Politics on Point

In this episode of Transatlantic Talks, we dive into the pivotal implications of the 2024 U.S. elections on both domestic and foreign policy. Moderated by Michael Zinkanell, Director of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), this bipartisan discussion features two distinguished guests:

• Mark Pfeifle, founder and president of Off the Record Strategies. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication at the White House. As a recognized leader in crisis communications, digital media, and cyber security, Pfeifle is a frequent expert commentator for major outlets like CBS, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.
• Jason Altmire, a former U.S. Congressman who served three terms in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013. Now a leading public affairs consultant, Altmire is also the author of Dead Center: How Political Polarization Divided America and What We Can Do About It. Known for his centrist voting record, he frequently contributes to The Hill and appears on national news programs.

The episode covers the stark contrasts between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s leadership styles, as well as their differing approaches to foreign policy, including relations with China, NATO, and the EU. The discussion also highlights the growing challenges of artificial intelligence, disinformation, and how these factors may impact electoral integrity. Additionally, the speakers explore the potential shifts in transatlantic relations based on the election outcome.

This special series is conducted in partnership with YATA Austria, the Young Transatlantic Initiative, and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.

In the second episode of the Transatlantic Talks series, we explore the potential impact of the upcoming US presidential elections on transatlantic relations. This episode, originally a virtual video discussion held on September 3, 2024, features an expert panel moderated by David Kirsch. The discussion includes:

• Elmar Theveßen, Washington Bureau Chief for ZDF
• Julius van de Laar, political consultant
• Knut Dethlefsen, project director at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Brussels
• Sergey Lagodinsky, Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA
• Paul Aigner, US election analyst

The panel delves into Kamala Harris’s campaign following Joe Biden's resignation, the significance of her running mate Tim Walz, and the implications for US-European relations. Key insights focus on the importance of swing states, the influence of key demographics, and concerns about possible unrest following a close election.

This special series is conducted in partnership with YATA Austria, the Young Transatlantic Initiative, and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.

In this inaugural episode of the Transatlantic Talks series, we explore the future of Europe’s defence strategy amidst an evolving transatlantic security landscape. Featuring special guest Michael Kofman, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, this episode delves into NATO’s strategic priorities following the war in Ukraine and the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in the alliance. Join host Michael Zinkanell, Director of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), as they discuss the challenges of European military investment, NATO's regional defence initiatives, and the broader implications for the U.S.-Europe relationship.

This special series is conducted in partnership with YATA Austria and the Young Transatlantic Initiative, and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.

In this episode, AIES Research Fellow Livia Benko is in conversation with Kwame Owino, Chief Executive Officer of the International Institute of Economic Affairs Kenya (IEA), to discuss the current state of EU-AU relations against the background of dramatic changes in the international system - above all the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In this episode, AIES Research Associate Nick Nieschalke is in conversation with Max Bergmann, the director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), to discuss the current state of transatlantic relations against the background of dramatic changes in the international system - above all the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In this episode, AIES Associate Fellow Lawrence Kettle is in conversation with Una Aleksandra Bērziṇa-Čerenkova, Head of the Political Science PhD programme and the Director of the China Studies Centre at Riga Stradins University, to discuss current challenges and developments in EU-China relations. This episode is the first in a 4-part special series on the EU as a global actor. Future episodes of this series will focus on the EU's relations with the United States, ASEAN, as well as the African Union. This special series is conducted in partnership with the Multilateral Dialoge Vienna of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

In the final episode of the special series on US-Europe relations, AIES Director Velina Tchakarova talked to Dakota Wood, Senior Research Fellow for Defense Programs at the Heritage Foundation, about the prospects of and the West's preparedness for a next Great War.

In the sixth episode of the special series on US-Europe relations, AIES Deputy Director Michael Zinkanell talked to Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, about the broad spectrum of emerging threats to US and EU security and how the transatlantic community could become more resilient going forward.

In the fifth episode of the special series on US-EU relations, AIES Senior Research Fellow Sofia-Maria Satanakis talked to Benjamin Haddad, Director of the Europe Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C., about the US perspective on European defence efforts and integration.