founder and Co-Editor in Chief of the German Law Journal\, an on-line\, English-language journal reporting on developments in German\, European and International jurisprudence. Now in its second decade\, the German Law Journal is one of the most successful and innovative fora for legal scholarship from a transnational perspective. \nProfessor Miller has been recognized for his work on German law and transatlantic affairs. In 2013\, Professor Miller was named a KoRSE Fellow at the University of Freiburg. Professor Miller was a 2009/2010 Fulbright Senior Research Fellow in residence at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and Public International Law in Heidelberg\, Germany.  In 1999/2000\, Professor Miller was a Robert Bosch Foundation Fellow and\, during that program\, he participated in internship and clerkship experiences at the German Federal Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. In appreciation for his work on behalf of the Bosch Fellowship and German-American relations\, Professor Miller was recognized as the Bosch Alumni of the Year in 2012. \nProfessor Miller served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert H. Whaley of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.  For four years prior to becoming a professor\, Miller served as appellate and post-conviction counsel for indigent\, death-sentenced inmates in the state and federal courts of Arizona and Tennessee. Professor Miller is admitted to the Arizona State Bar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/hot-topics-cold-realities-politics-constitutions-and-the-law/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250414T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250414T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250410T174448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T174448Z
UID:10001109-1744621200-1744624800@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Germany on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on April 14 at 9:00 am ET for a Kaffeepause with Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger\, former Foreign Editor at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung\, and Nadine Lindner\, Correspondent with Deutschlandradio. They will discuss the German government coalition agreement and provide insights into the new cabinet selections.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F5217443069115%2FWN_qBrFDvWITUSKiWAstsvUkQ” css=”.vc_custom_1744306980856{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger was the Foreign Editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. His writings deal especially with the United States\, European\, transatlantic\, and international politics. He holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science\, Economics\, and American Studies from Frankfurt University. He joined the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung\, Germany’s leading national daily\, in 1986\, and served in various capacities\, as European\, International\, and Editorial Page Editor. Mr. Frankenberger was a Member of the Trilateral Commission and of the Scientific Council of the Institute for European Politics in Berlin. He also served on the Advisory Board of the Federal Academy for Security Policy in Berlin and is associated with several organizations that deal with the transatlantic relationship. \nNadine Lindner has been a Correspondent in the Berlin studio of “Deutschlandradio” since early 2016 and is responsible\, among other things\, for covering the AfD and transport policy. Before that\, she was a Correspondent in the Free State of Saxony for two and a half years and followed the rise of Pegida there. She studied Political Science\, Journalism\, and African Studies in Leipzig and discovered her enthusiasm for radio there at the training station “mephisto 97.6.” After graduating from university\, she worked as a freelance journalist for “MDR sputnik” and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as well as Deutschlandradio.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-117/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250411T144850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250411T144850Z
UID:10001110-1744887600-1744891200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Germany Prepares for a Post-America Deterrence Future
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After weeks of negotiations\, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats have presented a coalition agreement to form a new government. In the 144-page document\, the parties have pledged to ramp up defense spending and enhance national security readiness. This renewed focus on defense comes at a time of mounting geopolitical tension and increasing uncertainty surrounding the transatlantic alliance – especially as the prospect of a diminished U.S. nuclear presence in Europe raises urgent questions about the future of the continent’s security architecture. \nFor decades\, Germany has operated under the protection of the U.S. nuclear umbrella. But\, with growing doubts over the reliability of Washington’s extended deterrence commitments\, Germany now faces a pivotal strategic crossroads. While France and the United Kingdom remain nuclear allies\, the absence of U.S. leadership in Europe’s nuclear deterrence posture would mark a profound shift. The incoming German government appears increasingly concerned – and is preparing for a strategic recalibration of its nuclear defense policy. \nJoin the American Council on Germany for a discussion with security expert Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp\, Associate Fellow in the German Council on Foreign Relations’ (DGAP) Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe\, Russia\, and Central Asia\, to explore this critical moment\, the future of nuclear deterrence in Europe\, and Germany’s evolving role in a changing security landscape.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F7717443828082%2FWN_63gZ7RxWRke5avAax0G8Qw” css=”.vc_custom_1744382859121{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp has been an Associate Fellow in DGAP’s Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe\, Russia\, and Central Asia since October 2023. He holds a lectureship at the University Roma Tre in Rome and was the political director’s representative at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defense until 2023. Prior to that\, he was president of the Federal Academy for Security Policy in Berlin. \nFrom 2007 to 2013\, Kamp was director of research at the NATO Defense College in Rome. Previously\, he held various positions at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bonn and Berlin as well as in the planning staff of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/germany-prepares-for-a-post-america-deterrence-future/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250505T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250505T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250429T213903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250429T213903Z
UID:10001112-1746435600-1746439200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on May 5 at 9:00 am ET for a Kaffeepause with Nette Nöstlinger\, Political Reporter for Politico Europe.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F7717459625698%2FWN_c41JRE6DQBmKbWiVLl2kRQ” css=”.vc_custom_1745962708689{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Nette Nöstlinger is a Politics Reporter for Politico Europe in Berlin\, where she keeps an eye on all things relevant to an international audience interested in the EU’s biggest economy. Her coverage has ranged from the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to Germany’s fiscal and military U-turn in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She was trained at Reuters with stints in Berlin\, Frankfurt\, and Brussels. She grew up in Antwerp with a Belgian father and an Austrian mother.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-118/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250519T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250519T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250516T131057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T125737Z
