On 6th April 2018, Das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with the Progressive Policy Institute held a farewell reception to wrap up the visit of a US-Delegation including Democrats and Republicans. The event marked the highlight of a five day trip to Europe – including Paris, Brussels and Berlin – in which the state of transatlantic relations were at the center of interest.

Bundestagsabgeordnete berieten über die transatlantischen Beziehungen: In welchem Zustand befindet sich die Demokratische Partei ein knappes Jahr nach den US-Präsidentschaftswahlen? Wie steht es unter Präsident Trump um die transatlantische Freundschaft? Und welche Auswirkungen könnte die Deutsche Bundestagswahl auf die europäische Haltung gegenüber den USA haben?

John Podesta is best known for his service as chief of staff to former US president Bill Clinton. He further chaired Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, served as a Counselor to Barack Obama and is the founder of the our US-partner think tank „Center for American Progress“ (CAP). On May 3, 2017, Das Progressive Zentrum had the honour to welcome John Podesta for political talks in the German capital.

The Brexit referendum and the election victory of Donald Trump were the first major successes of right-wing populists in the Western world. Populist agenda, which often lacks valid arguments, proved to be convincing to certain parts of American and British society. Could this scenario repeat in continental Europe? To tackle this question Das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation invited five American experts and political consultants to a political breakfast on February 24th.

In his campaign Donald Trump promised economic policy that will return the power to “the people”. Meanwhile, his agenda includes massive tax cuts, support for economic nationalism on trade favouring exports over imports, financial deregulation and cuts to federal spending on public health care, housing, education, environmental protection. Nevertheless, populist arguments proved to be convincing to certain parts of American society. Could this scenario repeat in Europe? To tackle this question, Das Progressive Zentrum invited five American experts and political consultants to share their thoughts on the recent rise of populism in the U.S. and its possible development in Europe.

Expect German-American relations to cool over the coming months as September’s elections draw closer

Der neue US-Präsident wird nicht alle europäischen Interessen gegen Putin verteidigen. Ein Szenario zeigt, wieso Europa sich wieder um seine eigene Sicherheit kümmern muss und dabei neue Wege beschreiten sollte.

Die Ratlosigkeit der Linken ermöglicht den Triumph der Rechten. Fünf Thesen zur Wahl Donald Trumps

The unexpected happened and we are still searching for an answer why it happened and what might be the adequate response. This essay attempts to look for the reasons of the current success of populists on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and to face the challenge that is produced by this convergence.

On Thursday, November 17, 6.30-8.30 pm, Das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) from Washington D.C. and Heinrich Boell Stiftung hosted a roundtable analyzing the outcome of the U.S. election, discussing electoral shifts and drawing consequences for elections in Europe next year especially in terms of strategies against populism.

On Friday, July 1, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Das Progressive Zentrum hosted a roundtable discussion on the US American Presidential Elections. After introductions by Ernst Stetter (Secretary General, FEPS) and Dominic Schwickert (Director, Das Progressive Zentrum), we were delighted to engage in a discussion with Ken Gude (Senior Fellow with the National Security Team, Center for American Progress), Paul Nolte (Professor of Contemporary History, Free University of Berlin), and Barbara Junge (Deputy Editor, taz.die tageszeitung). The roundtable was chaired by Sudha David-Wilp (Deputy Director Berlin Office and Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States).