Contested Freedom

The United States and Europe have historically understood themselves as a community of shared values rooted in the principles of the Enlightenment. Their common political and social ideal has been based on the protection of human rights, pluralistic democracy, and a free-market economic order.

For a long time, the value of freedom was the glue that held the United States and Europe together. “I am a Berliner”—the legendary sentence spoken by President Kennedy in 1963—symbolized for decades the United States’ determination to defend the freedom of the West. In 1987, President Reagan called out from the Brandenburg Gate: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Yet, particularly since the beginning of the second Trump administration, the understanding of freedom on both sides of the Atlantic has undergone a profound transformation. How do these differing concepts of freedom compare? What potential for conflict arises from them? What is freedom worth today—and how will it be defended in the future?

These questions will be discussed by:

Dr. Ronald Granieri, Professor of History and Director of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College

Dr. Norbert Röttgen, Member of the German Bundestag, Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group responsible for foreign affairs, defense, and human rights

Dr. Rachel Tausendfreund, Senior Research Fellow specializing in transatlantic relations at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)

The discussion will be moderated by journalist Dr. Melinda Crane.

You are cordially invited to this joint event hosted by the Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Kohl-Stiftung and the Konrad-Adenauer-Forum Berlin.

Registration is requested.

The event will be held in German.

Venue:
Konrad-Adenauer-Forum Berlin
Behrenstraße 18, 10117 Berlin