UID:10001118-1747645200-1747648800@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on May 19 at 9:00 am ET for a Kaffeepause with Malte Lehming\, Columnist for Tagesspiegel.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F1617474009036%2FWN_fj0bbhUqQMyZxKk5kMFi1Q” css=”.vc_custom_1747400961876{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Malte Lehming works as a columnist for the Tagesspiegel. From late 2000 to 2005\, he was the newspaper’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the Tagesspiegel in 1991 as foreign policy editor — focusing on security policy\, transatlantic relations\, and the Middle East. From 1989 to 1991\, he worked as a personal assistant and speechwriter for former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. Mr. Lehming studied philosophy\, German literature\, and European history in Hamburg.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-119/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250527T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250527T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250521T141013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T141013Z
UID:10001121-1748336400-1748340000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \n\nThe ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on May 27 at 9:00 am ET for a Tuesday edition of our Kaffeepause with Nette Nöstlinger\, Political Reporter for Politico Europe.\n[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F2917478365450%2FWN_FESxeYo8T2-EeAnmRfSrKA” css=”.vc_custom_1747836574215{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Nette Nöstlinger is a Politics Reporter for Politico Europe in Berlin\, where she keeps an eye on all things relevant to an international audience interested in the EU’s biggest economy. Her coverage has ranged from the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to Germany’s fiscal and military U-turn in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She was trained at Reuters with stints in Berlin\, Frankfurt\, and Brussels. She grew up in Antwerp with a Belgian father and an Austrian mother.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-120/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250606T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250606T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250602T155306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T155306Z
UID:10001124-1749207600-1749211200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Washington?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. This Thursday\, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make his first trip to the United States as Chancellor to meet with President Trump. Join us the following morning for a special edition Kaffeepause as we reflect on their meeting with Deutsche Welle’s Washington Bureau Chief Ines Pohl.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F8017488794684%2FWN_rA1fFgDER9efA57bAEmjXA” css=”.vc_custom_1748879571759{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ines Pohl is the Washington Bureau Chief for Deutsche Welle. She served as the Editor in Chief of Deutsche Welle from 2017-2020. During her three-year tenure\, she focused on increasing DW’s social media presence and the exclusive content of all 30 language services. She joined DW in 2015 as a correspondent in the Washington Bureau. As a journalist\, she is particularly interested in questions of democratic legitimacy and transition and is passionate about human rights and the role of democratic structures in developing countries. Ms. Pohl strongly advocates using social media to enhance the connection between audiences and journalists in the digital age. \nShe was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2005\, where she spent the year focused on immigration and the impact of religion and leadership. She currently serves on the board of trustees for Reporters without Borders and Youth Against AIDS. From 2009-2015\, Ms. Pohl was the editor-in-chief of Die Tageszeitung “taz\,” a national daily German newspaper\, where she launched a new weekend edition and restructured www.taz.de\, now one of Germany’s popular news sites.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-washington/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250609T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250609T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250608T220330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250608T220330Z
UID:10001128-1749466800-1749470400@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, June 9 at 11:00 am ET for a Kaffeepause with Paul-Anton Krüger\, Editor for Der Spiegel.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F6817494199075%2FWN_Jgrl_82MSbCJsTwgbJUyUg” css=”.vc_custom_1749420169723{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Paul-Anton Krüger has been an Editor at SPIEGEL’s capital city office since January 2025. He was the Parliamentary Correspondent in the Berlin Bureau of the Süddeutsche Zeitung from September 2021 to December 2024. He previously reported on political affairs and served as Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Department\, focusing on the Middle East and international security for three years. Before that\, he spent four years in Cairo as a correspondent covering large parts of the Arab world and Iran. \nAfter graduating from the Alte Landesschule in Korbach\, he studied journalism in Berlin and Munich. In August 2005\, he joined the Süddeutsche Zeitung as a volunteer\, worked as an editor from 2008\, and as head of the foreign policy department from 2011. In the fall of 2007\, Mr. Krüger was a guest editor at the Chicago Tribune as part of the Arthur F. Burns Fellowship\, the German-American journalism scholarship of the International Journalism Programs e.V.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-121/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250618T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250618T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250605T200954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250609T134158Z
