SPD leader Lars Klingbail proposes a “debate” on Germany’s “leadership” and “military violence” as a means of resolving disputes.
It was a masterfully structured foreign policy speech delivered by the co-chair of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), Lars Klingbail, at an event of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Berlin. “Like many speakers who want to seduce a left-wing audience, it began with references in Antonio Gramsci’s’ Prison Notebooks to ‘the old that dies and the new that cannot yet be born,'” he continued with well-known post-war German coordinates. “Germany is strong only when Europe is strong”) and then recalled the geopolitical upheavals of recent years, culminating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to conclude “through them”.
What is this? According to Klingbail, Germany must have the ambition to become a “leading power”, to hold “war and peace” debates and to realize that “military violence can also be a legitimate political instrument. “It’s always a last resort, but it is a means. We see it in Ukraine.”
Continuation or overthrow of social democratic traditions?
Coincidentally, all this was said at a time when the SPD co-chair and prominent representative of the left wing of the party, Saskia Esken, is lying with a broken leg and a coronavirus together (!) However, other representatives of the left wing of the SPD rushed to Klingbaile. “The claim to leadership is a complete misconception about Germany’s role,” said Jessica Rosenthal, a Social Democrat (Jusos) MP and chairwoman. “These must be discussed within the party, the leadership can not just decide,” said Sebastian Roloff, leader of the informal left-wing DL 21 group within the SPD. “Germany should lead by example,” said MP Ralph Stegner.
Klingbail was obviously expecting reactions. After all, in the controversial speech in Berlin, he said the following: “I invite you to argue, to discuss, to think. I want to provoke a debate.” It is certain that his wish will be satisfied. He believes that the debate over “leadership” not only does not contradict the tradition of the SPD, but is a continuation of the solid rule of Helmut Smith. It is useful to clarify that he wishes to use “military force” only in the context already provided for in the UN Charter, which almost nowhere provides for “military violence”, except as an exercise of the right of self-defense invoked by Article 51 or as result of a collective mandate from the Security Council.
A different generation
Lars Klingbail is the son of a soldier. Maybe this plays a role. Even more important is the fact that he is considered the “architect of the SPD election victory”, which he received at 15-20% (based on opinion polls) when he was elected general secretary of the party in 2017. His opinion is of particular importance. But there is another element, which is perhaps the most decisive: Lars Klingbail represents a new generation and sees some things differently. He himself said in his speech in Berlin: The idea of communism was dead and the only way to the future was that of a liberal democracy. “In this majestic city. (…) Today I am 44 years old. And as president of the SPD I have taken responsibility.”
Giannis Papadimitriou (DPA, Der Spiegel)
Source: Deutsche Welle
Source: Capital
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