Discussion with Dr. Theo Sommer, DIE ZEIT

This is a special Discussion and Reception program for American Friends of Bucerius and American Council on Germany program alumni

with

Dr. Theo Sommer
Editor-at-Large, DIE ZEIT

Introduced by

Ambassador Peter Wittig
German Ambassador to the United States

Dr. Theo Sommer has been Editor-at-Large of the German weekly DIE ZEIT since 2000. Prior to his current position, Dr. Sommer was Publisher of DIE ZEIT from 1993 to 2000 and Editor-in-Chief from 1973 to 1993. In addition to his current role at DIE ZEIT, Dr. Sommer serves as Dean and Academic Director of the Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance. From 1969 to 1970, Dr. Sommer headed the Policy Planning Staff at the German Defense Ministry, where in 1970 he was responsible for the Defense Ministry’s White Book. He has since played a prominent role on various commissions, including as Vice-Chairman of the Commission on Common Security and the Future of the German Army (Weizsäcker Commission) from 1999 to 2000 and as Chairman of the Task Force Investigating the Effects of Depleted Uranium Ammunitions, Radar, and Asbestos on German Armed Forces from January to June 2001. He was also a member of the International Commission on the Balkans from 1995 to 1996 and of the Independent International Commission on Kosovo from 1999 to 2000. Dr. Sommer studied history, political science, and international relations at Åsa Folkhögskola in Sweden, Manchester College in Indiana, the University of Chicago, and the University of Tübingen. In 1960, he was a participant in ACG Board Member Henry Kissinger’s International Summer Seminar at Harvard University. From 1976 to 1983, he also served as the representative of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt on the ACG’s selection committee of the John J. McCloy Fund.

This program is by invitation only for AFB and ACG alumni. If you would like to learn more about the program, please email us at info[at]buceriususa.org.