Hamburg-Vigoni Talks – #1 The value of scientific discussion formats for political practiceProf Dr Markus Kotzur in conversation with Almut Möller

15 October 2020

The "Hamburg-Vigoni Talks" is a discussion format within the Hamburg-Vigoni Forum. The series aims to relate the thematic focuses of the forum - space, sovereignty, and identity - to current political topics and further promote the desired connection between politics and research. The intention is not a theoretical discussion of the complex topoi but rather an accessible discussion of their actual significance in political practice.

The conversations primarily take place among the scientists from the organizing institutions of the forum and are conducted in an interdisciplinary manner. To avoid a mono perspective view, the circle of speakers is not limited to the academic field but occasionally includes individuals with practical political backgrounds.

The first conversation in the Hamburg-Vigoni Talks was conducted by Prof. Dr. Markus Kotzur with Almut Möller. Markus Kotzur is a professor of European and international law at the University of Hamburg and also the president of the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg. Almut Möller is the State Secretary and Representative of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to the Federal Government, the European Union, and for Foreign Affairs. Previously, she was the director of the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Future Studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP e.V.) from 2010 to 2015 and the director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) from 2015 to 2019.

Prof. Dr. Markus Kotzur and Almut Möller particularly discussed the value of scientific formats and their potential for influencing political practice. Given their experiences in both academic and practical political environments, Almut Möller provided a nuanced perspective on possible synergy effects.

The conversation took place in German.