Diplomatenkolleg | DK


Das Diplomatenkolleg lädt jährlich junge Diplomatinnen und Diplomaten aus Europa, Südkaukasus und Zentralasien ein, Deutschland aus vielfältigen Perspektiven zu erleben. Informationsbesuche, Fachgespräche und Kulturereignisse führen die Teilnehmenden an relevante Aspekte des Lebens in Deutschland heran.

Ob globale Fragen, Europa- oder Innenpolitik, ob Presselandschaft oder Wirtschaftspolitik, Kulturdialog oder Zivilgesellschaft - aktuelle Themen bestimmen das Programm. Das Diplomatenkolleg lädt ein zu einer Tour d'horizon durch Deutschland: Es führt die Kollegiaten in einer Veranstaltungsreihe deutschlandweit an Persönlichkeiten, Institutionen und Themen heran und verschafft damit Einblicke, die weiter reichen und tiefer gehen als der Berufsalltag.

Das Diplomatenkolleg ist ein Berlin-Programm und wird berufsbegleitend durchgeführt, die Teilnehmenden sind hauptberuflich an ihren jeweiligen Botschaften in Berlin tätig. Die Einblicke, die ihnen bei dieser Tour d’Horizon durch Deutschland geboten werden, sind dadurch umso bedeutender für ihre alltägliche Arbeit. Die Lehrgangssprache ist Deutsch.

Informationsbesuche, Fachgespräche und Kulturereignisse vermittelten dabei Einblicke, die weiter reichen als der diplomatische Berufsalltag. Die jungen Diplomatinnen und Diplomaten gewinnen neu Impulse und kompetente Partner für ihre Arbeit und erweitern gleichzeitig ihre Kooperationsmöglichkeiten, Gestaltungsspielräume und Karrierechancen.

Report on the 17th Diplomatenkolleg by Jonas Casimir Belina (Switzerland)

The Diplomatenkolleg allowed us to get to know Germany in greater depth. The subject of the “watershed moment” declared by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz was a common thread running through the programme. The central question was how Germany should position itself, in Europe and internationally, in light of the multiple challenges, particularly Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the armed conflict in the Middle East and climate change. The role of German politics, business, science and society was discussed in detail.

 

The inspiring discussions with the Chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Foreign Affairs, representatives of the federal ministries and the Bundeswehr, members of regional and local government, publicists and academics, to name but a few, revealed the collective effort undertaken by Germany to hold its own as a free, democratic society in a rapidly changing global environment. Examples include the swift decoupling of Germany’s energy supply from Russian natural gas and the expansion of renewable energies, which now account for more than 50% of electricity consumption.

 

During the programme, we got to know Germany as a country that critically reflects on its own conduct like almost no other. This also revealed occasional contradictions, which are characteristic of a pluralistic society and always drive forward political efforts to reach a compromise. The openness and trust we encountered in the numerous talks exceeded all our expectations. In no other country have I been welcomed so openly by official representatives. We were also very impressed by the critical debate, which is a unique strength of German politics and society.

 

Thanks to the Diplomatenkolleg, we were able to gain not only valuable insights and contacts but also and above all a deeper understanding of Germany in all its diversity. This understanding will undoubtedly prove useful not only for our work in Berlin but also for our future diplomatic careers. As one of Germany’s southern neighbours (from Switzerland), I initially thought I was relatively familiar with the German political environment, but I was able to gain a wealth of new insights, particularly of the way in which Germany’s own understanding of its foreign policy has evolved.

 

We are all extremely grateful to the Federal Foreign Office for the generosity shown to us and for the long-term perspective which a programme like this gives foreign diplomats. Our special thanks also go to Ambassador Hans-Jürgen Heimsoeth, Programme Coordinator Yassin Boulkhrif and the team, Aurelia Pfaffmann, Jule Knour and Laura Hümmelgen for the farsightedness, enthusiasm and passion they demonstrated in organising and leading the programme. During the programme days in Berlin and the excursions we were able to forge valuable friendships. Sometimes, Deutsche Bahn even gave us an unintentional helping hand by bringing us closer together on the railway platforms.