Gesine Schwan

Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, there has been a discussion about the goal of a “values-based” foreign policy. It is often contrasted with so-called realpolitik. In her lecture, SPD politician Gesine Schwan asks about the meaning and implications of “value-based” politics and possible alternatives. She weighs advantages, obstacles and possible syntheses between value orientation and political realism.

Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan is a member of the SPD and chair of her party’s Commission on Fundamental Values. She was professor of political science at the Free University of Berlin and president of the European University in Frankfurt/Oder. She twice ran for the office of Federal President.

In the Democracy series