Program

How Americans in Germany and Germans in the USA experience the election campaigns

Monday, 29 September, 2008, 7:00 pm (free entrance)

Discussion on “The Americans“: How Americans see themselves, and how they are seen by others. Do Americans elect the candidate they identify themselves most with?

Opening of the event series:
Mark C. Donfried, Founder & Director, Institute for Cultural Diplomacy / Thomas Krüger, President, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung

Guests:
Marlene Benesch, lecturer and journalist / Todd Fletcher, composer and stage director / Eric Langenbacher, political scientist, Georgetown University / Werner Peters, author of the book “Rätsel Amerika – Warum Amerikaner ganz anders sind“ / Scot W. Stevenson, author of the blog “USA Erklärt”, nominated for the Grimme Online Award 2007

Moderators:
Heather DeLisle, moderator, Deutsche Welle TV / Rik DeLisle, “Der alte Ami“, radio presenter rs2

Afterwards:
Opening of the exhibition „U.S.fAcets“ and small reception

Music:
Del Sykes, accompanied by Charlyn Green, (classical)

Senators, Governors and Presidents: Who is elected and how the election process works in the U.S.

Monday, 6 October, 2008, 7:00 pm (free entrance)

A colorful overview of the electoral system and the election procedures in the US. President or Sheriff - which vote is more important to Americans?

Speakers:
Alexander Longolius, founding member ”Partnerschaft der Parlamente“ / Thomas Greven, political scientist, John-F.-Kennedy-Institut, Freie Universität Berlin / Janneck Herre, historian and office manager ”Partnerschaft der Parlamente“, Berlin office

Moderator:
Ulrich Brückner, political scientist, Stanford University Program in Berlin

Music:
„Detroit“ Garry Wiggins (jazz) Anouschka (folk & indie)

The U.S. election campaign in Berlin: A debate between Democrats and Republicans

Monday, 13 October, 2008, 7:00 pm (free entrance)

Representatives of the rival parties abroad speak and answer your questions

Guests: Democrats Abroad Berlin: Jerry Gerber, media consultant / Michael Steltzer, chairman

Republicans Abroad Germany: Paul Kiefer Stefan Prystawik, vice chairman and communications director

Commentator: Don F. Jordan, journalist

Moderation: Michael S. Cullen, publicist and historian

Music: Kat Baloun & Partner, (political blues and folk) / John Shreve & Partner, (political American folk)

The new President’s foreign policy: What can the world expect from Obama and McCain?

Wednesday, 22 October, 2008, 7:00 pm (free entrance)

American Foreign Policy after Bush: To what extent will the U.S. adopt a more multilateral approach?

Guests: Claus Christian Malzahn, chief, Spiegel Online Berlin office and Anjana Shrivastava, freelance journalist, USA in discussion with Charles Kupchan, political scientist, Georgetown University

Music: “Detroit” Gary Wiggins & Darnell Stephen Summers (blues & jazz)

Bringing in the people- Modern campaigning with music and media

Monday, 27 October, 2008, 7:00 pm (free entrance)

Mobilizing or manipulating? The role of music and media in the American election campaign.

Guests: Derrick Ashong, co-founder of the group Soulfège and the youth initiative “Take Back the Mic“, Harvard University, USA / Sara Benincasa, actress, comedian, author and political activist, “Citizen Reporter”, MTV, New York / Andrew B. Denison, Director, Transatlantik Networks, Bonn

Moderation: Thomas Nehls, correspondent, WDR Studio, Berlin

Accompaniment: Sara Benincasa, stand-up comedy routine and screening of excerpts from MTV “Citizen Reports“

Election night in Berlin

Tuesday, 4 November, 6:00 pm – 2:00 am (Sold out!)

Showdown – it’s going to be a close race. Experience the finale live with us. Interviews, discussions, a new-media lounge, books, live music and American snacks provide the accompaniment.

Reading by Holly Jane Rahlens from her latest book “Mein kleines großes Leben"

Reading by Robin Goldsby from her books „Piano Girl: A Memoir“ and „Rhythm: A Novel“

Interviews with Thomas Krüger (President of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung), Michael S. Cullen (publicist and historian), Karsten Voigt (Coordinator for German-American relations at the German Foreign Office, requested) and other guests

Discussion session with the artists of "U.S.fAcets", David Solomon (Books in Berlin), Gary Wiggins (jazz musician) and other guests

Presentation of German-American institutions, programs and projects in Berlin

English book sale (St. Georges Bookshop, Books in Berlin)

Music: "Detroit" Gary Wiggins & The Cultural Diplomats featuring American Women in Berlin: Queen Yahna & Donna Brown Jazzin’ Belles, Berlin

Cocktails & American snacks

Reaction: The world’s superpower has voted – what does the rest of the world say?

Monday, 24 November, 2008, 6:00 pm (free entrance)

Two panel discussions on the interests and responsibilities of the new U.S. government in Eastern Europe.

Introduction:
Thomas Krüger, President of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung

Diplomats’ Roundtable:
Representatives of the embassies of the Republic of Poland, of the Czech Republic and of the U.S.

Moderator:
Sebastion Bickerich, editor, Tagesspiegel

Commentary:
Andrzej Stach, freelance journalist

BREAK

Journalists’-Roundtable:
John H. Brown, historian and publicist, Georgetown University / Jiří Hošek, Czech radio correspondent / Michal Jaranowski, correspondent, Warsaw daily paper „Zycie Warszawy“

Moderator:
Andrzej Stach, freelance journalist

Commentary:
Jackson Janes, Executive Director, American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Washington D.C. / Karsten Voigt, Coordinator for German-American Relations, German Foreign Office

Closing Words:
Mark C. Donfried, Founder and Director, TheInstitute for Cultural Diplomacy

Music:
Ray Blue (jazz & blues)

Close with buffet