beyond borders THe ALLIAnZ ALUMnI NETWORK beyond borders The Allianz Alumni n etwork The ASA AlumNi NeTwork... editorial by Henning Schulte-Noelle active and and Werner Zedelius 5 Sharing a Culture without Borders by Michael M. Thoss homo europaeus growing In memoriam 6 Professor Robert Picht 10 Years of Alumni1 Network 810 Collective memories Controversial but Productive Discussions “There is Vital work to be Done” more than 1314 Interview with Jacques Delors partner Turning the Page: The Alumni magazine The european Connection 16 A conversation about being universities an Alumna, European spirit so far and fusion food A Jackpot Prize 18 Stay Committed, is waiting for You keep the Connections 20 A conversation with the first 16 ASA Alumni Council 22 Projects of the Allianz 180alumni Cultural Foundation 24 from over 26 european Polyphony Borders as a Place of excitement 30 countries how the european Interview with Ilma Rakusa Project can be Saved academic 2830 by Ulrich Beck 20 Cultural identity coordinators and Globalization by Christina Weiss 32 Two Speed europe Allianz Summer 34 by Harold James “memory is a Fundamental Category” The Allianz Cultural 7Academies (since 2004) Interview with Claudio Magris Foundation Team 36 38 Publication details Allianz what iS what iS Your ViSioN Your euroPean Alumni4 Academies For euroPe? DreAm? (since 2007) ... are the questions we asked our alumni. On the following pages you can read their answers and see the diversity of our Allianz Alumni Network. Beside the year of 1001hours of discussion participation and function in the network, you can find out where they currently live. and exchange The photo on the left side shows the group during the first Allianz Alumni Academy in Brussels. Dr. Henning Schulte-Noelle Dr. Werner Zedelius en years ago the Board of Trustees of the Allianz Cultural Foundation cre- ated the Allianz Summer Academy (ASA). The group of representatives from five European universities established in July 2004 operated as an as- Tsociation. Students, professors, and experts from London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, and Munich traveled to the idyllic town of Irsee where, in the seclusion of its mon- astery, they would devote five days to discussing Europe. Behind closed doors and under the leadership of Robert Picht and Felipe Basabe Llorens, not only economic and political topics were debated. From the outset, discussion groups and negotia- tions were also used to cultivate a style of interaction and a culture of discussion that would later provide students with confidence and savoir-faire in international circles. Today, the collaborative mentality students develop continues to be the stamp of the ASA. Every year, it is fascinating to see Summer Academy students of diverse backgrounds transform in just a few days into a self-organized learning group, developing a civic mentality that has spread throughout the Alumni Network. To date, the Allianz Cultural Foundation has worked with 16 European universi- ties and one American university through the ASA. Participants from more than 30 nations have met at the Allianz Management Institute on Lake Starnberg, which has become a place where alumni of various cohorts can connect. Over the years, an active pan-European network has spread, allowing the “ex-students” of various “generations” to regularly exchange views and work together on cross-border projects supported by our Foundation. We at the Foundation are all only too happy to advise them and to quite often benefit from their advice to us. Former Summer Academy students have gone on to become the advisers, experts, and European scouts who have helped to shape our Cultural Foundation. Many of them also occupy posts in the governments and businesses of their homelands or work in European associations and EU institutions. What better “ambassadors” could a foundation – and its founders – wish for? Ten years of Dr. Henning Schulte-Noelle Dr. Werner Zedelius Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE neTworking Allianz Cultural Foundation Member of the Board of Trustees of Allianz Cultural Foundation 4 Sharing A CUlturE Without BordErS By Michael M. Thoss e believe that even more brilliant and the reflection of our collective self-awareness. To use pioneering projects can emerge from culture as a means of distinction and exclusion is to communities of mutual trust (like our abuse it (and ourselves). It has the power to combine WAlumni Network) than from competition among new and old, self and other, and the known and un- lone wolves. That’s why our (and your) Summer and known in unique ways! We should use this enormous Alumni Academies, working groups, and city-based potential, and not allow culture to be misunderstood meet-ups engender a group mentality and encour- as the last bulwark of national identity against the age members to develop collaborative cross-border global mainstream (as some “cultural politicians” do). projects. Swarm