In this talk, our speakers will discuss the impact of the 2021 elections on Germany's role in Europe, and foreign policy more generally, especially given the likely inclusion of the Greens and the FDP in the coalition government. Both these parties have voiced strong criticism of (semi-)autocratic regimes in Europe and beyond, so what might this mean for Germany's interactions with others? Can we expect Germany to take a stronger stance against rising autocratic regimes in and outside of Europe? The Greens and the FDP are also advocating for the EU to become a stronger geopolitical force, closely aligned with the US. Is Germany ready to be in the vanguard of that geopolitical force? And how does this relate to the SPD's continued support for Nord Stream 2?

The confirmed speakers are:

René Cuperus - Senior Research Associate at the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch policy think tank. René Cuperus was formerly ’Scholar in Residence’ at the Strategy Unit of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working on, amongst other matters, European integration. Cuperus is also Research Fellow at the Germany Institute of the University of Amsterdam, writes a political column for the Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant and contributes a blog to Social Europe Journal, an e-journal linked to the London School of Economics (LSE). He was Director for International Relations at the Wiardi Beckman Foundation, thinktank of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA).

Carsten Brzeski - Global Head of Macro Research and the Chief Economist for the Eurozone for ING. He primarily focusses on the Eurozone, Germany and the European Central Bank. Before joining ING in 2008, he worked for the Dutch Ministry of Finance and the European Commission. Carsten Brzeski is based in Frankfurt, Germany. He regularly appears in Dutch, German and English-language media.

Dr Hanco Jürgens - researcher, teacher and member of the Institute for German Studies (Duitsland Instituut Amsterdam). He coordinates the Masters programme “German Studies” at the University of Amsterdam and, funded by the Montesquieu Institute, currently researches the influence of European integration on social, economic, constitutional and political relations in Germany and the Netherlands. Jürgens was also part of the Germany panel of De Volkskrant, which followed the elections in Germany.

Depending on Dutch Government regulations on 8 December, this talk will be held in person and online or will move fully online.

Please context Esther Eumann for online joining details: e.eumann@umail.leidenuniv.nl

40 tickets are available for those wanting to join in person in Room 028, Lipsius building, Leiden campus, Leiden University.