Germany's Role in a Changing Global Order

“Germany’s Role in a Changing Global Order” comprises a series of essays addressing Germany’s readiness to adapt to current geopolitical realities. This anthology is the product of several workshops organized by GMF and the Alfred Landecker Foundation on the Zeitenwende, or “turning point”, which marked a major change in Germany’s approach to its security after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The essays explore Germany's strategic culture, its responsibility for a free and sovereign Ukraine, and its role in the EU and the Indo-Pacific region. They also examine the ways in which Germany can move beyond its "comfort zone” and the importance of social resilience.

Foreword

Wartime Europe has forced Germany out of its comfort zone. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine put an end to illusions of a lasting peace dividend that Europe has held on to dearly since World War II. Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged this turning point three years ago in his “Zeitenwende” speech in the German parliament.

Since then, Germany, the reluctant power, has been trying to adapt to shifting geopolitical realities. For well over a decade, the country’s partners hoped it would match its economic might with military weight. Scholz’s address offered a breakthrough moment for Germany to shed its automatic aversion to the use of force and recast its historical responsibility to defend democracy. Progress has been made since then. Material investment in defense, energy transformation, and a growing realism toward authoritarian actors will undoubtedly strengthen Germany’s role as a capable partner in the long run. In the meantime, however, European partners

have voiced frustration over discrepancies in Berlin’s proclamations and actual commitments

to strengthening the continent. Scholz himself recognizes that his country requires a “new strategic culture” to navigate a post- 1989 global order and maintain momentum for transformation.

The Alfred Landecker Foundation and the German Marshall Fund of the United States have partnered over the past year to convene decision-makers and experts to discuss Germany’s challenges in the face of this turning point. A working group called “Zeitenwende–Navigating Change in a Fractured World” has examined the country’s evolving foreign and security policy against the backdrop of political and social constraints.

Chaired by former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, the working group has held meetings that provided platforms for frank debates on the need to face geopolitical challenges, make strategic choices, and convey these priorities to a wider public. Participants came from across the political spectrum to share their national and international perspectives on Germany’s capacity and limitations to act, the expectations of Germany’s partners, and the adjustments needed to strengthen German foreign and security policy. At its core, this project is about fostering a trusted network that enables open dialogue at a pivotal period for Germany and Europe. In this spirit, this compendium of essays comes from a group of authors who addressed issues related to Germany’s role in the world in the run-up to the country’s February 2025 election.

Following Joschka Fischer’s introduction, the first contribution by Julia Friedrich reviews

German support for Ukraine and offers recommendations for the next government. It is followed by a piece from Tobias Bunde, who delves into the implications of the war for the European security order and Germany’s role as a security actor in Europe. He concludes that the country must transform itself from a perceived roadblock into “Europe’s enabling power”.

Georgina Wright broadens the scope to address European sovereignty and the challenge Europe faces to remain competitive. She outlines Germany’s critical role in balancing the different interests of EU member states to achieve ambitious and decisive European action.

Going beyond Europe, Dhruva Jaishankar discusses Germany’s role in the Indo-Pacific. He argues that the country has significant economic and security interests in the region, and lays out a path for Berlin to scale up its bilateral and multilateral engagement there. As a changing global order also implies considerable social challenges, Karsten Jung and Tobias Spöri shift the focus to resilience and its implied costs. They contend that confronting the German public with the difficult decisions ahead will be critical to holding the necessary honest national debates on Germany’s way forward. As has become increasingly evident, scaling up defense capabilities requires a shift in mindset and a willingness to reallocate resources.

Finally, Carsten Cramer from the German soccer club Borussia Dortmund offers a personal reflection on the relationship between soccer and society at a time when questions of sponsoring partnerships have brought military and defense issues onto the soccer pitch and, therefore, to the heart of society.

This report was published in cooperation with the Alfred Landecker Foundation. 

Silke Muelherr is co-CEO of the Alfred Landecker Foundation, which supports the strengthening of democracy and contemporary Holocaust remembrance.

Sudha David-Wilp is the vice president of external relations and a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.