Since 2020, the American Council on Germany has expanded its digital programming to convene policymakers and thought leaders from both sides of the Atlantic for timely discussions on the issues shaping transatlantic relations. Through webinars and virtual conversations, the ACG has broadened its reach, increased accessibility, and strengthened its role as a leading platform for transatlantic dialogue. These digital formats have enabled the organization to engage new audiences, foster sustained exchange, and complement its in-person programming.
For decades, the official German approach to Russia was defined by dialogue, trade, and the hope that economic interdependence would lead to political stability. In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, that assumption has been shattered — prompting a fundamental reckoning with the ideas and interests that shaped Germany’s Russia policy. In their new book Das Versagen (“The Failure”), journalist Katja Gloger and co-author Georg Mascolo trace how political leaders, intelligence agencies, and business interests misunderstood the Kremlin’s intentions, overlooking clear warning signs. Their investigative account opens a critical window into the inner workings of German decision-making and the lessons for Europe’s future security. On November 5, the ACG held a virtual discussion with author Katja Gloger and Dr. Angela Stent (1982 Young Leader), Senior Adviser to the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University, on what went wrong, how policymakers in Berlin and Washington D.C. interpreted Russia’s trajectory, and what a realistic long-term strategy toward Moscow might look like.
The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. On November 3, the ACG held 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.
The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. On October 27, the ACG held a Kaffeepause with Gordon Repinski, Executive Editor for Politico in Germany.
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. On 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 the 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 engagement at the local level. On October 13, the ACG and Aspen Institute Germany held an insightful discussion 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 included 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.
The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. On October 6, the ACG held a Kaffeepause with Anja Wehler-Schoeck, International Editor of the German newspaper Tagesspiegel.