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Publications by Thorsten Benner
All Issue Areas
Global Order
Humanitarian Action
Migration
M&E
Peace & Security
Rights & Democracy
Data & Tech Politics
Years
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Commentary 30 Dec 2021
Seven Lessons From the German 5G Debate
That German parliamentarians asserted themselves against pro-Huawei lobbyists and decision-makers in the executive branch is the most uplifting part of the German 5G saga. Now parliament should also work to ensure that Germany learns the other key lessons from its debate on who should be allowed to provide technology for critical infrastructure.… -
Commentary 10 Nov 2021
How Germany Can Help Ensure Peace in the Taiwan Strait
Germany's next government should courageously invest in relations with Taiwan, out of economic and political self-interest. In doing so, Berlin and Europe can actively contribute to a non-military deterrence of Beijing's increasingly aggressive stance in the region.… -
Commentary 09 Nov 2021
Europe Is Doubling Down on Taiwan
The European Parliament and some member states are driving a major shift in Europe's Taiwan policy – a direct reaction to Beijing’s increasingly confrontational stance. But for the new Brussels consensus to effectively deter Chinese aggression, the EU needs to move in lockstep.… -
Commentary 28 Oct 2021
Deutschland muss Peking in Taiwan die Stirn bieten
Peking erhöht den Druck auf deutsche Akteure, die Ein-China-Politik umzudeuten. Deutschland muss sich zur Unabhängigkeit Taiwans positionieren – und wenn nötig wirtschaftliche Druckmittel einsetzen.… -
Commentary 10 Sep 2021
Germany’s Acid Test: Systemic Competition
To compete against systemic rivals like China, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s successor will need to be more ambitious in strengthening the German model. How could that look?… -
Commentary 01 Sep 2021
Mit Fragezeichen im Systemwettbewerb
Angela Merkel versprach einst eine „neue Gründerzeit“. Die muss ihren Nachfolgern nun gelingen, damit Deutschland gegen Autokratien wie China bestehen kann.… -
Commentary 26 Jul 2021
Die Untergangsängste der Kanzlerin
Ja, es geht auch um deutsche Wirtschaftsinteressen. Doch der wahre Grund für Merkels zurückhaltende China-Politik ist ein anderer: Sie hält Deutschland und das fragile Gebilde Europa für zu schwach im Wettbewerb mit China.… -
Commentary 14 Jul 2021
The Undeniable Pessimism of Angela Merkel’s Worldview
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's policy on China is defined by a doom-and-gloom mentality about Europe’s trajectory of power. If Berlin's new government wants to change course, it'll need a psychological shift.… -
Commentary 22 Jun 2021
Will I Return to China?
Darker days lie ahead for foreign researchers working in China. To counteract Beijing’s repression, democracies should invest in independent research on China under more difficult conditions.… -
Commentary 05 May 2021
„Die gewünschte Schockwirkung erzielen“
In der Corona-Krise werden Forscher mit abweichenden Meinungen gern als irrelevante Minderheit klassifiziert. Doch wer die tatsächliche Vielfalt des wissenschaftlichen Meinungsspektrums leugnet, untergräbt das Vertrauen in die Wissenschaft – und in die Politik.… -
Commentary 23 Apr 2021
German Greens’ Reality Check
It is hard to imagine that Germany's next coalition government will not include the Greens. But on foreign and security policy, such a government will likely frustrate Germany's NATO allies.… -
Commentary 18 Dec 2020
Why Good China Policy Is About More Than Just Relations With Beijing
If it wants to persist in the “competition of systems” with China's authoritarian state capitalism, Europe needs to assert itself as a player in its own right – with its own strategy. A key element of that should be cooperation with like-minded partners.… -
Commentary 16 Dec 2020
Kindred Spirits: How a Post-Brexit Britain and the EU Can Work Together to Strengthen Multilateralism
The UK and the EU are about to open a new chapter in their relationship, one that offers both sides an opportunity to focus more on what they can do together to shape the global order. They should not let it go to waste.… -
Commentary 28 Oct 2020
Competitive Cooperation: How to Think About Strengthening Multilateralism
How should we (not) think about the crisis of multilateralism? A breakdown of the misguided narratives around multilateral action and how we should reframe the conversation.… -
Commentary 18 Sep 2020
Europe and China’s ‘Virtual Summit’
The EU-China Summit was a key event for the China rethink happening across Europe. Here’s why 2020 will go down in history as the year the EU shed illusions about a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Beijing.… -
Commentary 10 May 2020
Wenn Xi und Orbán Coronapartys feiern
Überall auf der Welt nutzen autoritäre Regierungen die Krise, um ihre Macht auszubauen. Doch auch für Autokraten ist die Lage komplizierter, als es aussieht.… -
Commentary 02 Apr 2020
Europe and China: Cooperation Without Blinkers
The coronavirus pandemic and climate crisis show that Europe and Germany are dependent on cooperation with China on global challenges. But that’s no reason to shy away from forcefully defending their interests vis-à-vis Beijing’s authoritarian state capitalism.… -
Commentary 08 Mar 2020
Europa und China: Die Gratwanderung
Die Zusammenarbeit mit China ist notwendig – vor allem beim Klimaschutz und der Bekämpfung des Coronavirus. Bei anderen Themen dürfen Konflikte nicht gescheut werden.… -
Commentary 10 Dec 2019
Europe and NATO: Time for Plan B
US security guarantees for Europe are not eternal. High time for Germany to discuss the future of NATO in Europe.… -
Commentary 09 Dec 2019
Keine Angst vor Plan B
Für den amerikanischen Schutz Europas gibt es keine Ewigkeitsgarantie. Wir müssen in Deutschland über die Zukunft der Nato diskutieren.…