A Discussion with the Deputy Consul General
Last week, we had the incredible privilege of speaking with Mr. Dirk Schulz, the Deputy Consul General from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany. Throughout the talk, we discussed a bit of Germany’s history, learned about the country’s governmental structures, and then had a conversation surrounding the war in Ukraine. In our time with Mr. Schulz, I received the opportunity to inquire about the political climate in Germany as a result of the war, and I received incredible insight about how the country is evolving due to the current state of affairs.
Given Germany’s proximity to Ukraine, it is no question that the country is experience the aftershock of the war. With access to Russian oil being cut off, German citizens are experiencing undesirable, inflated prices. Moreover, pressures from foreign powers are mounting on the German government to provide aid in the form of military equipment. As a nation that has strived to live in peace, however, great internal conflict has arisen in Germany. An underequipped military has required drastic increases in government funding to modernize and prepare for greater involvement, and of course this begins to call into question how the German people will respond to these changes. In a recent news report, it was estimated that nearly 35% of Germans do not support backing Ukraine. As the country continues to experience internal turmoil, shifts in power may be inbound as a result. A recent closed election in Berlin saw an undesirable outcome for the progressive parties, which may indicate a shift in the political attitudes coming about from the shockwaves of war.
All of this begins to beg the question as to how the trajectory of Germany’s future could change. Could the visions of a green country be put completely on hold as conservative parties claim greater influence in this time of war? While the answers remain unclear, Mr. Schulz noted that he sees no clear end in sight for the war, which means that the political climate in Germany is one that is highly turbulent, with the potential for a change in momentum in just the blink of an eye. Nonetheless, there is the possibility for the promise of Germany’s future. The need to obtain alternative energy sources could stoke the flames necessary to propel the country toward their carbon neutral goals more rapidly.
All in all, our time with Mr. Schulz was one of incredible insight, and I cannot express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to learn more about Germany’s current state of affairs from such a wise, knowledgeable figure.
