Recent articles, essays and op eds
(published between 2016 and to date)
(for the full text, please click the links below or for some articles click on the black bar)


PUBLISHED in 2025:

"Complex Relations: Nixon, Kissinger, and Willy Brandt," (co-authored with Ashley Low), in  West German Ostpolitik, the Soviet Union, and East-West Détente in Europe, edited by
Michael Borchard, Stefan Karner, Hanns Jürgen Küsters, and Peter Ruggenthaler (Graz: Leykam Verlag, 2025). [forthcoming]

"Demontage der Forschung" ("Demolition of Science," column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (April 19, 2025) [publ. in German]. 
This article was updated and published in English on substack:
"The Demolition of Scientific Research and Public Health in the US." Substack (April 21, 2025).

"Trumps Kampf um Seltene Erden" ("Trump's Fight for Rare Earths," column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (April 7, 2025) [publ. in German]. 
This article was updated and published in English on substack:
"Trump's Fight forRare Earth and Critical Minerals," Substack (April 14, 2025).

"Despite Warming Ties with Beijing, Vietnam Will Benefit from the EU's Continuing De-Risking Strategy with China," in Mark Kennedy et al, " 360° View of How Southeast Asia Can Attract more FDI in Chips and AI (Washington, DC: Wilson Center, April 1, 2025).

"Gottes auserwaehler Praesident" ("God's Chosen President," column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (March 27, 2025) [publ. in German]. 
This article was published in translation on substack:
"God's Chosen President: What Drives Donald Trump's Radical Political Course?"
Substack (March 27, 2025).

"Skrupelloses Spiel mit der Verzweiflung" ("Devious Games of Despair"; column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (March 11, 2025) [publ. in German].  This article was published in translation on substack:
"A Devious Game of Despair: Donald Trumps wants a quick end to the war in Ukraine at all costs," Substack (March 17, 2025).

"Does Establishing a US Sovereign Wealth Fund Make Sense?" in 360 View of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (Mark Kennedy et al, Wahba Insitute for Strategic Competition, Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DC, Feb. 13, 2025).

"Erhaben über Recht und Gesetz," ("Superior to the judiciary and the law"; column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (January 27, 2025) [publ. in German].

"Bedingt Bündniswillig," ("Only conditionally ready to enter into alliances"; column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (January 7, 2025) [publ. in German].

"Trumps Wahlsieg und seine künftige Außenpolitik" ("Trump's election victory and his future foreign policy"), in WeltTrends: Zeitschrift für Internationale Politik, No. 203 (winter 2024-2025), pp.65-72.

The above article was reprinted with the tittle "America First 2025: Ab heute wird sich die US-Aussenpolitik rakidal veraender," ("From today US foreign policy will change radically") in Telepolis (January 20, 2025).


PUBLISHED in 2024:

"EU Policy on China," in Transatlantic Relations under the New European Commission, ed by  Maša Ocvirk and Jason C. Moyer for the Woodrow Wilson Center/Global Europe Program, Washington, DC, December, 2024, pp.9-12.

"Die Hoffnung auf das andere Amerika," ("Hoping for a other Half of America," column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (December 6, 2024) [publ. in German].

"EV Tariffs and Ukraine War weigh heavily on Germany-China Relations,"
South China Morning Post (SCMP), op.ed. (Nov. 24, 2024) [co-authored with Lea Thome]

"Germany's Zeitenwende: the Security and Defense Dimensions,"
German Politics & Society, Vol.42, No.2 (November, 2024), pp.59-79.

"Wie konnte ich so danebenliegen?" ("How could I be so wrong?" column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (November 14, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Die Bezeichnung Trumps als Faschist ist wenig hilfreich" ("Calling Trump a Fascist is Unhelpful," column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (November 4, 2024) [publ. in German; online only].

"Alles spricht fuer Harris" ("Everything speaks in favor of Harris's election victory," column "Understanding America"), Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (November 4, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Verunsichert, konfus, fuehrungsschwach" ("Insecure, confused and weak leadership," column "Understanding America"). Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (October 29, 2024) [publ. in German].    This essay was the basis for an article by Karolin Rippich entitled "Navigating the US Foreign Policy Crisis Amid Domestic Instability," which was publ. by the Young Security Conference (Munich, Nov. 4, 2024).

"Warten auf die Oktober-Ueberraschung" ("Waiting for the October Surprise," column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (October 19, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Partner trotz Bidens Kritik an Netanjahu," ("Partners, despite Biden's criticism of Netanyahu," column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (October 14, 2024) [publ. in German].

