Annual Foreign Policy Conference 2008

Fundamental values or national interests are frequently cited – either apologetically or framed as imperatives – in Germany’s foreign policy debate. In a specifically German tradition of Realpolitik, values and interests are often seen as conflicting. According to this way of thinking, lofty values must take the back seat to tangible national interests as the former can lead to indiscriminate action, while tangible interests call for focused action – for example in locations where vital commodities are
concentrated.

With international experts on politics, economy and civil society, the conference will undertake a critical analysis of the apparent conflict between values-based and interest-guided foreign policy, exploring the question of whether values and interests represent separate spheres or are two dimensions of a rational, transparent process of formulating foreign policy objectives and democratic
decision-making.

This question is of great relevance when dealing with major states whose cooperation is essential to the smooth functioning of the globalized world. Countries like China, India and Russia currently do not live up to the standards that Western democratic states apply to their own constitutions and practical actions and to which a stable global order must come close in its orientation.

How should criticism of deficits in democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights therefore shape foreign policy toward these states?

Should insistence on standards take fundamental and temporal priority over interest in cooperation? Similar questions arise in relation to development aid policy.

When making essential aid subject to conditions, just how strict may those conditions be?

In general, are international stability and internal security prerequisites for freedom and democracy?
Does the interest in stability and security therefore take precedence over demanding and fostering values such as democracy and freedom?

A background question here remains how international order can be realized and secured now that bloc confrontation no longer serves as an ordering mechanism.