As the mid-point of 2017 approaches, shifts in the international landscape illuminate the importance of globalization and interdependency. It is no secret: For better or worse, our world is becoming more connected. As such, it is essential for two international powerhouses, the United States and Germany, to strengthen their transatlantic relationship. Both nations shoulder the responsibility to prevent future atrocities and thus share a brass-bound bond. Yet, strengthening this relationship is not only a task sustained by political leaders, but by ordinary citizens participating in global partnerships, such as the Atlantische Initiative. Leaders at both local and global levels must set examples for future generations to show that we are not only stronger together, but if one fails, we all fail.
Amid financial recessions and accelerating conflict, receding and hiding back into isolationism and nationalism may appear the easier option, but to move forward, we cannot necessarily look to the easy way out. The solutions we develop will most likely be equally difficult and complex as the problems we face. Therefore, it is essential to strategically modernize these transatlantic partnerships, while getting decision-makers’ input and winning public support.
The campaign to revitalize German-American relations begins with four primary challenges to consider: 1. Promoting Peace, Stability, Democracy, and Development; 2. Responding to Global Challenges; 3. World Markets and Trade; and 4. Improving Communication. These four areas call for a new communication campaign which continues to involve those already engaged in organizations while finding creative solutions to developing new partnerships and expanding engagement with diverse audiences. Bilateral partnerships not only occur at the political level. Ordinary citizens can make a difference in strengthening relations between the two nations and can share expertise in diverse arenas, such as cyber-security and ethnic tensions. Fortunately, in such an interconnected world, reaching out to new audiences is easier now than ever before in history, and often begins with information sharing.
To reach and win new actors and allies, organizations, such as the Atlantische Initiative, need to engage the next generation of leaders in a dialogue about ways to move the German-American alliance forward by developing partnerships with local universities and encouraging exchange opportunities. Modeled after the Soliya program, which works in conjunction with American and Middle Eastern students, the organization could arrange weekly video chats connecting American universities with Germany universities in which students discuss important current events and controversial topics in a safe space while disbanding cultural misunderstandings. These conversations often unveil the priorities and aspirations of young people, thus giving the organization a profound opportunity to understand the needs of future target audiences.
Furthermore, organizations could partner with start-up enterprises and media outlets in both the U.S. and Germany, such as SnapChat, WhatsApp, or Buzzfeed. These forums not only raise awareness of ongoing issues, but ignite a dialogue on how to utilize technologies to keep lines of communication open and ongoing. In addition, partnerships with Silicon Valley and other innovative start-up private sector entities builds bridges to new target audiences that have passions with important international applications, such as finance or medical research/public health. Expanding areas of interest will increase public support for a common transatlantic agenda, thus more people will feel personally invested and encouraged to continue to work towards strengthening the transatlantic relationship. Even merely starting a dialogue between these diverse groups fosters a more politically transatlantic civil society. By making new initiatives accessible to the public, organizations can demonstrate their vital role affecting policy and thus create a self-sustaining cycle of participation.
Not only do start-ups foster innovative ideas and design thinking, but they can provide tangible deliverables to help decision-makers solve ever-present challenges, such as developing an app to assist in the refugee crisis – an issue close to both Germany and the United States. However, any long-lasting shift in the organization needs to stem from its leadership by showing support and using the technologies themselves.
To modernize German-American relations and smoothly move forward, it is paramount to keep the relationship robust and secure by embracing globalization and inviting people from all walks of life into the conversation. This invitation is extended by implementing new technological tools to keep the lines of communication strong between these two nations who deeply understand the importance of embodying both future-forward leadership and innovation.
Hi Sarah! Thank you a lot for your article. I found it very interesting. I think the topic of cyber-security is definitely an issue. My impression is that the understanding of data security for individuals/privacy law (and then also cyber security) is discussed much more in Germany than in the US. Finding common ground and international agreements would be a very important step. Since you are focusing on Cyber Security: Do you have specific areas of cyber security in mind where first agreements could be based on? Thank you very much!. 🙂 Best, Felicitas
Hi Felicitas,
Thanks for taking the time and comment! As you mentioned, cybersecurity is one of the major players growing in the global community. I’d say the one of the first steps in collaboration is as basic as finding a common language. One of the struggles in cybersecurity is ensuring that governments, corporations, and everyday citizens understand and can digest seemingly complicated cyber concepts. For example, the recent ransomware cyber attacks, such as “Wannacry,” deeply affected both the U.S. and Germany. However, these organization could not only collaborate to find solutions countering cyberattacks, but could also use their resources to help ordinary citizens understand cyber basics, like mirror hard-drives via external devices, thus becoming less vulnerable to cyber attacks, like ransomware. These countries could partner to find the most effective methods to communicate cyber issues (such as YouTube videos, like the Khan Academy videos/approach to learning).
In addition, I think cyber collaboration will also trigger more topics of conversation ranging from the ethics of cyber privacy and net neutrality to new methods of access control (such as advancements in password protection and biometrics).