"The Imposition of EU Tariffs on Chinese-Made EVs May Do the Trick – but There is No Guarantee," Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis (Washington, DC, October 10, 2024).

"Is Beijing’s Renewed Charm Offensive Real?" The Diplomat (September 23, 2024);
also published in a somewhat longer version in German "Charme-Offensive mit blinden Flecken" ("Charm offensive with blind spots") in Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (October 1, 2024).

"Did Boris Johnson Prevent an Early End to the War in Ukraine?" (essay co-authored with David Zhong), H-Diplo (September 12, 2024).

"Eine gefährliche Expertise," ("A dangerous expertise: Tim Walz and China," column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (August 30, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Why China's Shuttle Diplomacy on Ukraine has Gained Pace," 
South China Morning Post, op.ed. (August 13, 2024) [co-authored with Lea Thome]

"Aus Bidens Schatten treten," ("To get out from Biden's shadow"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (August 10, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Zwei Stolpersteine für Harris" ("Two major hurdles for Kamala Harris"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (July 26, 2024) [publ. in German].

"16-Milliarden-Flut nach Deichbruch"  ("16-billion flood of US election campaign money"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (July 20, 2024) [publ. in German].

"New Trilateral 'ICE Pact' - an Overdue Step by the West," in Mark Kennedy et al., "360° View of America's 'ICE Pact' Polar Icebreaker Partnership with Canada and Finland," Wilson Center: Insights & Analysis, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (07/16/24).

"Kandidatur klebt an Biden" ("Biden sticks to this candidacy"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (July 9, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Kampf um die Swing States" ("The Fight for the Swing States"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (June 24, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Bidens Problem mit dem Grenzverkehr" ("Biden's problem with the border"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (June 17, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Abarbeiten am Feindbild China," ("Dealing with the image of China as an enemy"; column "Understanding America")
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (May 24, 2024) [publ. in German].

"US Tariff Diplomacy: It's China Stupid; Never Mind the Environment,"
in Mark Kennedy et al., "360° View of New Tariffs on China," Wilson Center: Insights & Analysis, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (May 16, 2024).

"The Looming Danger of Transatlantic Disunity,"
Georgetown Journal of International Affairs (May, 2024).

"Divisions on Display as President Xi Jinping visits Europe," [co-authored]
Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis (Washington, DC, May 13, 2024).

"The China Threat defines US Policies" [print edition: "Gefahr durch den Emporkömmling;" online edition: "Die Bedrohung durch China bestimmt die Politik der Vereinigten Staaten," (column "Understanding America"]
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (April 22/24, 2024) [publ. in German].

"Partner, Competitor, and Rival: Germany-China Relations After Scholz's Visit,"
[co-authored with Lea Thome]
Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis (Washington, DC, April 24, 2024).

"US Aid to Ukraine Moves Forward - Expert Quick Takes," [co-authored]
Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis (Washington, DC, April 22, 2024).

"China must go beyond the rhetoric to emerge as peacemaker,"
South China Morning Post, op ed. (April 10, 2024) [co-authored with Lea Thome].

"Biden's middle course is a one-way street: the US President's undiminished support for Israel makes voters turn away from him" ["Bidens Mittelweg wird zur Sackgasse"],
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, op ed. (April 5, 2024) [publ. in German].

"The Russia Factor in China's Relations with the West,"
Baku Dialogues: Policy Perspectives on the Silk Road Region, Vol.7/3 (Spring 2024), pp.110-119.

"China is betting its charm offensive can turn Europe away from the US,"
South China Morning Post, op ed. (March 2, 2024) [co-authored with Lea Thome]

"Why the US Needs NATO - 3 Things to Know,"
The Conversation (February 15, 2024).

"The South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca Face Geopolitical Risks,"
in Mark Kennedy et al., "360° View of Policies Needed to Secure Shipping Chokepoints," Wilson Center: Insights & Analysis, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (February 13, 2024).


PUBLISHED in 2023:

"Henry  Kissinger - Ein Nachruf"
WeltTrends, No. 199 (December, 2023), pp.109-113 [written in German]

"The 2023 EU-China Summit: A Lukewarm Affair but no Disaster,"
Insight & Analysis, Global Europe Center  (Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center, December 8, 2023).

"Intense Competition: The End of the Post-Cold War Era and the US-China Battle for Global Leadership," In Depth, Vol.20/4 (December, 2023), pp.8-13.

