By Jon Wright - Blog Entry II
From an American standpoint it is very interesting to get an inside view of the German perspective regarding the current financial crisis that plagues the European Union. Prior to our visit to the Federal Finance Ministry I was very interested in hearing proposals to help shed light on the ambiguity that shrouds the recent the Euro Crisis. Our lecturer began by enlightening our group on the difficulty of governing a multitude of different cultures under a single monetary structure and how difficulties regarding this concept have resulted in the need for reform.
Surprisingly enough, the solutions provided seemed to only temporarily sustain the problem. Because the United States has been unified under the dollar since the Coinage Act of 1792 I feel as though many Americans don’t really take the time to consider the complexities surrounding the Eurozone and the difficulties of maintaining economic security when member nations inappropriately mismanage funds (i.e. Greece, Spain, Ireland etc.).
The lack of leadership due to the stigma left behind after World War II in relation to Germany became very evident throughout the week but no more so than on this visit.
The next meeting by far was the best part of the day for me. Our meeting with the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Commission really made me thankful for deciding to go on this trip. The fact that he took the time out of his busy schedule to discuss The German Foreign Policy Agenda with us really reflected the benefits of studying abroad. It was interesting to hear the direction he wanted Germany to take regarding its relationship with Russia, and China.
Our last two meetings with Dr. Henning Riecke a specialist in German foreign policy and Dr. Joachim Bertele, who specializes in German and Russian affairs, really reaffirmed the general consensus of Germany needing to take a more prominent role in the European Union affairs abroad. Today really made me feel like taking a much more active role in our on political structure. To hear these experts speak about the problems of their own country and constantly trying to find ways to improve its condition was truly enlightening.
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