Pow Wow 2009

Munich, September 11-13

Invitation and Program

 

 

The Fulbright Alumni Pow Wow 2009 analyzed the consequences of the current economic crisis from different perspectives: financial, economic, geopolitical and sociopolitical.

Rather than focusing on the causes or dwelling on the problems, we attempted to consider the crisis as an opportunity for change. Participants had the chance to actively share their opinions, personal knowledge and insights in an atmosphere of open discussion.

The keynote speech was given by Dr. Jackson Janes, Executive Director of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Janes has been engaged in German- American relations for over four decades and provided his view of the crisis and its implications.

During the breakout sessions in the afternoon, the speakers talked about the consequences of the crisis from their professional perspectives and then opened the floor for discussion. The topics of the different sessions reflected each speaker’s professional expertise, each small-group session was led by the following speakers:

Dr. Markus Hess is an entrepreneur with expertise in the areas of innovations and strategy. He is the director of "Think Beyond," as well as the founder of "Schoggimail." He discussed the implications of the crisis from an entrepreneurial perspective.

Dr. Warren Hofstra is a Professor of History at Shenandoah University in Virginia. He teaches American History and the History of the Cold War. In his session, he linked the current economic crisis and the response of the Obama administration with the Great Depression and the New Deal.

Dr. Markus Hünemörder is a lecturer in American Studies at Ludwigs-Maximilians-University Munich and an expert on U.S. political culture. His talk was titled "Crisis as Opportunity? Domestic Politics and Political Culture under the Obama Administration."

Nicholas Kulish is a journalist who works as head of the Berlin office for The New York Times. Operating at the intersection of U.S. American and German politics, he has tremendous insight into the changes in the geopolitical system caused by the crisis.

After the breakout sessions, the speakers convened in a panel discussion intended to bring the different perspectives together and to the participants another opportunity for open discussion.

 

A detailed report on the 2009 Pow Wow will soon be published on this website.