"The US must re-energize its efforts in Africa and not leave the continent to China and Russia,"
in Mark Kennedy, Klaus Larres and Keith Rockwell,  "360° View of AGOA,"
Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (Nov. 1, 2023).

"A Volatile World is Among the Challenges Facing the World Bank at its 2023 Annual Meeting in Morocco,"
in Mark Kennedy et al., "360° View of Priorities for World Bank-IMF Meeting,"
Wilson Center: Insight & Analysis, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (Oct. 10, 2023).

"2023 State of the Union Address by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
How will the EU Answer the Call of History? - Expert Quick Takes"
Wilson Center, Washington DC: Insight & Analysis, Global Europe Center (Sept. 18, 2023)

"Ransom or Realism? A closer look at Biden's prisoner swap deal with Iran,"
The Conversation (Sept. 15, 2023; updated Sept. 18, 2023).
Also published on Substack - click here.

"The Russian Question, the German Question, and the Ukraine War,"
Krasno Analysis. Spotlight, No.2 (2023) (publ. Sept.1, 2023).
Also published on Substack - click here.

"Drawing Up Germany's First National Security Strategy: A Challenging and Contentious Task," consultation paper, Fortune Society, University of Macau, April 1, 2023.

"Will the Ukraine War Last Forever?"
Krasno Analysis. Spotlight, No.1 (2023) (publ. Jan.6, 2023)
Shorter version with the same title published in The Well, a UNC-Chapel Hill magazine.


PUBLISHED in 2022:

"Russia's War on Ukraine and the Danger of Peace Negotiations at the Wrong Time,"
In Depth, Vol.19/2, December 2022; publ. by the University of Nicosia, Cyprus.

"Which Factors will Decide the 2022 U.S. Mid-Term Elections? [written in German] WeltTrends Berlin, No.192 (October 2022).

"Michael Gorbatschow - Interview with Jack Matlock," International. Die Zeitschrift fuer Internationale Politik, Vol. V (October, 2022), pp.8-12 [written in German, based on the Krasno Event conversation with Jack Matlock on "The Life, Politics and Legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev" on August 31, 2022.

"Misperceptions and Distortions: How China, Germany, the EU and the United States View Each Other in Times of War and Turmoil"
(Washington, DC: American Institute of Contemporary German Studies, AICGS, August 9, 2022).

"Atlantic Integration and 'Ever Closer Union': West Germany, the U.S. and European Unity during the Cold War," in Klaus Larres, Holger Moroff and Ruth Wittlinger (eds), Oxford Handbook of German Politics (Oxford UP, 2022), pp.59-81.

"How the War in Ukraine May End - Or Not,"
in: In Depth Newsletter 19/3 (June 2022), pp.33-36 [publ. by the University of Nicosia, Cyprus].

"Angela Merkel and Donald Trump: the controversies, quarrels and intrigues between the European leader and the US leader" [publ. in Hebrew], in Tabur: An annual journal of the history, society, culture and thought of Central Europe (published by the Richard Koebner Minerva Center for German History at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem), Vol.11 (2022).
 
"Difficult or Impossible? U.S.-China Cooperation, Counterterrorism, and Peaceful Co-existence, in Tobias Hof and Klaus Larres (eds), Terrorism, Transatlantic Relations and Global Politics: Threats and Challenges (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022), pp.127-163.

"Where is China? Sitting on the Fence is Not a Wise Policy," Krasno Analysis. Weekly Spotlight, No.8 (March 8, 2022) [online].

"The U.S. and the Unity of Europe from Kennedy and Nixon to Biden" [written in German], in Christian Bremen (ed.), Europa, Deutschland und die USA. Festschrift Klaus Schwabe zum 90. Geburtstag (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2022), pp.319-343.

"Donald J. Trump: The Authoritarian Style in American Politics,"
in Klaus Larres (ed.), Dictators and Autocrats: Securing Power Across Global Politics ( Routledge, 2022), pp.204-231.

"Introduction: Dictators and Autocrats: A Global Phenomenon,"
in Klaus Larres (ed.), Dictators and Autocrats: Securing Power Across Global Politics (Routledge, 2022), pp.xvi-xxiv.

"Is War Between Russia and Ukraine Inevitable Or is There Still a Way Out?" Krasno Analysis. Weekly Spotlight, No.5 (Feb. 23, 2022) [online].

