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.
