A sort ofExperience has shown that foreign policy issues can hardly determine election results. September 26 may not be any different either. However, Afghanistan’s failure is a cruel reminder of the often self-justified Germany that some issues need to be dealt with more deeply—even in the campaign—rather than having a glamorous resume and laughing at the wrong time.
The withdrawal of Afghanistan, a relatively insignificant country in Asia, marks the final end of an era and utopia: she believes that after the end of the (first) East-West conflict, Western concepts of human dignity and world democracy will change to a great extent. The upper hand prevails. At best, this dream is just a love on earth in the German version. However, even the use of military power by countries committed to this mission with more sober motives cannot prevent radical ideologies and the forces that represent them from regaining their footing.
Afghanistan has exposed the political and military weaknesses of the West more ruthlessly than Syria and Iraq. However, in international business, weakness will always allow you to be used by authoritarian countries and unscrupulous terrorists. Both types of ambitious actors are more than enough.
Prosperity is in danger
It cannot be assumed that Germany has enjoyed peace longer than ever in its history. The extensive prosperity that the Germans have achieved since World War II is increasingly in danger. In the long and increasingly ruthless journey to the top of the world, China poses an increasing threat in these two areas. How will Germany respond? It has the greatest influence in the European Union. However, despite the growing threat from Moscow, its members did not get closer, but quarreled more and more so that people had to worry about the whole thing.
Germany is also more divided into political camps than ever before. The willingness to compromise has become lower, and the tone of the debate has become sharper and more hurtful, whether it is about energy policy, vaccination, or domestic me. The refugee crisis in 2015 showed how dramatic and lasting changes in the world have affected domestic politics. Almost all political parties are worried about new immigration disputes and their consequences. But the Republic will not be able to escape it. In Afghanistan, the “Reducing Causes of Displacement” project also failed. Terrorism, war and climate change will lead to an increase in immigration to Europe. Then Germany will have to decide more clearly than ever that it wants to position itself between the poles of “accepting everything” and “rejecting everything.”
The plague exposes weaknesses
The Islamists of the Stone Age not only shook the belief that the country was fully prepared for various challenges, but also shook the flood disaster, especially the virus. The epidemic has ruthlessly exposed weak links in the political system, administration and infrastructure. As the government’s aid reached dizzying heights, the wave of bankruptcy was prevented from sweeping Germany like a flood rushing through the Ahr Valley. But how did this mountain of debt be eliminated again? Who will be required to pay for this?
Whether it is about national finances, climate and energy policies, or internal peace: at the end of the Merkel era, the Republic faces no fewer difficult decisions than at the beginning. But they also have the opportunity to start again and free themselves from the accumulated ballast. Political parties have announced their plans and proposals, but often without detailed rules, also out of fear of voters. Which plan the ruling German coalition will agree to is a completely different question, and so is its composition.
In the next few weeks, we will publish a series of editorials. From our perspective, these editorials should be conducted in the most important political sphere so that Germans can continue to live in freedom, peace and prosperity. Germany need not worry about the future-if it exhausts its potential. In recent years, this has not always been the case.
Not very popular offer
It is unfair to make such accusations against politicians alone. Even after the federal election, not only new officials should remember John F. Kennedy’s famous quote: “Don’t ask what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
However, the following sentence should not be forgotten now, which is not so popular in Germany: “My fellow citizens all over the world: Don’t ask what the United States will do for you, but what we can do together for freedom. .”