"Olaf Scholz is No Neville Chamberlain: Germany will not appease Putin," Krasno Analysis. Weekly Spotlight, No.4 (Feb. 15, 2022). Simultaneously published on the website of the American Institute of Contemporary German Studies (AICGS), Washington, DC.


PUBLISHED in 2021:

"The New German Government and Berlin's New Role in the World,"
in Krasno Analysis. Weekly Spotlight, No.1 (Dec. 8, 2021); republished in PMP-Magazine London (Dec. 13, 2021); republished in an expanded version under the title "New German Govt's Emphasis on Rights Could Make Relationship with India, China Difficult," The Wire (New Delhi, India, Dec. 15, 2021).

"Komplizierte deutsch-amerikanische Beziehungen im 21. Jahrhundert," in Security: Theory and Practice. German Security Policy in Difficult Times, ed. by Beata Molo and Lutz Kleinwaechter (Krakow: Krakowska Akademia, 2021), pp.43-57
("Complicated German-American Relations in the 21st Century;" written in German; expanded version of the article below in WeltTrends, No.172).

"Difficult Times: German-American Relations in the 21st Century" [written in German], in WeltTrends (No. 172; February, 2021), pp.58-63.

"Understanding President Biden's foreign policy imperatives,"
in TrendResearch & Advisory, Abu Dhabi, UAE (January 18, 2021).


PUBLISHED in 2020:

-- "President Biden's Foreign Policy: Engagement, Multilateralism, and Cautious Globalization," in U.S. Election Analysis 2020: Media, Voters and the Campaign (ed by Dan Jackson et al) (November, 2020): [https://www.electionanalysis.ws/us/].   Expanded version in Krasno Analysis (November, 2020).

-- "The Decline of the Republican Party began before Trump" [written in German],
in WeltTrends (No. 169; November, 2020)
 
-- "Trump's Foreign Policy is still 'America First' - what does that mean, exactly?"
in The Conversation (August 27, 2020).

-- "Biden's long foreign-policy record signals how he'll reverse Trump, build old alliances and lead the pandemic response,"
in The Conversation (August 18, 2020).

-- "When a winner becomes a loser: Winston Churchill was kicked out of office in the British election of 1945,"
in The Conversation (July 27, 2020).
Expanded version: "How Winston Churchill Lost the 1945 British General Election"
in Churchill Project, Hillsdale College (August 27, 2020).

 -- "'Never Flinch'…the last of The Churchill Documents brings the saga full circle,"
book review of the last volume of The Churchill Documents, Volume 23, Never Flinch, Never Weary November 1951 to February 1965 (edited by Martin Gilbert and Larry P. Arnn. Hillsdale, Mich.: Hillsdale College Press, 2019), 2488 pages (book review published on July 23, 2020, in The Churchill Project, Hillsdale College).

-- "CHINA TURNS ON THE CHARM AND ANGERS TRUMP AS IT EYES GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY IN CORONAVIRUS CRISIS" in The Conversation (April 20, 2020).

--  "HOW GERMANY IS MANAGING ITS CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC, AND REACTING WITH DISDAIN TO TRUMP'S POLITICIES" in The Conversation (March 30, 2020)

-- "TRUMP'S TRADE WARS: AMERICA, CHINA, EUROPE, AND GLOBAL DISORDER,"
in Journal of Transatlantic Studies, Vol.18/1 (February 2020), pp.103-129.

-- "CHURCHILL AND THE GERMAN QUESTION,"
in Finest Hour (Journal of the International Churchill Society), No. 186 (January 2020), pp.28-33.

-- "HOW COUNTRIES IN CONFLICT, LIKE IRAN AND THE US, STILL TALK TO EACH OTHER,"
in The Conversation (January 9, 2020).

-- "TRUMP ASKS NATO ALLIES FOR HELP WITH IRAN AFTER YEARS OF BASHING THE ALLIANCE,"
in The Conversation (January 8, 2020).

-- "WITH THE US AND IRAN ON THE BRINK OF WAR, THE DANGER OF TRUMP'S POLICY OF GOING IT ALONE BECOMES CLEAR,"  in The Conversation (January 3, 2020).



“GREAT BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY DILEMMAS,"
in Federiga Bindi (ed.), Europe and America: the End of the Transatlantic Relationship?
(Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, May 2019), pp.109-136.

-- "BREXIT DIPLOMACY, TRUMP, AND THE UK'S 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP' WITH THE UNITED STATES,"
in Diplomatica: a Journal of Diplomacy & Statecraft, Vol.1, No. 1 (May, 2019), pp.113-126.

