Will geopolitical tensions end globalization?

DW (English)

Is Germany behind the curve when it comes to answering the world's ongoing challenges? While the answer to that question is mixed, one thing is clear — the country needs to do more amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Transcript

00:00 They spark discussion about ongoing challenges across Germany, Europe and the world.

00:07 That's the best way to describe the lectures at the Helmut Schmidt Foundation.

00:14 Economist Moritz Schulerig was in Berlin to talk about remaking globalisation.

00:19 He's looking at whether globalisation is a curse or a blessing for democracy.

00:27 Will Germany play a role in the future, or is it too late?

00:49 At the beginning of the lecture, Schulerig says that Germany has always profited from

00:54 globalisation, but it's become more difficult to assess the risks involved.

01:00 For instance, Western computer chips found in washing machines could end up in Russian

01:05 weapons systems.

01:08 Governments are considering a ban on Chinese technology being used in sensitive infrastructure

01:13 like mobile networks.

01:15 But what about electric vehicles that are made in China, which also have cameras and

01:21 sensors?

01:22 These cars driving in the streets of Berlin, wherever, are filming everything that's happening

01:26 around them.

01:27 They are recording everything that's going on, and they're sharing all this data with

01:32 their companies and they're producing them at a company, if you will, in China.

01:37 Do we want that?

01:38 Do we want a fleet of eyes and ears of a foreign government in the millions in our streets?

01:45 The panel discussed this dilemma that globalisation poses.

01:50 Schulerig says isolation is not a solution, diversification is.

01:55 And that's where Germany, Europe's largest economy, has some catching up to do.

02:01 Germany made three big bets.

02:03 A bet on cheap Russian energy as an energy source for its industry, a bet on the US as

02:09 the provider of military security, and a bet on China as the engine for German export growth.

02:16 And all of these three bets have now run their course, if you will.

02:22 And the challenges just keep getting bigger.

02:25 Geopolitical tensions have risen in recent years, calling into question relationships

02:30 with even major trade partners.

02:32 [crowd noise]

02:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended