Global Responsibility Needs Soft Power

Germany’s demonstrated commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism has been lauded around the world in the past decade. Therewith, the country has earned a global leadership role and the standing of a valued and respected partner. Its reputation has also been coined by Angela Merkel’s exerted soft power. Therefore, in the long run, maintaining this reputation will require more engagement from local foundations and actors from civil society and the private sector. But how can their impact be amplified and their engagement take an even larger stance at the global level?

On 5th June 2019, Global Perspectives Initiative hosted a private circle dinner in Berlin with representatives from politics, media, business, and civil society to discuss this and many other important questions considering global leadership and ways to assume greater responsibility through multilateral and multi-stakeholder approaches.

Mark Suzman, Chief Strategy Officer and President Global Policy and Advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shared his views on Germany’s role in global development and what he has learned by leading strategy and advocacy for one of the world’s largest and most influential private foundations.

Afterwards, thanks to the participants’ stimulating contributions, a broad discussion followed, which included a variety of perspectives and highlighted many important issues, from rebuilding trust in institutions to the responsibility of the media in steering the public discourse on global challenges.