Fellowship Reports
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Young Leaders Conference Reports
2025 American‐German Young Leaders Conference Report
“Navigating Change: Shaping the Next Chapter in Transatlantic Relations”
The 45th Young Leaders Conference took place during a period of heightened global uncertainty. The war in Ukraine has entered a protracted phase, forcing difficult decisions in both Washington and Berlin about the sustainability of military and financial assistance. Global alliances are being tested, with NATO simultaneously reaffirming its relevance and grappling with debates about burden-sharing. Democracies on both sides of the Atlantic are facing internal pressures, from rising populism and disinformation to generational divides over identity and belonging. Meanwhile, technological disruption, the urgency of climate change, and shifting demographic patterns present new challenges that require adaptation and foresight.
2024 American‐German Young Leaders Conference Report
“New Realities for Transatlantic Relations: What Is the Future for Democracy, Security, and Growth?”
Three overarching themes emerged during the 44th Young Leaders Conference. First, we are living through a critical juncture where typically stable institutions across the domestic and international landscape are beginning to change rapidly, forcing us to rethink how our societies should look in a brave new world. This period is marked by sweeping changes in institutional structures, societal dynamics, political power, technology, and international security. Such an environment forces individuals to reconcile with the second theme: responsibility and tradeoffs. As one participant termed it: “great responsibility for great powers.” Leaders in all nations, but particularly the United States and Germany, must grapple with the quickly evolving dynamics both within and across their countries and make hard decisions about who should hold responsibility for which decisions and where the balance lies between counterposed goals. Indispensable to navigating these changes, however, is the third theme, that communication is key. Stakeholders across society must convene dialogues like the ACG to answer the open questions on responsibility and tradeoffs. Communication must take place within society between the government and private sector, the government and its public, and people from opposing viewpoints, to help society grow together through uncertain times. This conversation must be global, however, and as the transatlantic relationship weathers this critical juncture, there has never been a more important moment for individuals to come together and reinforce the ties forged throughout the years.
2023 American‐German Young Leaders Conference Report
“Global Zeiten-when?”
The 43rd Young Leaders Conference was held in a time of great flux, as the United States and Germany confront war in Ukraine and the threat posed by China. Meeting these challenges, as well as others like climate change and the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, is complicated by polarization at home, the lack of public trust in international institutions, and concerns over the strength of democracy at home and abroad. But the conference illustrated that the two nations need not face these issues alone. Mutual recognition of the benefits of a robust U.S.‐German relationship fueled much of the week’s discussions and allowed participants to point to remaining challenges and unrealized opportunities.
2022 American‐German Young Leaders Conference Report
“Die Kuh auf dem Eis: Building a Reliable Transatlantic Partnership”
The 42nd Young Leaders Conference was held in the shadow of war in Ukraine, with a renewed spirit of NATO, transatlantic, and multilateral cooperation and collaboration after a decade of tension. Emerging threats, the rise of China, and growing public support for populist politics make cooperation between the United States and Germany even more crucial. But with public trust in international institutions faltering and domestic divisions deepening, delegates from both sides of the Atlantic questioned how best to implement multilateral solutions. Other major themes discussed by delegates were climate change, the tensions between immediate needs and long‐term planning in transatlantic relations, and government/policy imperatives versus business/economic ones.