Hi Sarah,
I am also a student of Cyber/International Security, so the idea of pooling resources together with allies in an effort to protect critical infrastructure is often first on my mind. Partnerships with Silicon Valley would also be of great assistance in such an initiative.
Two possible challenges that should be further explored: 1) the language barriers (even in coding) and 2)the cultural divide in personal privacy v. public security (always a challenge for democracies to balance that tightrope in the modern technological age).
Great proposal and I look forward to reading more about the initiative!
Best,
Brandy
Hi Sarah,
I am also a student of Cyber/International Security, so the idea of pooling resources together with allies in an effort to protect critical infrastructure is often first on my mind. Partnerships with Silicon Valley would also be of great assistance in such an initiative.
Two possible challenges that should be further explored: 1) the language barriers (even in coding) and 2)the cultural divide in personal privacy v. public security (always a challenge for democracies to balance that tightrope in the modern technological age).
Great proposal and I look forward to reading more about the initiative!
Best,
Brandy
Hi Brandy,
I think this may have posted twice, so I’ll just comment over here, but I can also write above, if that’s better for you. Thanks for your insightful comments, always great to meet (even if virtually) another cybersecurity/international security person! Thanks for bringing up those two points as well. With regard to the language barrier, that’s a really excellent point, I hadn’t considered the coding aspect. I’d imagine that a good place to start would be to initiate roundtables with organizations and startups that have faced similar international challenges and learn from their best practices, perhaps Google since I imagine they have a German and/or European Google office. With regard to your second points on challenges and discussions to personal privacy vs. public security – I think it would be fascinating conversation to have those conversations and tease out where the biggest similarities as a starting point to understanding the cultural of each nation.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your response. Just to share some additional info…out of their 32 European Google offices, five are located in Germany. I’ve attached a map of Google’s European locations (to start) -https://careers.google.com/locations/
I agree that it would be positive to initiate a dialogue to learn how both the US and German cultures handle issues of privacy and security. Just brainstorming here, but I was thinking another component that could benefit your proposal would be to add in the element of misinformation and how both sides are working to counter its spread. What are your thoughts?
Best,
Brandy
Hi Brandy,
Thanks for the Google info, that’s awesome! I think you’re idea is fantastic and I would certainly agree to include it. In an era of computational propoganda, it is essential to keep having conversations about the spread of misinformation and actions both countries can take and/or already taking in order to create a more informed global society.
Hi both, I am not sure if Europeans will be too excited about a collaboration… I am absolutely not an expert but remember the buzz of last year on the European Privacy Shield, the doubts that the NSA will not snoop into European data, and the relatively negative reputation of Google etc. (although everybody uses it, although often with privacy options enabled). Who should be targeted by a collaboration and how will trust between both parties be ensured?
Hi Sarah,
thank you for your article, it touches upon many very important issues. I am especially fascinated by the Soliya program and how it uses Skype to connect different classrooms with each other. Could you elaborate on how the program is financed or what institution is behind it? And how do the schools deal with the time differences? Is it an after-school program?
Hi Christin,
Thanks for taking the time to read through the piece, always appreciated! It’s funny you bring up the Soliya program, I was actually a participant a few years back and got to experience it first hand. I’d have to dig a bit deeper to find out more about the financing of the organization and its institutional history, but I can speak a bit to my own experience. I was introduced to the Soliya program through one of my undergraduate professors as a component to an “Arab Media” course. The way we dealt with the time difference was that students in the States would get up early (I think around 6:00 am EST, if I remember correctly) and students in the Middle East and other locations would log on after their classes in the afternoon. It actually worked out quite swimmingly and was such a great experience!
Hi Sarah,
thanks for your exciting article! I think you made clear that the values of democracy, justice and freedom are still the foundation of both successful economies. To remind Germans and Americans that these principles are the basis for creativity and innovation which drive the economic development it needs better communication campaigns. I would like to add the issues of socially responsible market economy, social security, advancement opportunities, quality education for all and an advanced and efficient infrastructure to your technology agenda. I think these are further fields where both countries have potential for improvement.
Greetings
Tim
Hi Tim,
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment! That’s a great point to not only include political and economic drivers, but to consider social responsibility and other issues as well, especially because many of these issues overlap. Great suggestion!
Hi Sarah, You have quoted really good examples including the Soliya program. I however, always struggle with the lack of structure and a tangible outcomes associated with such programs. Its great to build these connections but do you not think that the problem is one step further, in trying to think of ways to keep these groups of people engaged in coming up with a more concrete product. I wonder what your thoughts on that are and what you think those concrete collaboration outputs could be.
Regards, Henry
Hi Henry,
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. You made a really good point that sometimes those conversations can quickly fizzle out with some sort of structure or end-goal. Fortunately, in my experience, we had a moderator-type person who helped us channel the conversations. I will say, it was nice to have the flexibility to explore a bit outside those intense topics and world events, and it even helped us find common ground. Getting a bit distracted and talking about movies or music we had in common was a great way to develop bonds. Thanks for the input!