UID:10001127-1750244400-1750248000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Hot Topics / Cold Realities: Sovereign Debt Crisis - U.S. Out\, Germany In?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the United States\, the Trump administration is moving forward with a sweeping fiscal initiative – the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Introduced as fulfilling a campaign promise to rein in the national debt\, critics worry that the bill would instead add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Meanwhile\, in Germany\, Chancellor Merz has pushed through a landmark €500 billion public lending package in a dramatic departure from Germany’s strict fiscal tradition – even rewriting its constitutional debt rule – to revive its economy and military strength. \nJoin the American Council on Germany and 1014 for an insightful discussion with ACG Board Member Tara Hariharan\, Managing Director of Global Macro Research at NWI Management\, and Prof. Dr. Michael Hüther\, Director and Member of the Executive Committee of the German Economic Institute\, to explore how sovereign debt can serve as a valuable tool for financing government expenditures and necessary investments\, while also examining the risks of allowing debt to reach unsustainable levels.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” css=”.vc_custom_1749154157480{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F1417491541124%2FWN_bPj676qzTseqqv82xzcYNQ”][vc_column_text]Tara Hariharan is Managing Director of Global Macro Research and Head of Macro Research at NWI Management LP\, a New York-based global macro hedge fund. She appears on CNBC and Bloomberg Television as an expert on China and emerging markets\, and regularly presents her assessments of China’s economy and U.S.-China relations to senior U.S. and international policymakers. She was named one of New York’s “40 Under 40” top business professionals by Crains New York Business in 2024.  \nMs. Hariharan is a board member of the American Council on Germany (ACG) and the German Marshall Fund of the United States\, and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations She was a 2014 German Marshall Fund Marshall Memorial fellow\, a 2016 ACG young leader\, 2022 Economic Club of New York fellow and 2023 Millennium Leadership fellow at the Atlantic Council.  She is also a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Economists’ Committee. Elected to the Inter-American Dialogue in 2021\, she regularly contributes to its publications on trade flows and China’s influence on Latin America. Ms. Hariharan holds a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in anthropology from Princeton University and a graduate certificate in international relations from Harvard Extension School. \nProf. Dr. Michael Hüther has served as Director and Member of the Executive Committee of the German Economic Institute since 2004. He has previously worked in a number of important positions in research\, teaching\, and banking\, including at Stanford University\, the German Council of Economic Advisers\, and DekaBank. Since 2001 he has held the Honorary Professorship for Economics at the European Business School. He is also a member of the EU Commission‘s Refit Platform\, which advises the Commission on the efficient\, effective and practical implementation of EU legislation. He has a Ph.D. in Economics and History from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the President of the Republic.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/hot-topics-cold-realities-sovereign-debt-crisis-u-s-out-germany-in/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250721T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250721T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250716T162806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T162852Z
UID:10001133-1753095600-1753099200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:A Crisis for the Governing Coalition? The Case of Prof. Brosius-Gersdorf and Her Judicial Appointment
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Late last week the German Parliament (Bundestag) postponed a vote that would have decided on the empanelment of three new justices at the country’s powerful Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht). The delay – likely lasting the duration of the government’s summer holiday – was triggered when members of the Union Parties signaled their late-emerging opposition to University of Potsdam Professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf\, who had been nominated to the Court by the SPD. Brosius-Gersdorf’s chances looked imperiled because the Union-SPD coalition would have to vote together – and count on support from other parties – to secure the two-thirds majority needed to confirm a justice at the Constitutional Court. These judicial machinations matter for the traditions of collegiality\, consensus\, and neutrality that have long legitimized the work of the Constitutional Court. But they also have political ramifications because they suggest a lack of unity\, compromise\, and commitment in Chancellor Fredrich Merz’s freshly-minted governing coalition. What caused this judicial appointments crisis? And what does it mean for the broader political picture in Germany? \nJoin the ACG for a virtual discussion with German law experts Prof. Russell Miller\, J.B. Stombock Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University\, and Prof. Dr. Alexander Thiele\, Associate Dean for Research and Interdisciplinarity and Chair for State Theory and Public Law at BSP Law School in Berlin.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F6817526831088%2FWN_As2JA7atRZWgA3h-X-1-ng” css=”.vc_custom_1752683143853{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Prof. Russell Miller is the J.B. Stombock Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University. He is a leading scholar of German law and legal culture from a comparative perspective. He is the author of a number of books on the subject\, including “An Introduction to German Law and Legal Culture” (Cambridge University Press 2024). \nProf. Dr. Alexander Thiele is Associate Dean for Research and Interdisciplinarity and Chair for State Theory and Public Law at BSP Law School in Berlin. He is a widely respected scholar\, commentator\, and advocate on constitutional law issues in Germany. He is the author of a number of books on the subject\, including “Machtfaktor Karlsruhe:  Das Bundesverfassungsgericht im System des Grundgesetzes” (Campus Verlag 2025).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/a-crisis-for-the-governing-coalition-the-case-of-prof-brosius-gersdorf-and-her-judicial-appointment/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250821T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250821T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250817T234707Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T144445Z
UID:10001140-1755774000-1755777600@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:The Trump-Putin Meeting and the Future of Ukraine
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The world is watching as Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump meet in Alaska — a momentous summit on American soil to discuss the war in Ukraine. Trump\, who had pledged during his 2024 campaign to bring a swift end to the conflict\, entered the talks under intense global scrutiny. The historic meeting marked the first time the two leaders have sat down face-to-face since Trump’s return to the White House\, with stakes running high for U.S. foreign policy\, NATO unity\, and the future of Ukraine’s sovereignty. For Germany — a key NATO ally and one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters — the implications of these talks for its security posture and role in transatlantic relations remain to be seen. \nJoin us on August 21 for an online conversation with renowned Russia expert Dr. Angela Stent as we unpack the negotiations\, explore the future paths for both Russia and Ukraine\, and assess what this summit means for the international order.