Global Atlanticists

The "Global Atlanticists" Network, initiated by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in 2003, is a bipartisan transatlantic network of German and U.S. lawmakers and key policy advisors. The flagship program of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Washington Office, the Network was founded to nurture the shared ideals of the Transatlantic relationship: democratic values, robust trade, and the NATO alliance rooted in collective security.

Comprised of politicians from across the political spectrum, experts in the think-tank community, and senior-level actors from both sides of the Atlantic, the Global Atlanticists Network aims at "globalizing" the transatlantic debate and cooperation: We want to broaden the transatlantic agenda and provide a dependable basis for effective European-American cooperation. The goals of the Network, broadly speaking, are to:

• Provide an environment for a straightforward transatlantic dialogue on German, American, and transatlantic foreign, security, and development policy and deepen the mutual understanding of frameworks which underpin them;
• Improve the transatlantic framework for managing different economic, political, and military capacities;
• Build up and strengthen personal networks.

Through the realization of these goals, the Global Atlanticists Network seeks to convene the next generation of Transatlantic leaders not just within the context of thematic discussions and meetings, but through personal, professional connection. 

The Network has already met in seventeen conferences and exchange visits since 2003 in the U.S., Germany, Russia, Morocco, China, Russia, Poland, Turkey, the UK, and Belgium. Previous agendas have included discussions of common security challenges (nuclear proliferation, terrorism, policy in the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, NATO, Russia and Ukraine), the global financial crisis, international economic trends and trade, the future of work, energy, EU foreign and security policy, political Islam, migration, Brexit, populism, and the future of Western democratic societies.

Coverage of the latest Global Atlanticist Meeting and a selection of past program coverage and agendas can be found below. 

From April 23-27 2019, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation will host the 18th Meeting of the Global Atlanticists Network, convening in Berlin, Dresden, and Paris.

The flagship program of the Washington Office of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the 2019 Meeting will begin in Berlin, Germany, and conclude in Paris, France. The network will focus on the current state of transatlantic relations and the interrelated issues of (rightwing) populism, political participation, and the future of work.

April 17-21, 2017 in Hamburg and London

Organized in cooperation with the Hamburg and London Office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Watch a quick slideshow HERE

March 15-19, 2014 in Berlin and Warsaw

Organized in cooperation with the Berlin and Warsaw Office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

• Transatlantic Agenda and Transatlantic Policy
• Approaches Towards Russia and Eastern Europe
• Germany's Responsibility in Foreign and Security Policy
• A Cooperative Approach to the NSA Issue
• Ukraine's Future in Europe | Germany's Russia Approach
• Financial Crisis | Lessons
• The Energy Revolutions
• TTIP
• Poland's Foreign Policy, Perspective on Russia and Ukraine

Agenda

March 21-26, 2013 in Berlin and Brussels

Organized in cooperation with the Berlin and EU offices of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

• The Financial Crisis and the Crisis of the Eurozone
• Free Trade
• Germany in Europe and the Future of Europe
• European-American Cooperation in Asia
• Syria
• Energy Transition in Germany

Agenda

May 1-4, 2012 in Washington, DC

Organized in cooperation with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) and the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE).

• The Middle East in Flux: Acute Crises (Iran and Syria); Key Players (Egypt, Israel and Turkey);
• EU and U.S. Perspectives
• Dealing with the Financial Crises
• Responding to the Rise of China
• Briefings on the U.S. Elections

Agenda

April 16-23, 2011 in Beijing, China

Organized in cooperation with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) and the FES Beijing Office.

• China's Security Concept
• US-China Relations
• Germany-China Relations
• China's Asia Policy

Agenda

April 13-16, 2010 in DC / NYC

Organized in cooperation with the Berlin and EU offices of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

• Financial Crisis: Unemployment & Labor Market; Regulation of the Financial Sector
• Confronting Int. Security Challenges with Hard and Soft Power: Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, Security & Development/Smart Power, Security Policy (U.S., EU & Russia)
• Devising a Joint Int. Security Strategy; Mobilizing Resources in Times of Fiscal Distress
• European-American Responsibility and Cooperation in a Multipolar World
• Managing the Global Economic Crisis: Role of the UN; Testing the UN's Security Role in a Multipolar World: Afghanistan

New York program organized in cooperation with the FES New York Office and the Century Foundation.

Agenda

May 16-19, 2009 in Moscow, Russia

Organized in cooperation with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).

• Coping with the Global Financial Crisis: From National Crisis Management to Sustainable Multilateral Solutions?
• Iran, Afghanistan, Middle East: Common Strategies to Address Challenges in the "Arc of Conflict"?
• European Security Governance and NATO-Russia-Relations: Window of Opportunity for a New Strategic Partnership?

Event Report (Russian)

April 13-16, 2008 in Washington, DC

Organized in cooperation with the Berlin and EU offices of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

• Confronting Threats Beyond National Boundaries: The Need for Transatlantic and Multilateral cooperation
• On the Eve of a US Recession: Implications for the Transatlantic Partners and the World Economy
• The Future of Transatlantic Relations in a Global Context

Thorsten Benner (Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin) is a member of the group and has written on this year's meeting on the need for a German/European Iraq strategy. The article has been published in the Financial Times Germany and in the Guardian:

Agenda

October 31st - November 4, 2007 in Rabat, Morocco

Organized in cooperation with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).

• Political Islam
• Regional Security Cooperation
• Economic Development in the Middle East

Agenda

September 14-18, 2006 in San Diego / Anaheim, California

• Conflict Transformation: The Six-Party Talks with North Korea – What Lessons Can be learned for other States with Nuclear Ambitions like Iran?
• Comprehensive Strategies for the Reaction of Democratic States to Terrorism
• Tour of the U.S.-Mexican Border
• Tour of Long Beach Port: Discussion with Officials of the Port of Long Beach, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Joint Terrorism Task Force on Harbor Related
• International Security Issues

Agenda

October 13-16, 2005 in Berlin

• The Future of German-American Cooperation on Global Issues
• Migration and Religion: Integrating Immigrants with Different Religious and Cultural Backgrounds
• World Order 2020: European-American Strategies for Dealing with Emerging Powers and Reforming the UN
• Turkey's Place in Europe: The EU Crisis and the Debates on Enlargement and Neighborhood Policies

January 30 - February 2, 2005 in Washington, DC

• A Common Strategy for the Broader Middle East
• The Challenge of Dealing and Trading with Emerging Economies
• Demography and Immigration
• The Meaning of Values and Religion in American Domestic and International Politics

April 3-5, 2004 in Washington, DC

• Common Security
• Democracy Promotion: Different Approaches - Joint Responsibilities?
• Social Justice in a Free Market Economy
• Turkey's Place in Europe: The EU Crisis and the Debates on Enlargement and Neighborhood Policies

November 8-10, 2003 in Berlin

• New Threats, Old Threats, and How to Deal with Them
• New Forms of Transatlantic Cooperation
• Practical Questions of Cooperation: Iran