Germany sustained a political earthquake in recent elections in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony. The parties of the national governing coalition sustained grievous losses—and a populist surge propelled the right-wing Alliance for Germany to record votes. Some sense ominous echoes of the rise to prominence of the Nazi Party in 1924.

Jürgen Resch is well suited to evaluate the historic changes underway. He leads the respected NGO, Deutsche-Umwelthilfe. He is a co-founder of the Euronatur Foundation, the Global Nature Fund, and the Lake Constance Foundation. Active worldwide, including throughout the European Union and the United States, he is a recipient of many recognitions, including the Haagen-Smit Award from the California Air Resources Board.

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In discussion with James Strock, Resch illuminates the recent shock election results, including their implications for Germany and the broader European political landscape. He surveys the challenges faced by Germany's current federal government coalition, the rise of populism, and the decline of traditional political parties. Resch considers the consequences for environmental and energy policies in Germany, the impact of electric vehicles on the auto industry, and the future of renewable energy.

Jurgen Resch is the author of a well-received book detailing his effective activist approach to environmental and energy politics: Druck machen!: Wie Politik und Wirtschaft wissentlich Umwelt und Klima schädigen–-und was wir wirksam dagegen tun können.

Image Credit | Deutsche-Umwelthilfe.

Elliot Ackerman is a widely respected writer. His reach extends across fiction and non-fiction, from novels to essays to memoir and commentary. He is an exemplar of Theodore Roosevelt’s ideal of service combining thought and action.

In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Ackerman discusses his bestselling new book, 2054: A Novel. This is a successor to 2034: A Novel of the Next World War. Each is coauthored with Admiral James Stavridis. A third volume, 2084, is also planned.

Ackerman shares his views of the value of history and literature in comprehending the unprecedented challenges of our moment of global change and unrest—ranging from great power competition to climate disruption to the rise of new technologies, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology. He also reflects on how longstanding notions of spheres of influence may be transformed in our interconnected world.

In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, noted journalist Kourosh Ziabari shares his perspective on the intertwined destinies of Iran and America. Ziabari represents a rising generation in Iran and the US. Currently enrolled in the master’s program of the Columbia Journalism School, he has accrued experiences worthy of an extended career. Ziabari urges Americans to distinguish between our reactions to the authoritarian regime in Teheran and our affinities with the Iranian people.