Transatlantic Conference on “The Future of the Transatlantic Relationship: NATO and Democracy on the Ballot.”

On Wednesday, July 10, parallel to the NATO summit in Washington celebrating NATO’s 75^th anniversary, the FES USA & Canada hosted a Transatlantic Conference on “The Future of the Transatlantic Relationship: NATO and Democracy on the Ballot.” The conference featured two expert panels on the future of NATO and the outlook for global democracy in this “super election year.”

The first panel, “Navigating Troubled Waters – The Future of NATO,” was moderated by Jeff Rathke, President of the American-German Institute, and featured Congressman Jason Crow (CO-6), Member of the German Bundestag Marja-Liisa Völlers (SPD), Max Bergmann from the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Europe Program, Spencer Boyer of Albright Stonebridge Group, and Heather Hurlburt of Chatham House as panelists. The panel focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the alliance in the upcoming years.

Much of the panel discussion concentrated on the Global South – how the Iraq invasion shattered the illusion of a rules-based order, and the West’s narrative in the Global South along with it. The war in Ukraine, juxtaposed with the war in Gaza and western inattention to crises in the Global South, has continued to undermine support for the west in these countries. Panelists agreed that there are no easy solutions to this challenge. Since the western world is no longer the only game in town, the west must listen to the Global South, approach them at eye-level, and be willing to implement (or compromise on) their needs and desires.

Panelists also discussed China’s support of the war in Ukraine and the challenge this dynamic has presented to both NATO and the global order. They also addressed the difference that intelligence and information-sharing made in the run-up to the war in Ukraine and continues to make now. The discussion also emphasized the need to forge a new American patriotism, which allows for the ability to improve the country and pursue the building of a more perfect union while acknowledging its shortcomings.

The second panel, “Democracy on the Ballot – Strengthening Transatlantic Democratic Resilience,” was moderated by John K. Glenn, Senior Director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy, and featured FES’ very own Jordan Leichnitz, Karen Nussbaum of Working America, Rebecca Pearcy from Bryson Gillette, and Daniel Weiner from the Brennan Center for Justice as panelists.

The discussion focused on which messages are resonating with voters, and strategies to reach voters and new networks. Panelists emphasized the need to find common ground with voters especially by having multiple one-on-one conversations with them that involve listening to their concerns. In particular the necessity of getting rid of hierarchical messaging and meeting people where they are by having an impact in their lives (instead of talking down to them), and the need to focus on kitchen table issues from a progressive perspective, are crucial in this endeavor.

Overall, there was agreement among the panelists that the center progressive perspective is missing, or is not being communicated effectively, as many people hear populist messages from the right and the left, but not from the center. Progressives also don’t have a narrative that is as effective as the populists do right now: the story that institutions are at fault for the death of the American dream – a message that resonates strongly, and progressives cannot match. Many local papers (which reach many “lost voters”) are being bought by conservative outlets, which shrinks the audience that receives progressive messaging further. Panelists also touched on the landscape of disinformation and divisive rhetoric, pointing out that neither is new but that the amplification of this information and the speed at which it travels is.

The conference closed with a reception, which featured a welcome speech by German Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius. In his speech, Minister Pistorius celebrated the 75^th anniversary of NATO as a milestone in the history of global security and cooperation, underscoring NATO’s ability to adapt to new challenges, its centrality to the maintenance of a rules-based international order, and the importance of maintaining the unity and strength of NATO. He emphasized the importance of bolstering NATO’s deterrence and defense posture and ensuring fair burden sharing (particularly by expanding the industrial capacity of Allies). The Minister highlighted the need to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

 

At the reception afterwards, our guests discussed these topics further, networked, and enjoyed refreshments and live music from ThePresident of Rock and Roll. This reception also served as a farewell to Knut Dethlefsen as the Representative to the FES in the United States & Canada. Thank you for your service, Knut!