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F8517554742591%2FWN_h5Ve46vaQUCRq_UTwdmqzw” css=”.vc_custom_1755474362009{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 1px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Dr. Angela Stent (1982 ACG Young Leader) is Senior Adviser to the Center for Eurasian\, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University where she is also Professor Emerita of Government and Foreign Service. She is also a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and co-chairs its Hewett Forum on Post-Soviet Affairs. From 2004-06 she served as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council. From 1999 to 2001\, she served in the Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State. \nDr. Stent’s publications include: “From Embargo to Ostpolitik: The Political Economy of West German-Soviet Relations\, 1955-1980” (Cambridge University Press\, 1981); “Russia and Germany Reborn: Unification\, The Soviet Collapse and The New Europe” (Princeton University Pres\, 1999); “The Limits of Partnership: US-Russian Relations in the Twenty-First Century” (Princeton University Press\, 2014)\, for which she won the American Academy of Diplomacy’s Douglas Dillon prize for the best book on the practice of American Diplomacy. Her most recent book is “Putin’s World: Russia Against the West and With the Rest” (Twelve Books\, 2019) for which she won the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy’s prize for the best book on U.S-Russian Relations. \nShe was a member of the senior advisory panel for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe for Admiral James Stavridis and General Philip Breedlove. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a contributing editor to Survival and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Cold War Studies\, World Policy Journal\, Internationale Politik and Mirovaia Ekonomika i Mezhdunarodnie Otnosheniie. She has served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council for Russia and Central Asia. She was a trustee of the Eurasia Foundation. Dr. Stent received her bachelor’s from Cambridge University\, her Master of Science with distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science\, and her master’s and doctorate from Harvard University.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/the-trump-putin-meeting-and-the-future-of-ukraine/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250826T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250826T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250822T152534Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250822T152655Z
UID:10001141-1756206000-1756209600@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Assessing the First 100 Days of the Merz Government
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In early May\, Conservative politician Friedrich Merz won a vote in the Bundestag to become Germany’s new chancellor\, after falling short of the absolute majority in the first ballot. This was a significant blow to his prestige and an unprecedented failure in post-war German history. Having just rounded the first 100 days in office\, how are Chancellor Merz and his “Grand Coalition” of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats faring? \nJoin us for a discussion with political scientist Hans Kundnani on how Chancellor Merz has navigated the challenges of governing amid global uncertainty\, domestic pressures\, and shifting alliances. We will also examine the government’s key policy initiatives – from economic reform and energy security to defense commitments and European cooperation.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F6017558762672%2FWN_5DGOheQrShOU72Z3MHmJcw” css=”.vc_custom_1755876300889{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Hans Kundnani is an Open Society Ideas Workshop Fellow and a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics. He was previously the Director of the Europe Program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House)\, a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States\, and Research Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He has also been a Visiting Fellow at the Remarque Institute at New York University\, the New School\, and Göttingen University. He has taught at Boston University\, New York University and the Collège d’Europe. \nMr. Kundnani is the author of three books: Eurowhiteness. Culture\, Empire and Race in the European Project (London: Hurst\, 2023); The Paradox of German Power (London/New York: Hurst/Oxford University Press\, 2014)\, which has been translated into German\, Italian\, Japanese\, Korean and Spanish; and Utopia or Auschwitz. Germany’s 1968 Generation and the Holocaust (London/New York: Hurst/Columbia University Press\, 2009). He is a columnist for the New Statesman and also writes for other publications such as Dissent\, the Times Literary Supplement\, Foreign Affairs and Internationale Politik. Mr. Kundnani studied German and philosophy at Oxford University and journalism at Columbia University in New York\, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/assessing-the-first-100-days-of-the-merz-government/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250828T130249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250828T130249Z
UID:10001142-1756803600-1756807200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Tuesday\, September 2\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with ACG Fellowship alumna Miriam Hollstein\, Chief Political Reporter for Stern.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F5217563860374%2FWN_hK73SERyR967nRasPRo3tA” css=”.vc_custom_1756386145804{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Miriam Hollstein serves as the Chief Political Reporter for Stern. Before this\, she was the Chief Report from January 2022 to September 23 at T-Online in Berlin. Before this position\, she served as the Chief Political Reporter for FUNKE Zentralredaktion from November 2020 to December 2021. She wrote for the Berliner Zeitung while still a student and worked as an editor for Internationale Politik. She worked as a foreign reporter for Welt am Sonntag and\, from 2006 to 2014\, was the domestic policy editor and reporter for the WELT-Gruppe. From 2015 to 2020\, she worked for the Bild am Sonntag\, first as a domestic policy reporter and then from 2018 as the chief reporter of politics. Her reporting brought her into regular contact with the office of the German Chancellor. Since March 2020\, she has worked as a freelance writer and moderator. \nIn 2009\, she published the first graphic biography of Angela Merkel\, titled “Miss Tschörmanie\,” in collaboration with illustrator Heiko Sakurai. She appears regularly on the German news program “Phoenix\,” where she speaks on political and societal issues. She regularly travels internationally for reporting assignments. In addition\, she was a 2005 Marshall Memorial Fellow and a 2008 ACG McCloy Fellow. She was recognized in 2015 by the DEFA Stiftung (German Film Corporation Foundation) for her contributions to preserving German film heritage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-122/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250908T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250908T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250903T162955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T162955Z
UID:10001143-1757322000-1757325600@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, September 8\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with Nette Nöstlinger\, Political Reporter for Politico Europe.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F8017569169149%2FWN_4O07V8zwSS-iIBxQdue4tQ” css=”.vc_custom_1756916949661{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Nette Nöstlinger is a Politics Reporter for Politico Europe in Berlin\, where she keeps an eye on all things relevant to an international audience interested in the EU’s biggest economy. Her coverage has ranged from the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to Germany’s fiscal and military U-turn in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She was trained at Reuters with stints in Berlin\, Frankfurt\, and Brussels. She grew up in Antwerp with a Belgian father and an Austrian mother.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-123/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250915T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250911T150508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T150508Z
