By Kristy Choi
On October 15th, former US Ambassador to Germany Philip Murphy came to speak at Dartmouth as part of the Walter Picard lecture series. During his lecture he discussed the results of the recent German national elections and the importance of the political and economic ties between the U.S. and Germany. He spoke fondly of his time working with Director of the Dickey Center, Daniel Benjamin, in the State Department and about his conversations with faculty of the German Department at Dartmouth the previous night. He joked about feeling like he had just left the witness protection program because he felt out of touch with America after having been in Germany for so long. He strongly urged students to travel and spoke highly of the foreign service as a career.
During the lecture which was entitled, “The New Shape of Germany,” Ambassador Murphy spoke about how in the 80s, “Berlin loomed large.” He spoke about two myths that have permeated since the fall of the Berlin wall:
1. Because the wall is no longer there, the world is safe and uncomplicated.
2. America is not as close to Germany as it used to be.
In addressing these issues, he emphasized two key areas of interest: the security sector and economic sector. The security arc for Germany played out mostly as expected in that Germany eventually rebuilt its military power and later helped lead in the NATO mission to Kosovo and the invasion of Afghanistan. However, the economic arc was not as predicted. Germany “stumbled, it reformed, and then it soared.” Much to the world’s surprise, Germany outpaced its European peers to become the central hub of European economic activity.
This new geo-strategic shape has made Germany instrumental in the global economic crisis and crucial as an ally of the United States. Ambassador Murphy felt strongly that Germany would continue to back the Euro, but not at any price. Germans would be willing to act, but only if they feel like everyone was playing by the same rules. He felt this not only reflected the Greek bailout, but the approach they have taken to every decision in the wake of the global recession. However, Ambassador Murphy also recognized that they are already deeply entrenched in the bailout process, likening it to being halfway across a river, “there’s no going back.”
Ambassador Murphy noted that the world was rife with challenges. They may not have been the same challenges envisioned thirty years ago, but nevertheless they exist. While the risks associated with these challenges are substantial and it may take longer than hoped to meet them, Ambassador Murphy is ultimately optimistic about the future and he is adamant in his convictions.