250 Years of the USA
Freedom and Democracy: Between Aspiration and Reality
In 1776, thirteen North American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. In a bold Declaration of Independence that would shape democratic thought across generations and borders, they articulated a commitment to liberty, equality, and democratic self-government. In 2026, the Declaration marks its 250th anniversary – an opportunity to reflect on its enduring influence as well as its contradictions.
A two-part panel series at Dresden's Frauenkirche explores how these founding principles are understood today and whether they can continue to serve as a guide for the future. Against the backdrop of social division, populism, and geopolitical upheaval, the discussions examine how the Declaration's once groundbreaking and seemingly unshakable ideals can endure under changing circumstances – in the United States, in Europe, and within the transatlantic partnership.
Friday, 11 September 2026
7:30–9:30 p.m.
The USA at a Crossroads: Dreams, Crises, and Realities
The United States is undergoing profound political and societal change. This panel discussion examines the current state of American democracy, once widely regarded as a model, and explores how politics, the economy, the media, and religion shape these developments.
At Dresden's Frauenkirche, particular attention will also be given to the religious dimension of American society. How do churches and religious movements influence politics? What role do faith and moral convictions play in public discourse? And how is the relationship between religion and the state being renegotiated in an increasingly religiously diverse society? The discussion will also address whether the American Dream remains a viable promise today—or whether it has become an illusion.
Panelists
Former Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States
Dr. Emily Haber is a historian and career diplomat who served as Germany's Ambassador to the United States from 2018 to 2023. Prior to her appointment in Washington, D.C., she held several senior positions at the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. In 2009, she became the Foreign Office's Political Director and, in 2011, the first woman to be appointed State Secretary. From 2014 to 2018, she served as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, where she was responsible for internal security and migration policy. Earlier in her career, she held several postings at the German Embassy in Moscow, including as Head of the Political Section, and also served as Head of the OSCE Division and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans at the Federal Foreign Office.
Professor of International Politics and Transatlantic Relations, University of Regensburg
Professor Dr. Stephan Bierling has held the Chair of International Politics and Transatlantic Relations at the University of Regensburg since 2000. His research focuses on U.S. domestic and foreign policy, transatlantic relations, and German foreign policy. A widely recognised expert on American politics, he regularly comments on political developments in the United States for German and international media. His most recent publications include The Divided States: The U.S. Political System and the Future of Democracy (Die unvereinigten Staaten. Das politische System der USA und die Zukunft der Demokratie, C.H. Beck, 3rd ed., 2025).
Spokesperson, Republicans Overseas Germany
Benjamin Wolfmeier has been active with Republicans Overseas Germany, the official international organisation affiliated with the U.S. Republican Party, since 2018. As a spokesperson, he regularly explains Republican policies and positions in German television, radio, and print media, including Maybrit Illner, Markus Lanz, and Phoenix. For many years, he has also given lectures on U.S. politics and the American electoral system. Earlier in his career, he participated in several Republican election campaigns in the United States.
The event will feature a musical programme by the Organist of the Frauenkirche, Niklas Jahn.
The discussion will be recorded and published on the Frauenkirche Dresden YouTube channel.
Friday, 15 September 2026
7:30–9:30 p.m.
The USA and Europe: Between Alliance and Shared Responsibility
Relations between the United States and Europe are undergoing profound change. For decades, the United States was regarded as the West's reliable security guarantor and political leader. Today, however, Washington is redefining its foreign and security policy priorities, with far-reaching consequences for Europe.
This panel discussion examines the current state of the transatlantic alliance. At its heart lies the question of whether Europe and the United States are still united by a shared understanding of democracy—and how resilient that foundation remains today. How can transatlantic cooperation be shaped under changing political and security conditions? What does solidarity mean in times of growing crises? And what would be the consequences if political priorities and democratic convictions were to drift further apart?
Panelists
Former National Security Advisor of the United States
John R. Bolton served as National Security Advisor to the President of the United States from 2018 to 2019. Over several decades, the lawyer and diplomat held senior foreign and security policy positions in Republican administrations, including Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Following his departure from the White House, he published his memoir The Room Where It Happened and has since become one of the most prominent Republican critics of Donald Trump.
Member and Former Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag
Dr. Norbert Röttgen is one of Germany's leading voices on foreign and security policy. A lawyer by training, he has been a Member of the German Bundestag for more than three decades. He continues to play a key role in shaping Germany's foreign and security policy through his work on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which he chaired from 2014 to 2021. From 2009 to 2012, he served as Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, having previously served as First Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Most recently, he chaired the CDU/CSU parliamentary commission of inquiry »Peace and Security in Europe«. His work focuses on transatlantic relations, European security, and the international order.
Executive Director of the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Professor Ethan B. Kapstein conducts research and teaches at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, focusing on development, international conflict, and U.S. foreign policy. His most recent book, Exporting Capitalism: Private Enterprise and US Foreign Policy (Harvard University Press, 2022), examines American efforts to promote private sector development around the world. A retired U.S. Navy officer, he is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
North America Correspondent of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Washington, D.C.
Since 2018, Dr. Majid Sattar has been reporting from Washington, D.C., for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, covering U.S. politics and transatlantic relations. Previously, the political scientist worked in the newspaper's parliamentary bureau in Berlin, where he focused on German foreign policy and the Federal Foreign Office. His doctoral research examined the U.S. political system and congressional oversight of the American federal government.
The event will feature a musical programme by the Dresden Brass Philharmonic Orchestra.
The discussion will be recorded and published on the Frauenkirche Dresden YouTube channel.
Project Partner
This panel series is a joint initiative of the
Stiftung Frauenkirche Dresden and the Saxon State Agency for Civic Education.