UID:10001148-1757926800-1757930400@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, September 15\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with Marc Felix Serrao\, Editor-in-Chief in Germany for the Neue Züricher Zeitung.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F7717576030260%2FWN_q05VjmEmQ3WE1EwbDYjdaQ” css=”.vc_custom_1757603072727{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Marc Felix Serrao has been the Head of the Berlin office since July 2017 and Editor-in-Chief of the Neue Züricher Zeitung in Germany since 2021. After military service\, he studied political science in Berlin. In 2004/05\, he was a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in New York. He graduated in 2006.  Mr. Serrao worked for the Süddeutsche Zeitung from 2007 to 2016 – first as a trainee\, then as deputy head of the society and style department. In 2015\, he began a part-time Executive MBA at the Wissenschaftliche Hochschule für Unternehmensführung (WHU) and the Kellogg School of Management. From 2016 to 2017\, he served as the Business editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-124/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250916T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250916T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250904T131059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T131059Z
UID:10001144-1758020400-1758024000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Meet a Bundestag Member: German Politics Today
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The American Council on Germany (ACG)\, the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)\, and the German Studies Association (GSA) are launching a new virtual series\, Meet a Bundestag Member: German Politics Today. The series offers students of German language and culture the chance to engage directly with members of the German Bundestag on timely political issues while practicing their German language skills. \nThe first session will take place on Tuesday\, September 16\, at 11:00 am ET and will feature Metin Hakverdi\, Member of the Bundestag and Germany’s new Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation. He will join ACG President Dr. Steven E. Sokol for a 45-minute moderated discussion — held in German — on the importance of the transatlantic relationship\, incorporating questions posed by the audience. \nThe transatlantic partnership is a key pillar of Germany’s foreign policy. The United States and Canada are Germany’s closest allies outside Europe. Large areas of common interests\, shared challenges and fundamental values form a bond between our democracies on both sides of the Atlantic. How close transatlantic relations are is clear also from the multitude of societal and cultural contacts between Germany and the United States and Germany and Canada. \nFollowing each event\, the conversations will also be released as podcasts\, making them easily accessible for members\, students\, and educators to use in the classroom.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aatg.org%2Fevents%2Facg-aatg-gsa-webinar” css=”.vc_custom_1756991399107{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Metin Hakverdi serves as the Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation for the German Government. He has been a member of the German Bundestag since 2013 and currently serves on the Bundestag’s Committee on European Union Affairs. He is the Deputy Chairman of the German-American Parliamentary Friendship Group\, Chairman of the USA Discussion Group of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag\, and a member of the Board of Atlantik-Brücke. Mr. Hakverdi was a John F. Kennedy Memorial Policy Fellow at Harvard University and a Distinguished Visitor at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at Johns Hopkins University. \nBefore being elected to the Bundestag\, Mr. Hakverdi was a member of the Parliament of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg from 2008 to 2013. He attended high school in Simi Valley\, California\, in 1985/86 and studied law at the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel and Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/meet-a-bundestag-member-german-politics-today/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250922T100138Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T100138Z
UID:10001152-1758531600-1758535200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, September 22\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with Dr. Melanie Amann\, Member of the Editorial Team\, SPIEGEL.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F2817585351690%2FWN_puv97_LuTlWv1HqwcfoPLQ” css=”.vc_custom_1758535201680{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Dr. Melanie Amann is a Member of the Editorial Team at SPIEGEL. She studied Law in Trier\, Aix-en-Provence\, and Berlin\, and received her doctorate from the LMU Munich. From 2003 to 2004\, she spent a year at the German School of Journalism in Munich. After working as an editor at the Financial Times Deutschland\, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung\, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung\, she moved to SPIEGEL in Berlin in 2013. From February 2019 until September 2025\, she headed SPIEGEL’s capital city bureau\, together with Sebastian Fischer\, Christoph Hickmann and Martin Knobbe. She was a member of the editorial board from May 2021 until September 2025.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-125/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250929T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250924T180750Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T180750Z
UID:10001158-1759136400-1759140000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, September 29\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with Sabine Rennefanz\, Columnist for Der Spiegel.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F6317587371942%2FWN_jWKpnW0LRFu99rMAi3_u0w” css=”.vc_custom_1758737233228{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Sabine Rennefanz is an award-winning journalist\, author\, and columnist for DER SPIEGEL. She has written extensively about the fall of the wall\, the transformation\, and the challenges of the unified Germany. Her book „Eisenkinder. Die stille Wut der Wendegeneration“ — a coming-of-age-memoir about the 1989/90 change — was a bestseller in 2013 and is going to be republished next year. She was born in 1974 close to the Polish border.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-126/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T130000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250911T150904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T150904Z
UID:10001149-1759233600-1759237200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Transatlantic Backroads: Finding Common Ground in Rural Germany and the United States
