Publications
Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany’s Relations with the Countries of the Global South
Commission "A Changing World – Germany and the Global South"
Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany’s Relations with the Countries of the Global South
The Commission's interim report ahead of the 2025 federal elections
Publications: Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany’s Relations with the Countries of the Global South
January 28, 2025
Berlin
Shortly after the change of administration in Washington and before the German federal elections, the Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South”, presented its first recommendations. The Commission is convened by Global Perspectives Initiative and chaired by former Federal Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.
The recommendations are based on extensive research and interviews with over 45 experts from Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. They emphasize the need for a more strategic approach to international cooperation to tackle global challenges like the climate crisis, resource scarcity, and geopolitical tensions. This includes expanding sustainable financing instruments, promoting economic partnerships, facilitating labor migration mobility, and adopting innovative solutions to address global debt and climate issues.
Commission’s Key Focus Areas
Geopolitics and Development
The rules-based liberal world order is showing signs of decline. Against this backdrop, Germany must reassess its position and, among other measures, refine its strategic approach to relations with the Global South. These countries are especially crucial partners for Europe and Germany during this period of transition to a new global order.
Economy and Trade
As one of the world's largest export and trading nations, Germany is directly affected by and vulnerable to international market developments. For the German economy to remain successful, it needs to secure increasing energy demands at competitive costs, access to raw materials, develop new markets, safeguard supply chains, and recruit skilled workers.
Labor Migration
Germany is a country of immigration. Historically, labor migration has been successful for receiving economies, and with an aging population and shrinking workforce, it is becoming increasingly necessary. However, this requires a binding strategy from the federal government.
International Finance
The interests of many countries, particularly those of the Global South, are underrepresented by the international financial institutions. This puts them at a disadvantage. Reforming these institutions to make them more inclusive serves Germany’s interests. Economic growth and stability are crucial if Germany wants to diversify and invest in new world regions.
Climate Policy and Financing
Climate damage is already causing significant costs across all continents. Regions such as Africa—particularly the Sahel—, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Pakistan, and parts of South America and Southeast Asia are especially affected. In these regions, damages will far exceed the global average. International cooperation and targeted climate strategies are therefore essential.
Kommissionsmitglieder
From 2019-2021 she served as Federal Minister of Defense after she first became Secretary General of the CDU in 2018 and later its party chair. Prior she was Prime Minister of Saarland from 2011-2018, simultaneously serving as Minister of Justice, and from 2012 on, Minister of Science. She also served as Saarland Minister of the Interior and Minister of Education in 2007 and as Minister of Labor in 2009. In 2021, she handed over the CDU party chairmanship and renounced her seat in the Bundestag.
Director and Chief Economist of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor at the Technical University of Berlin and Founding Director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change. In January 2021, he was appointed by Pope Francis as advisor to the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. Since April 2022, Edenhofer has chaired the European Advisory Board on Climate Change, which was newly established by the EU.
From 1998 to 2005 Joschka Fischer served as Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Vice-Chancellor of Germany. Later he became a visiting professor at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and supported the creation of the Spinelli Group, an initiative to reinvigorate efforts to federalize the EU. Now serving as a senior strategic counsel, he advises on foreign policy issues at the Albright Stonebridge Group and is a founding partner of Joschka Fischer and Company.
Since 2016 Prof. Dr. Christine Langenfeld has been a Judge in the Second Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court. From 2012-2016, she was the Chair of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration. She was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the University of Vienna from 2014-2019. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin since June 2021 and a member of the Senate of the Austrian Academy of Sciences since 2022.
Contact Persons
Gregor Darmer, g.darmer@globalperspectives.org
Supported by
Publications
Our collaborative publications aim to stimulate questioning and discussion. They are the result of a deep engagement with the focus topics of our work and enable a fact-based dialogue.
Related Program
The distribution of power in the international system is changing. We interviewed 10 experts from the so-called 'Global South' to get their insight into their perception of Germany's role.
Together with Bill Gates, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and other representatives from politics, business and academia, we discussed Germany's new role in the world.
We are at a turning point in European-African economic relations. The action recommendations of the fourth conference.
As the side event to the annual Ibrahim Governance Weekend, we aim to identify the opportunities to deepen trade and investment relations as well as leveraging private and institutional funding.
The fifth edition of The Africa Roundtable focussed on employability, skills and training and examine the possibilities of equal education and training for Africa's youth.
The second edition of The Africa Roundtable focussed on recovery, preparedness, and resilience in times of crises. It examined new possibilities for sustainable European-African cooperation.
Together with David Miliband, CEO & President of IRC, and selected stakeholders from politics, business, academia, we discussed Germany's responsibilities in an international system in crisis.
Program Archive
With data emerging as the key driver of future economic power, Africa's digital transformation is critical and urgent. The action recommendations of the seventh conference.
The seventh edition of the Africa Roundtable focused on the importance of digital infrastructure and data sovereignty for the digital revolution on the African continent.
Our discussion at Raw Material Congress focused on fostering smart and sustainable European-African partnerships in raw materials to meet demand, boost African growth, and support energy transitions.
The Summit of the Future and the Hamburg Sustainability Conference attracted worldwide attention. We discussed the implementation of the resolutions into concrete changes.
AI could revolutionize healthcare in Africa. At the World Health Summit, we discussed AI's potential to improve healthcare equity and access.
We explored current trends and developments in Africa's financial sector and discussed the actions needed by businesses and governments to improve the financial landscape on the continent.
The distribution of power in the international system is changing. We interviewed 10 experts from the so-called 'Global South' to get their insight into their perception of Germany's role.
Africa's creative industries are booming and changing the global cultural landscape. We discussed the growing industry with Nollywood director Funke Akindele and writer Lola Shoneyin.
Investments in women's health are threatened by budget cuts and anti-gender movements. In our webinar, we discussed innovative strategies to drive progress in our digital dialogue.