English Summary #1

On February 27th, 2022, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “Wir erleben eine Zeitenwende. Und das bedeutet: Die Welt danach ist nicht mehr dieselbe, wie die Welt davor” (We are experiencing a turning point. And that means the world after is not the same as the world before).

This was in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine just three days earlier. The use of the word "Zeitenwende" is interesting because it is a very important word in German politics. "Zeitenwende" (Turning Point) is a term used to describe significant events in history, such as the fall of the Iron Curtain or the start of the Cold War. The idea that Germany is experiencing a turning point in its relations with the nations around it is why Germany has sanctioned Russia, sent arms to Ukraine, and increased its military budget. The question is how serious is this turning point and what can we do to change the future for the better? This was the subject that Prof. Dr. Meyer discussed in his speech on March 21, 2023. He first explained the concrete meaning of the term “Zeitenwende.” Specifically, he wanted to know what kind of event the term refers to and how this compares to the understanding of a “turning point” in other languages. The first part of the term, “Zeiten,” is defined as “a linguistic metaphor that stands for a social, temporal... condition.” This is a turn of at least 180, not a simple curve. In this respect, “Zeitenwende” could be seen as a time in which the direction history is heading seemingly turns 180 degrees. This can be seen in more recent “Zeitenwende,” such as the terrorist attack on the USA on September 11, 2001, or in much older changes, such as the fall of Rome or the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

The term “Zeitenwende” is then discussed in the context of revealing failed foreign policy. Germany has been pursuing a policy of “Ostpolitik” for decades, which was shaped by ex-Chancellor Willy Brandt. In modern geopolitics, Ostpolitik was seen as a way to balance Germany's foreign relations with the West and the East. This policy made Germany more dependent on Russian oil and resulted in Germany feeling confident enough to reduce its defense spending. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, this policy proved naïve when Russia began invading Ukraine. In this way, the current “Zeitenwende” in Germany can be seen as a collective realization of the current reality. A reality in which Germany is being pushed more westward rather than balancing between the two sides.

In the end, the “Zeitenwende” can be understood as a political project. The drastic change brought about by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has already resulted in 100 billion euros being allocated for the improvement of the German armed forces and over 14 billion euros being sent as aid to Ukraine. In addition, Germany has become the center for training Ukrainian soldiers in Europe. “The Atlantic alliance has never been stronger,” said Chancellor Scholz. The “Zeitenwende” is also seen as a way to move the German economy away from Russian natural gas and towards renewable energies. These changes are in addition to drastic societal changes that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, the last few years have proven to be a significant “turning point” in politics in Germany and worldwide. From COVID-19 to the war in Ukraine, the world has faced several radical changes in the last few years. While these changes have been significant, they have also shown how we can grow to overcome these challenges. In the words of Christoph Heusgen, Director of the Munich Security Conference, “The turning point is what we all make of it together.”