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At a time when political rhetoric fuels division\, polarization\, and pessimism in both the United States and Germany\, it is possible to find inspirational stories about individuals in rural states coming together at the local level to solve urgent and shared problems. \nOver the past decade\, Professor Jenny Reardon has traveled by bike across the United States and Germany. Through her blog about her travels across rural Kansas and Brandenburg\, she has documented the many successes at the local levels in both countries—how people in often overlooked rural areas have broken through rigid political defaults and worked together to find common ground. Such successes include healing wounded agricultural lands through ecological farming\, renewing communities through creative design\, and rehabilitating watersheds and aquifers through problem-focused means. \nWe hope you can join us to hear Professor Reardon’s stories of finding common ground and seeking ways to live together on both sides of the Atlantic.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fevents.zoom.us%2Fev%2FAjps-cOnsHNtZioA0uaeeUro84s8MDpGON_qSs51IAKxXnc7J8BO~An4CiHFygTcZZ11lf6TqN2Pua7ltuXV5mG6F8aIJTsNkaueevf0RRW617g” css=”.vc_custom_1757603300381{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Jenny Reardon is a Professor of Sociology and the Founding Director of the Science and Justice Research Center at the University of California\, Santa Cruz. She holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University and a BS in Biology and a BA in Political Science from the University of Kansas.  Her research draws into focus questions about identity\, justice and democracy that are often silently embedded in scientific ideas and practices\, particularly in modern genomic research. Her training spans molecular biology\, the history of biology\, science studies\, feminist and critical race studies\, and the sociology of science\, technology\, and medicine. She is the author of Race to the Finish: Identity and Governance in an Age of Genomics (Princeton University Press\, 2005) and The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics\, Justice\, Knowledge After the Genome (Chicago University Press\, 2017).  She has been the recipient of fellowships and awards from\, among others\, the National Science Foundation\, the Max Planck Institute\, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation\, the Technical University of Munich\, the Westinghouse Science Talent Search\, and the United States Congressional Committee on Science\, Space and Technology. In the Fall of 2017\, she started a project to bike over one thousand miles through her home state of Kansas to learn from farmers\, ranchers\, and other denizens of the high plains about how best to know and care for the prairie. \nDale Medearis (Moderator) is a Senior Environmental Planner for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission\, where he co-leads the NVRC’s Regional Climate Mitigation and Adaptation programs and manages NVRC’s International Partnerships. Medearis helped co-launch the first formal climate and energy partnership between the 40 largest US and European metropolitan regional councils\, co-initiate the Transatlantic Climate Bridge\, co-launch the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s “Cities and Climate” Network\, and co-develop the Transatlantic Urban Climate Dialogue with the Free University Berlin. Prior to NVRC\, Medearis spent 20 years at the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of International Affairs as the Program Manager for Western Europe and Urban Environmental Programs. He served as Vice-Chair of the OECD Territorial Development Committee and Chairman of the OECD Working Group on Urban Affairs. Medearis was a German Chancellor Fellow (1994-1995) and has been awarded fellowships from the Fulbright Commission\, the European Union\, and the American Council on Germany. Medearis holds a PhD in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech University\, an MS in Cartographic and Geographic Science from George Mason University\, an MGA in Government from the University of Pennsylvania\, and a BA in International Relations from the University of Redlands.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/transatlantic-backroads-finding-common-ground-in-rural-germany-and-the-united-states/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251001T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251001T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250925T151618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T151618Z
UID:10001159-1759316400-1759320000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Breaking Conventional Thinking: U.S. Import Dependence on Europe and Germany
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Europe and the United States over tariffs and trade\, the German Economic Institute in Cologne published a report in late September that examines the dependence of the United States on imports from the EU and Germany. The report’s findings show that the U.S. dependence on imports from the EU is greater than often assumed – and that it has increased steadily over the past 15 years\, making the U.S. dependence on imports from the EU higher (both in total value and in the number of goods) than its dependence on imports from China. The report was commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office (and published in German). It can be found here. \nJoin us for a discussion with one of the report’s co-authors\, Dr. Samina Sultan\, who serves as a Senior Economist for European Economic and Fiscal Policy at the German Economic Institute.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F8417588128417%2FWN_kbFXZNiaSm6gMxq98zD3AA” css=”.vc_custom_1758813337722{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Dr. Samina Sultan is a Senior Economist for European Economic and Fiscal Policy at the German Economic Institute (IW). She studied Economics at the Universities of Mannheim\, St. Gallen\, and Tübingen\, and completed her PhD at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) and at the University of California\, Berkeley. Her research interests include trade\, trade policy\, Europe\, fiscal and industrial policies\, and China.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/breaking-conventional-thinking-u-s-import-dependence-on-europe-and-germany/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20251001T142525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T142525Z
UID:10001169-1759741200-1759744800@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, October 6\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with Anja Wehler-Schoeck\, International Editor of the German newspaper Tagesspiegel.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F4317593286243%2FWN_9TovZfTOSH-vxsu-DjmNbg” css=”.vc_custom_1759328690238{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Anja Wehler-Schoeck is the International Editor of the German newspaper Tagesspiegel and a member of its Editorial Board. In 2022\, she founded the paper’s international affairs desk\, which she subsequently headed until the end of 2024. Before that\, she served as editor-in-chief of IPG Journal\, a debate forum for international and European policy. Previously\, she worked as Political Counselor at the German Embassy in Washington\, DC\, and headed the Amman office of the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) as Country Director for Jordan and Iraq. She has published extensively and is a frequent commentator on international affairs\, European politics\, transatlantic relations\, and security policy. From 2005 to 2007\, she served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Free University of Berlin\, Germany. She holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Sciences Po in Paris\, France\, and the Free University of Berlin.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-127/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T180000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20250926T153329Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T153329Z
UID:10001164-1760025600-1760032800@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:German-American Relations in a New Era
