I observed a diverse MSC:
1. The MSC as a High Mass of Military Security Logic
On the one hand, the current MSC functioned as a high mass of military security logic. Uniformed Bundeswehr soldiers dominated the scene; even Dr. Benedikt Franke, the Deputy Chairman and CEO of the MSC, wore a uniform for the first two days. In these current times of war, many participants superficially exuded the reinforced certainty that military strength and solidarity alone guarantee security.
“The transatlantic partners have no choice but to invest more in defense and military deterrence, while at the same time limiting cooperation for mutual benefit more strongly to politically like-minded states” – this statement by the MSC Chairman, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, at the press conference preceding the MSC, shaped the entire meeting.
As did statements by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, “We are at war,” and a statement he reportedly made in the Ukrainian parliament, quoted during the MSC: “We are supporting Ukraine with everything it needs for Ukraine to win.”
The title of the MSC Report 2024, “Lose-Lose?”, describes a kind of vicious circle, as many people worldwide currently believe they are losing compared to others. Due to a lack of constructive imagination, the MSC was accordingly keen to close Western ranks towards increasing military strength.
2. The Global South Confidently Resists Western Co-optation
The attempt, openly expressed by Josep Borrell among others, to draw global South partners to the side of the West in the struggle of the “Global West” against the “Global East” (Russia and China), was and is confidently rejected by them. Representatives of security policy think tanks from the Global South pointed out that they still feel patronized by Western representatives.
A former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, like several peace activists from Israel and other parts of the world, emphasized in the interactive debates that further rearmament does not solve any of the world’s urgent challenges, but rather makes their solution significantly more difficult.
Eight Nobel Peace Prize laureates also participated in the MSC and introduced realistic possibilities for a paradigm shift. For example, the former President of Colombia, Santos, convincingly described his internal and external journey from military security logic to peace logic.
3. Dawning Helplessness
It was palpable that, at least beneath the surface, many decision-makers are realizing that the old military recipes cannot continue much longer. tagesschau.de’s headline for the MSC was accordingly “Much Helplessness.” On the closing panel, this was articulated by, among others, the Icelandic Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs: “The war in Ukraine is an old-fashioned war. We need innovations to tackle global challenges.”
Contrary to the loud voices from media and politics at the MSC, which demand further military rearmament far exceeding 2% of our economic output, Federal Finance Minister Lindner and Chancellor Scholz struck a significantly more moderate tone and did not promise any further increase in military spending.
4. The Emergence of Far-Sighted, Constructive Conflict Resolution – Including Regarding the War in Israel/Palestine
In addition to highly competent exchanges among numerous African representatives on the constructive resolution of conflicts in Africa and helpful support for this, I was surprised to experience a consistently high-quality, almost ideal dialogue on the Israel-Palestine conflict:
The former Foreign Minister of Israel, Livni, and attending relatives of the hostages taken by Hamas were able to present their traumatic experiences, as did the Prime Minister of Palestine. Settler violence in the West Bank was addressed, as was the need for security for all Israelis and all Palestinians.
I was particularly surprised by the convincingly constructive appearance of Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Al Saud. Almost all participants, including nearly all foreign ministers of the states in the region involved in a possible solution, the USA, the EU, and India, spoke convincingly and credibly about the necessity of an immediate end to the war and the creation of permanently effective security prospects for Israel and Palestine, including in the form of a Palestinian state – if necessary, even without the consent of a traumatized Israel.
Josep Borrell emphasized that Hamas is an idea that cannot be killed as an idea. A better idea is needed. A former Israeli ambassador participated as a peace activist, as did a representative of Women Wage Peace from Israel. Regarding the Israel/Palestine war, Western representatives also ventured a self-critical examination of their own past failures.
This type of self-critical reflection on the West’s own role in the violent conflict escalation in Ukraine was not observed during the MSC. Ambassador Heusgen did, however, emphasize at the press conference that the war in Ukraine could only be ended through negotiations that could be based on the Minsk agreements.
Parallel to events on the topic of “Military Zeitgeist,” there were also events on civil resistance in Belarus and the possibilities of supporting it from abroad. However, given the framing of this civil resistance within the global military dominance policy of the USA, the potential power of non-violent resistance was not made visible.
5. Expanded Concept of Security as the Core Brand of the MSC
The expanded concept of security has now become a visible and publicly represented core brand of the MSC. Topics such as climate, food, and debt security are naturally included and discussed. This was significantly different 20 years ago. The now 27% of participants from the Global South, who confidently contribute their perspectives, can certainly be attributed to the work of MSKv. The fact that 50% of speakers at the MSC are now women is another very positive development – even if many Western (prime) ministers among them currently appear to be even more entangled in military rearmament logic than their male counterparts.
6. Concrete Steps Towards Rethinking Security
During the MSC, I had extended discussions with both the editor-in-chief of a major German daily newspaper and the secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in Africa about the necessary paradigm shift from military to civilian security policy. We were able to agree on concrete cooperation between the International Conference on the African Great Lakes Region and the African Peace University to develop a Rethinking Security scenario for the region.
Furthermore, a representative of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) intends to work with us to further develop the MSC towards rethinking security.
Please also note my interview with “nd-aktuell”: Interview with nd
Ralf Becker coordinates the civil society initiative “sicherheitneudenken.de – from military to civilian security policy,” supported by 150 organizations in Germany and Europe.