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Mission Statement
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War have led to dramatic shifts in the economic, political, and cultural landscape of Europe. At the same time, the relations between the United States and Europe have entered a new, often tension-ridden phase. In short, many of the signposts that used to guide American thinking about Germany and Europe after World War II no longer apply. Yet in all the key areas of politics, diplomacy, economics, and culture, Germany and Europe remain America’s key allies. For the next decade then, our challenge is to identify and construct new signposts, create new avenues for dialogue and exchange, and so reaffirm and expand the productive links between these two major world areas. We at the Center for German and European Studies (CGES) actively pursue this crucial project.
To this end we:
- Foster cooperation and exchange among European and American researchers and professionals on such crucial issues as the ongoing transformation of the nation-state and its democratic institutions, the compatibilities of environmental policies and business planning, and new forms of cultural expression.
- Prepare the next generation of professionals and scholars of Germany and Europe by providing them with advanced training and supporting new research in the social sciences and humanities on topics related to Germany and Europe.
- Develop knowledge and interest in the new Europe among University of Minnesota undergraduates.
- Aid K-12 teachers of German in Minnesota and across the continental USA in providing up-to-date and exciting instruction on German culture and society.
- Develop community understanding of vital issues relating to Germany and Europe.