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Boston Warburg Chapter\,  the Center for German and European Studies at Brandeis University\, and the Goethe-Institut will host a discussion with Vladimir Balzer\, Award Winning Journalist and Moderator\, Deutschlandradio. \nTo Register for In-Person Attendance\, please RSVP HERE by October 7 \nTo Register for Virtual Attendance\, please RSVP HERE by October 7 \nVladimir Balzer is an award-winning journalist who grew up in Leipzig and studied in Dublin\, Venice\, and Leipzig. He began his career as a presenter\, reporter\, and editor at Deutschlandradio and MDR. Mr. Balzer hosts\, among other programs\, the daily program “Fazit – Kultur vom Tage” on Deutschlandfunk Kultur. In 2022\, he was selected to be a Kellen Fellow by the American Council on Germany. In 2023\, he started as a correspondent at Deutschlandfunk’s capital city studio in Berlin. He is known as a commentator for German television\, such as ZDF. He also regularly reports for his broadcaster from the U.S.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/german-american-relations-in-a-new-era-3/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Events,Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251013T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251013T123000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20251002T164415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T164415Z
UID:10001172-1760353200-1760358600@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:The Importance of Social Cohesion and Democracy
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While global challenges are addressed by national governments\, increasingly subnational actors such as states\, communities\, and cities have needed to step up to take action when traditional nation-states have not been able to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. In the next German-American State-to-State event\, legislators will discuss the future of social cohesion and democracy. \nOn both sides of the Atlantic\, social cohesion serves as the glue that holds democratic societies together. When people feel connected to one another and work toward shared goals\, democratic institutions gain resilience and legitimacy. In today’s climate of global uncertainty\, strengthening social cohesion is not just desirable\, it is essential to safeguarding democracy. Yet in recent years\, social cohesion has weakened under the pressure of ever-accelerating transformation of societies. Both the United States and Germany navigate a world marked by polycrises\, in which social divisions are deepening as political polarization and inequality grow. The result has been an unprecedented erosion of trust in democratic institutions and governance. In this context\, state and Länder governments in both countries play a pivotal role. Their proximity to local communities and better understanding of the issues they face\, equip subnational legislators with the means to effectively address the decline of social cohesion with policies reflecting local values and priorities. To build trust in democratic institutions\, subnational legislators have the responsibility to produce policies that nurture social ties and community engagements at the local level. \nJoin us for an insightful discussion on October 13 between German and U.S. state legislators to highlight the role of states\, cities\, and local governments in fostering social cohesion\, and promoting cross-border cooperation. The conversation will include Tom Brüntrup\, MdL (CDU) State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia\, Representative Lydia Glaize (D) Georgia House of Representatives\, and Simone Strohmayr (SPD) Bavarian State Parliament.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F5317594233477%2FWN_rKCffM0qS8imx16BBMA2Rw” css=”.vc_custom_1759423405002{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Tom Brüntrup (CDU) was born in Bielefeld on May 11\, 1997 and grew up there with two older brothers. After graduating from High School\, he began his dual studies at the University of Applied Sciences for Finance in North Rhine-Westphalia which he successfully completed in 2018. While working at the North Rhine-Westphalia Finance Administration\, he completed a part-time Master’s degree in Financial Management and Controlling at the University of Applied Sciences of Economics in 2022. In addition to his professional career\, he has been politically active in the Christian Democratic Union since 2014. In 2020\, he was elected to the Bielefeld City Council. Since then\, he has been able to take on responsibility in the areas of digitalization\, finance\, environment and climate. Mr. Brüntrup has been a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia since May 2022. He is the youngest member of the CDU parliamentary group and the second youngest member of parliament. His main areas of work are science\, construction\, housing and digitalization as well as family\, children and youth. In his free time\, it is important for him\, to spend time with his family and friends. If possible\, he uses the rowing machine\, goes for a run\, to the tennis court or plays golf. \nRepresentative Lydia Glaize (D) is the current House Representative for District 67 in the Georgia House of Representatives. Rep. Glaize has been a formidable advocate for transformative change. With a deep commitment to her constituents\, Rep. Glaize tenure is marked by significant legislative achievements and a steadfast dedication to addressing pivotal issues such as economic stability\, healthcare accessibility\, and quality education. Her journey in office is characterized by a tangible impact on the community\, underscored by her proactive role in sponsoring 32 Community Bills and 3 Legislative Bills signed into law by the Governor in just one year. Rep. Glaize’s focus has always been on the core pillars of Youth\, Education\, Economy\, Environmental Sustainability\, and Seniors\, exemplified by her influential positions on both the Education (K-12) and Higher Education Committees. Under her leadership\, District 67 has seen progressive educational initiatives\, including the successful Summer Reading Rewards Program and significant support for K-12 and Higher Education funding. Her role as the Chair of the Education Committee in the Fulton County Delegation and her appointment as the Education Chair by the Chairman of the GA Legislative Black Caucus further amplify her influence and dedication to education in the district. \nDr. Simone Strohmayr (SPD) was born on September 13th\, 1967\, is married and has three children (1992\, 2000\, 2009). After her studies in law in Augsburg and Munich\, she finalized her doctoral thesis “Human Dignity and Penal Justice” in 1998. From 1996 to 2022\, she worked as a lawyer in Cottbus\, close to Berlin and Augsburg. In 1999\, she joined the SPD party. In 2002\, she was elected as city councilor of her hometown Stadtbergen/Bavaria. A year later\, she was elected as a Member of the Bavarian Parliament. Since\, she has worked in various committees of the Bavarian Parliament\, such as the “Committee of Social Affairs” and the “Committee of Education”. In recent years\, she has been concerned with good and modern education and school (systems) as well as questions of democracy. She is very engaged in gender issues\, women empowerment and social affairs. Economic relationships and good working conditions are other important fields of her professional activities.  From 2021 till 2024\, Dr. Strohmayr was responsible as Parliamentary Secretary for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) group in the Bavarian Parliament. She is involved as a volunteer in workers welfare (Arbeiterwohlfahrt – AWO Schwaben) where they run a Kindergarten and retirement homes. She is also involved in women movements and in international development cooperation[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/the-importance-of-social-cohesion-and-democracy/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251027T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251027T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20251023T163802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T163802Z
