Workshop Africa
Security Policy in West Africa against the Background of the Elections in Ghana
The West African coastal countries are increasingly affected by growing insecurity from the northern neighbouring states of the Sahel. Following military coups, the Sahel states of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have not only become more insecure and unstable, but also more challenging international partners – military stabilisation missions in this region, including with German participation, have all failed.
Ghana ist one of the coastal countries that is already benefiting from a great deal of military and material support. At the same time, however, Ghana is currently also experiencing a structural economic crisis, which has significantly restricted the government’s room for manoeuvre. On 7 December 2024, competitive elections will be held in Ghana, the outcome of which will be of great importance for the consolidation or continued weakening of democracy in the country. The results of these elections are also something of a litmus test for the wider region.
Panel talk with:
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of the Ghanaian Parliament
Lisa Tschörner, Conflict Researcher, German Institute for International and Security Affairs
Karamba Diaby, Member of the German Bundestag
Moderation: Thomas Claes, Desk Officer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Rapporteur: Martin Güttler, Resident Representative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Ghana
Workshop Asia
Between rivalry and cooperation - The Indo-Pacific after the US elections
What consequences will the US presidential election have for the Indo-Pacific and Europe’s involvement in the region? Is there a risk of an intensification of great power rivalry? What would this mean for the countries in the Indo-Pacific? And how should Europe respond? Do we need a transatlantic Indo-Pacific strategy or European “strategic autonomy”? What are the chances of establishing a sustainable security architecture in the Indo-Pacific and what role could Europe play in this?
Charmaine Misalucha-Willoughby, Associate Professor, Department for International Studies, De La Salle Universität, Philippines
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Professor, International Relations, Political Science Faculty and Senior Fellow, Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Christoph Schmid, Member of the German Bundestag
Moderation: Mirco Günther, Head of the Asia-Pacific Department, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin
Rapporteur: Marie Schröter, Resident Representative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Philippines
Workshop Eastern Europe
Future Perspectives for Eastern Europe in a Multipolar World
The German public debate on the war in Ukraine is characterised by a desire for clarity. However, political events of recent months show that (international) politics is unlikely to meet this need. Trump’s election campaign and legitimate demands from countries in the Global South for a change in priorities or better still a ceasefire to freeze the conflict or even a quick end to the war only coincide with Germany’s interests to a limited extent. What will the outcome of the US elections mean for the war in Ukraine and security in Europe? What role can democratic Europe play with regard to security in Eastern Europe, despite the rise of right-wing parties we are seeing here and worldwide? And what form must social democratic foreign and security policy now take in order to have a positive impact on the challenges faced by Eastern Europe?
Felix Hett, Resident Representative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kiew
Nils Schmid, Member of the German Bundestag
Alexey Yusupov, Head of Russia Programme, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Moderation: Lisa Gürth, Desk Officer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Workshop Middle East
What impact will the US elections have on the war in Gaza, a possible solution to the Middle East conflict and the security situation in neighbouring countries?
This panel will analyse the security challenges from a Palestinian, Israeli and regional perspective and identify the potential consequences of the US presidential elections for the Middle East. What American foreign policy scenarios might we expect for the Middle East conflict? What does this mean for the role of Germany and the European Union? This workshop will discuss ideas for a social democratic approach to foreign policy in the Middle East conflict.
Amr Hamzawy, Director Middle East Programme, Carnegie Endowment
Tahani Mustafa, Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group (tbc)
Ehud Eiran, Expert, DiploMeds - The Council for Mediterranean Diplomacy
Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Sanae Abdi, Member of the German Bundestag
Moderation: Friederike Stolleis, Desk Officer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Workshop Western Balkans
Contest of Wills – Three-Dimensional Competition for Future Order in Southeast Europe
Scenario: The re-election of Donald Trump exposes the rupture of various regulatory ideas in the Western Balkans. The Western Balkans are caught between international interests and geopolitical strategies.
This workshop will shed light on these dynamics in the context of a hypothetical re-election of Donald Trump. Four main perspectives will be discussed:
1. The EU, represented by Germany: An approach focused on social transformation, democratisation and development. This perspective emphasises peaceful conflict resolution, the importance of smaller states and their role as actors in international relations.
2. The USA under Trump: An imperial policy that emphasises Serbia as a regional power and favours deals driven by realpolitik, even at the cost of shifting borders. This transactional approach contrasts strongly with the transformative approach of the European ideal.
3. Elite conflicts in the Western Balkans: In the countries of the Western Balkans, tension prevails between pro-European reform forces and ethno-nationalist chauvinism. Political and economic conflicts are directly influenced by external powers.
4. Influence of third countries: The influence of countries such as Turkey, Russia and China on the Western Balkans will be analysed, with a focus on their strategies and objectives. The aim of this workshop is to sensitise participants to the complex geopolitical and regulatory dynamics in the Western Balkans and to discuss the impact of a possible Trump re-election on the region.
Radmila Šekerinska, Vice President, Party of European Socialists, North Macedonia
Adi Ćerimagić, Expert, European Stability Initiative (ESI)
Donika Emini, Executive Director of the CiviKos Platform, Kosovo
René Schlee, Head of the Regional Office Dialogue Southeast Europe, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Sarajevo
Moderation: Philipp Rotmann, Director and Niklas Balbon, Research Associate, Global Public Policy Institute
Rapporteur: Harun Cero, Project Manager Regional Office Dialogue Southeast Europe, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Sarajevo