“New Chancellor – But the Same Old Foreign Policy,” read a headline after the German elections. We ask newly elected members of the Bundestag from the four major political parties in Germany about continuity and change in foreign and security policy.
German foreign and security policy is said to be carried by a broad consensus that encompasses the country’s integration into ‘the West’ with transatlantic relations and the EU as twin pillars, a commitment to multilateralism and a responsibility to prevent international human rights violations. At the same time, Germany has fostered a so-called culture of restraint post World War II. Global challenges such as a resurgence of great power competition, climate crisis, proliferation, terrorism, cyber security etc. highlight the tensions inherent in this consensus and give rise to questions about the future course of German foreign and security policy.
Join us for an online panel discussion with new MPs Knut Abraham (CDU), Johannes Arlt (SPD),Dr. Ann-Veruschka Jurisch (FDP) and Sara Nanni (Alliance 90/ The Greens) as they discuss their perspectives on core challenges, key partners and forums as well as the tools required to meet those challenges.
This event is hosted by the Centre for International Security.
Speakers
Panelists
Knut Abraham (CDU) is a member of the German Bundestag. As a diplomat, he previously served as Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. Prior to that, he has held positions at the German Chancellery, the German Foreign Ministry and the embassies of Helsinki, Sofia and Washington D.C. Abraham studied law at the University of Bonn.
Johannes Arlt (SPD) is a member of the German Bundestag. He is also an officer in the German Air Force and has completed seven tours to Mali and Afghanistan. He holds an MA in Social Sciences and Public Affairs from the Bundeswehr University Munich and an MSc in War Science from the Swedish Defence University.
Dr. Ann-Veruschka Jurisch (FDP) is a member of the German Bundestag. She has worked for the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Since 2006, she has been CEO of several non-profit foundations. Jurisch studied law and holds a PhD from the University of Konstanz. She also holds an MA in International Relations from Tufts University, Boston, USA.
Sara Nanni (Alliance 90/ The Greens) is a member of the German Bundestag. Previously, she held research positions at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf and at the RWTH Aachen University. Nanni has been the co-spokesperson of the federal working group on peace and international politics of Alliance 90/Greens. She holds an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Goethe University Frankfurt/ TU Darmstadt.
Chair
Dr. Katharina Emschermann is the Deputy Director of the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School. She is in charge of the Centre’s outreach activities and hosts the podcast “Berlin Security Beat”. She previously served as a foreign policy advisor to a member of the German parliament. Emschermann holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Bremen.