UID:10001178-1761555600-1761559200@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, October 27\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with Gordon Repinski\, Executive Editor for Politico in Germany.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F7617612373965%2FWN_jiUfpR5sRY2T8lIYWZDAcA” css=”.vc_custom_1761237435000{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Gordon Repinski is the Executive Editor for Germany. He joins from The Pioneer\, where he served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief responsible for the newsletter and podcast “Hauptstadt – DAS Briefing”. Before that\, he worked as deputy chief editor and head of the politics department at the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland and was a correspondent for Der Spiegel in Berlin and Washington D.C. He embarked on his journalistic career after training at the Deutsche Journalistenschule in Munich\, starting at the national newspaper taz. Mr. Repinski was a recipient of the Arthur F. Burns Award for transatlantic reporting in 2011. In his new role\, he will report to Jamil Anderlini\, Editor-in-Chief of POLITICO in Europe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-128/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T130000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20251022T173523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T173523Z
UID:10001175-1761739200-1761742800@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Future-Ready Food Systems? Sustainability and Resilience in Times of Crises
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the current era of multiple crises such as climate change\, receding drinkable ground water pools\, and geopolitical upheavals threatens food supplies\, the rethinking of agri-food systems – encompassing the steps of producing\, processing\, and distributing food from farms to consumers – is especially urgent. How can we deal with shocks to the food system in the wake of natural disasters and climate changes? What are potential pathways to global food security? How can both environmental and social resilience be ensured? What role do smart digital technologies play in advancing the sustainability of food systems? \nJoin us for a discussion with experts from both sides of the Atlantic as they compare approaches across continents\, spotlight potential synergies and tensions between resilience and sustainability objectives\, and explore how research-informed innovation can inspire agri-food systems that are able to navigate today’s world’s challenges. \nThis talk features insights from the priority program 2575 of the German Research Foundation (DFG) “Sustainability and Resilience of Agri-Food Chains in Times of Multiple Crises? Towards a Joint and Critical Understanding (Agri-Food Chains).” It also incorporates findings by leading research universities of the “U15 Canada” consortium. It seeks to contribute to the overarching global conversation on achieving the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)\, especially those related to zero hunger\, climate action\, as well as sustainable production and consumption.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Ffuture-ready-food-systems-sustainability-and-resilience-in-times-of-crises-registration-1591212863509%3Faff%3Doddtdtcreator%26_gl%3D1%252Aso1i83%252A_up%252AMQ..%252A_ga%252AODU5NjAxNzA4LjE3NTU1MjQ1NTU.%252A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%252AczE3NTU1MjQ1NTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTU1MjQ1NTUkajYwJGwwJGgw” css=”.vc_custom_1761154484880{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Dr. Peter Dannenberg is Professor of Human Geography at the Institute of Geography at the University of Cologne and the coordinator of the DFG Priority Program 2575 Agri-Food Chains. Dannenberg is a project leader at the corporate research center 228 Future Rural Africa and an international expert on economic geography\, globalization and rural development. His current research includes agricultural value chains\, infrastructures\, and spatial economic policies. Dannenberg is a principal investigator in the Key Profile Area “Global South Studies” of the University of Cologne and the GEOVERBUND ABC/J. \nDr. Angela Bedard-Haughn has served as a Professor\, Graduate Chair\, Department Head\, and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the Department of Soil Science in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (AgBio) at University of Saskatchewan\, Canada\, over the course of her academic career\, taking up the position of Dean in summer 2020\, and renewing for a second term in 2025. As a teacher-scholar\, Dr. Bedard-Haughn’s research program focuses on wetland soils and predictive soil mapping. Her activities have been largely supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada\, the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Research Fund\, Environment Canada\, and several industry groups. She remains active in experiential training\, mentoring graduate students and teaching field courses on soil and landscape classification\, at both undergraduate and graduate levels.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/future-ready-food-systems-sustainability-and-resilience-in-times-of-crises/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T100000
DTSTAMP:20260414T112651
CREATED:20251030T183846Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251102T214030Z
UID:10001188-1762160400-1762164000@www.acgusa.org
SUMMARY:Kaffeepause: What's Abuzz in Berlin?
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. Join us on Monday\, November 3\, at 9:00 am for a Kaffeepause with ACG Young Leader Alum Clay Risen\, Reporter and Editor at The New York Times\, who spent the months of May and October reporting from Berlin.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Register Here” style=”classic” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F5617618494332%2FWN_hnJItj6FQr-zrSX5biRCeg” css=”.vc_custom_1761849486898{background-color: #1e73be !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]Clay Risen (2004 Young Leader) is a Reporter and Editor at The New York Times. He is also the author of Red Scare: Blacklists\, McCarthyism\, and the Making of Modern America. He reported for the Times from Berlin for the month of May. Mr. Risen has been at The New York Times since 2010. Before writing obituaries\, he was a Senior Editor on the 2020 politics team\, and before that an Editor on the Opinion desk\, most recently as the deputy Op-Ed editor. Before joining the Times\, he worked at The New Republic and Democracy: A Journal of Ideas. He has written eight books\, some about U.S. history\, some about whiskey. They include American Rye and The Crowded Hour: Theodore Roosevelt\, the Rough Riders\, and the Dawn of the American Century. He holds a degree in International Relations from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Social Science from the University of Chicago.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.acgusa.org/event/kaffeepause-whats-abuzz-in-berlin-129/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Discussions
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR