A nation must think before it acts.
Zeitenwende: Germany, the World, and the War in Ukraine
April 19, 2022 | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Center for the Study of America and the West
About the Event
Before Vladimir Putin unleashed war on Ukraine, Germany had clung to its position as a diplomatic balancer between Moscow and the West, downplaying military power and claiming that continuing economic ties to Moscow were a force for peace. War in Ukraine has forced Chancellor Olaf Scholz to proclaim a Zeitenwende, or fundamental change in the times. Now Germany has embraced (rhetorically, at least) the importance of hard power in world affairs, promising to increase defense spending and become more active in European security. Such a break with the past raises significant questions about how the Germans, their neighbors, and their allies will act in this new world. In this episode of People, Politics, and Prose, FPRI's Adam Garfinkle, author of a recent article on the subject, will discuss the meaning and possible consequences of this potential power shift.
People, Politics, and Prose with Ron Granieri features in-depth conversations with authors of recent books on international affairs and national security. Moderated by FPRI’s Ronald J. Granieri, each session will build on the book’s contents to discuss the author’s influences and motivations, relating everything to current events to elicit a broader understanding of the geographical, political, and historical context of our contemporary world.
FPRI is happy to provide this series free of charge thanks to the generous support of our members, partners, and event attendees. If you are not currently a member, the suggested donation is $25.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our events coordinator, Kayla Wendt at kwendt@fpri.org.
Speakers
Adam Garfinkle - Adam Garfinkle is the Founding Editor of The American Interest and formerly a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
