Germany, Russia, and the Rise of Geo-Economics with Dr. Stephen F. Szabo

The American Friends of Bucerius and the American Council on Germany cordially invite you to a Discussion and Luncheon as part of the 2015 Transatlantic Global Agenda Series with Dr. Stephen F. Szabo, Executive Director, Transatlantic Academy, who will speak on his new book, Germany, Russia, and the Rise of Geo-Economics.

In his book Germany, Russia and the Rise of Geo-Economics, Dr. Stephen F. Szabo takes a close look at Germany as the second-largest exporter in the world. Its economic might has made it the center of the Eurozone and the pivotal power of Europe. Like other geo-economic powers, Germany’s foreign policy is characterized by a definition of the national interest in economic terms and the elevation of economic interests over non-economic values such as human rights or democracy promotion. Dr. Szabo provides a description and analysis of German policy towards Russia. He explores the role of German business and finance in the shaping of foreign policy and he discusses the ways in which its dealings with Russia affect Germany in terms of the importing of corruption and crime and its larger role in Europe and the extent to which the Ukraine crisis has changed Germany’s foreign and economic policies.

Dr. Stephen F. Szabo is the Executive Director of the Transatlantic Academy (TA). The TA, which is a partnership between the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin and Gerd Bucerius of Hamburg, the Robert Bosch Stiftung of Stuttgart, and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation of Milwaukee, is a forum for research and dialogue between scholars, policy experts, and authors from both sides of the Atlantic. The TA’s purpose is to strengthen the transatlantic partnership by bringing together fellows to conduct intensive research and discussion on a single topic for a year, with the goal of introducing their research findings into the policy discussions on both sides of the Atlantic.  Previously, Dr. Szabo had been with the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, where he served as academic and interim dean as well as professor of European studies. Prior to that, he had served as professor of national security affairs at the National Defense University and Chairman of West European Studies at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State. He has written on German foreign and security policies, generational politics in Europe, and transatlantic security and political relations.