intelligence and collective creativ- Of course, European enthusiasm must not be accom- ity rather than solo combatants and ego-shooters: panied by a new ethnocentrism that would bring old Michael M. Thossis managing colonial stereotypes back to the fore. Those days are director of the Allianz Cultural WeQ is more than iQ! Foundation and editor of nu- over for good! Europe can be happy to remain a part- merous publications. He studied ner in a cultural dialog that involves the entire world, philology, philosophy and politi- Together with other multinational exchange and con- in order to improve its understanding of diversified cal sciences in Bonn, Barcelona and Paris and worked as a jour- nection projects, our foundation also contributes to universalism, of a living “pluriversalism,” both within nalist, translator, and director of Europe-wide networking among young academics, and beyond its borders. cultural programs of the Goethe- artists, and cultural innovators who want to actively Institut in Asia and Europe. In the Haus der Kulturen der Welt shape their (and therefore our) future. At the same When the participants in our international culture in Berlin he was responsible for time, we understand culture to be the driving force program finally discover that the so-called “other” exhibitions, new media and film until 2003. behind the development of a European civil society has become (or has long been) a part of the “I” or that is based on personal engagement, mutual rec- “we,” then can we consider our project to be 99 % ognition, and democratic participation. Culture is successful … What iS What iS yoUr ViSioN yoUr european for EUrope? dream? My vision of Europe is based I would like to live in a com- My vision for Europe is one My dream is a democratic, YOUR-OPE is the mission: What will be the single most on Kant’s “Perpetual Peace”: munity, driven not only by without borders. I feel that unified, and strong EU. I MY Europe, YOUR Europe important factor shaping Eu- I would like to see European economic interests or disso- the cultural and social heri- firmly believe such an EU and OUR Europe shape the rope over the next 50 years? I citizenship evolve into a nances or unified merely by tage of each nation is too would give us economic and basis and relationship be- expect it to be demographic meaningful concept through similar legislative acts, but valuable and complicated social progress that no single tween citizens and Europe. change: an ageing popula- an appreciation of common history, cultural in one acting truly in unison, guaranteeing to translate into one European nation. I am country could achieve. Moreover, it would be We need to strengthen this spirit, already tion, low birth rates, changing family struc- dialog and political activism. I envision a Eu- equitable and sustainable opportunities for devoted to Europe and would like to see it an influential voice telling the world it is time alive in culture, politics and the economy, tures. The good news: We Europeans will rope that is responsible to future generations both economic and personal development to succeed so that a closer bond between its to solve the long-standing challenges human- which is not easily challenged by moments embrace and more actively promote im- and educates its people to lead sustainable life- all Europeans. peoples can prevent conflict and promote ity has been unsuccessfully facing for centuries. of weakness but shows a sign of confidence migration – making Europe more diverse, styles. Agata Jaskot exchange and progress instead. Andrea Contigiani and a matter of course. tolerant and prosperous. Adrienn Nyircsák ASA 2008 | Brussels, Belgium Alexander Thannhuber ASA 2009 | Philadelphia, USA Andreas Ettenhuber Andreas Kleinschmidt 6 ASA 2013 | Budapest, Hungary ASA 2013 | Munich, Germany ASA 2004 | Zorneding, Germany ASA 2004 | Munich, Germany 7 HOMO EUROPAEUS In memoriam Professor RObert PIcHt by felipe basabe Llorens s there such a thing as a Europe- as much as he did as a Frenchman during his long European citizens. Individuals could only believe and mension in the educational and cultural fields, always an demos? Can we define what stints at the head of the Franco-German Institute support a project if they experience direct benefits in his role as a facilitator. His idea that Europe had to European identity is? Will future in Ludwigsburg (1972–2002), the Institut d’Études from it. Any process of dialog and exchange must be be lived (and not only learnt) and that the national Igenerations genuinely feel like Euro- Politiques and the École Nationale d’Administration “active” on both sides in order to be fruitful and ef- educational systems were too rigid and self-interested peans? These and similar questions while working for the Deutscher Akademischer Aus- fective; the process of European integration should to adjust to the European dimension are at the basis accompanied Professor Robert Picht’s tauschdienst (DAAD) in Paris (1965–1972).