When debating the state of transatlantic relationships, discussions tend to center on the same questions: how do national leaders interact, in terms of both personality and policy?; what is the state of diplomatic relations?; how much do the militaries cooperate?; how much trade occurs between the nations?; and how do national interests align? While these […]
Between 1992 and 2015 about 1.8 million people left the former territory of the USSR to begin a new life in the Federal Republic of Germany. Life in the succession states of the USSR was full of uncertainties and difficulties. The political and the economic systems were to be rebuilt. Although the expectations for an […]
In mobilizing people to get invested and sustain their activism for a brand, a cause, or an activity, the economy has been relying on a strategy called influencer marketing. Often times, companies rely on brand ambassadors to take on the role of influencers for community outreach, social media activities, and more. Companies identify key individuals […]
There are many things that could be said about the current state of transatlantic relations. While there are certainly many hot topics warranting dissection and analysis, I feel that the status quo at the moment can be summed up in one word: complacency. We have become somewhat smug when it comes to our transatlantic relationship. […]
Existing movements for the promotion of transatlatism perpetuate existing contacts and conceptions of elite groups while abandoning increasingly relevant strata of the society. The political answer to the worsening relation between Europeans and Americans should be more inclusive and address those who lack transatlantic contacts and personal relations. A bottom-up approach is expected to create […]
On the surface, relations between Berlin and Washington appear resilient despite the turbulent present times. But a closer look reveals that particularly the younger generation on both sides of the Atlantic exhibits stronger signals of discontent with the transatlantic partnership. For instance, the current strong opposition against the TTIP negotiations in Germany were crucially supported […]
It can be argued that the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom on June 23rd and the Trump victory in the US election on November 8 represent the two biggest cataclysmic shifts that we have seen in recent political history and will affect many aspects of our lives for a long time to come. It […]
I am curious as to how the work of spin doctors and PR professionals influences the how and the what of politics. While in the US, coverage of election campaigns has traditionally been more mediatized than in Germany, communication has always played a central part in politics. Political economy of the media, popular culture, and […]
A country, just like a business or organization, has a brand – a vision, a constitution, and values that it upholds. As an American and as a citizen of the west, I am concerned about the direction my country is going in and, by extension, its brand. These are evident by the current state of […]