20:00 - 21:30
University of Kassel, Kassel
The illegal war of aggression by Russia on Ukraine was a reason for the Western governments, especially the traffic light coalition in Berlin, to proclaim a turning point: The federal government has launched the largest rearmament program in decades.
However, this "turning point" (Olaf Scholz) prepared well in advance before the Russian attack on Ukraine: Politically through increasingly openly articulated claims to great power; militarily through a conversion of the Bundeswehr, which focuses on the formation of large associations; and industrially through the »agenda armaments«, aimed at massively strengthening the arms industry.
According to this, the »turning point« stands in the continuity of these developments, but it forces them to an extent, that threatens to change Germany permanently: Domestically, a significant strengthening of the military-industrial complex is to be expected. At the same time, the country will rise to the ranks of the top armorers and thus probably finally shelve a "culture of military restraint".. At the same time, immense resources are wasted, urgently needed to deal with the numerous major crises – climate, health, Poverty – are needed.
Therefore it is necessary, explore the alternatives to rearmament and militarization - time is short: The 100 billion euro special fund is to 2026 pass, a debate about its perpetuation is therefore in the offing.
Jürgen Wagner ist Politikwissenschaftler und geschäftsführendes Vorstandsmitglied der Tübinger Informationsstelle Militarisierung (IMi) e.V.