-- "GLOBAL POLITICS since 1945," in Klaus Larres and Ruth Wittlinger (eds), Understanding Global Politics: Actors and Themes in International Affairs (New York/London: Routledge, 2019), pp.5-25 - chapter 1.
Forthcoming -- “’ODD MAN OUT’”: MARGARET THATCHER, the Cold War, European Integration, and German Unification,” in Mark Kramer, Guenter Bischof, Stefan Karner and Peter Ruggenthaler (eds), The Fate of Communist Regimes, 1989-1991, Vol. 2: Western Countries, Neutral European States, and the Collapse of the Soviet Bloc, 1988-1991 (forthcoming, 2020 or 2021).

While working at the Germany Embassy in Beijing in 2018, internal publication of various reports and analyses on the trilateral political and economic relations among China, Germany and the US as well as on the North Korea problem for the German Foreign Ministry and the office of the German Chancellor (all classified).

"DONALD TRUMP and CHINA," in John Dixon and Mark J. Skidmore (eds), Donald J. Trump's Presidency: International Perspectives (Westphalia Press/Policy Studies Organisation, 2018), pp.245-269.
"CHURCHILL'S 'IRON CURTAIN' SPEECH IN CONTEXT: the attempt to achieve a 'good understanding on all points' with Stalin's Soviet Union,"
in International History Review, Vol.40/1 (2018), pp.80-107
(pre-published online: March 2017).
"ANGELA MERKEL and DONALD TRUMP: Values, Interests, and the Future of the West," German Politics, Vol.27/2 (June, 2018), pp.193-213 (online: March, 2018).


"A Fragile Friendship: German–American Relations in the Twenty-First Century," introduction, German Politics, Vol.27, No.2 (June, 2018),  pp.152-157.
"WHERE NOW FOR GERMANY? With government negotiations collapsing, Germany and Angela Merkel are suddenly no longer looking so stable,"
International Politics & Society (November, 2017).
"ANGELA MERKEL & DONALD TRUMP," 
Deutschland-Studien (Tongji University, Shanghai), No.3 (Nov. 2017) -
IN CHINESE/MANDARIN
"IN MEMORIAM ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI,"
American Diplomacy (June, 2017)
“DONALD TRUMP and AMERICA'S GRAND STRATEGY: U.S. foreign policy toward Europe, Russia and China,” Global Policy Journal (UK), (May 15, 2017).
“REALITY CHECK: Donald Trump shies away from isolationism during his first meeting with the Chinese president,” Journal of International Politics and Society (IPS), (April 11, 2017). 
Also published in German: “Ein Hauch von Realitaet: Trump und Xi Jinping bringen die amerikanisch-chinesischen Beziehungen auf Normalmass,” in Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft (IPG, April, 2017).

Also published in Spanish: “Un hálito de realidad. Trump y Xi Jinping normalizan las relaciones entre Estados Unidos y China" (April, 2017).
“OBERSERVING GERMANY BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION,” in The Paper, Shanghai (January 11, 2017), written in Chinese (article based on a lecture at Tongji University in Shanghai).
"HITLER'S LONG SHADOW: Donald Trump and Angela Merkel,” in E-International Relations (February 8, 2017).
“DONALD TRUMP'S FOREIGN POLICY: What do we know, what can we expect?” in: In Depth Newsletter (University of Nicosia, Cyprus), Vol.13/6 (December, 2016).
“TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: AND NOW?” (written in German),
in: WeltTrends: Das Aussenpolitische Journal (No.122, December 2016), pp.4-7.
“CHURCHILL AND EINSTEIN: Overlapping Mindsets,”
Hillsdale College Churchill Project (November 22, 2016).
“’CHINA AND GERMANY: The Honeymoon is Over,”
The Diplomat (November 16, 2016).
“EIGHT YEARS OF US-FOREIGN POLICY UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA – the balance sheet,” in: WeltTrends, 24/121 (November 2016), pp.56-62. 
[written in German; revised, shorter article of the article below]
“OBAMA'S MIXED FOREIGN POLICY BALANCE SHEET,”
in: The National Interest (online) (October 18, 2016), 11pp.
“GERMANY REMAINS A KEY PARTNER FOR CHINA, but its Influence is Waning,”
email interview for the World Politics Review (July 6, 2016).
“GERMANY COURTS CHINA: Leading from the Middle,”
in: Foreign Affairs (online) (May 3, 2016).