BMW Center for German and European Studies (CGES)

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BMW Center for German and European Studies (CGES) The BMW Center for German and European Studies (cges.georgetown.edu) is part of the Edmund A. Walsh

On October 8–9, Georgetown University hosted the international workshop “Flight, Exile and Emigration in Germany’s Age o...
10/20/2026

On October 8–9, Georgetown University hosted the international workshop “Flight, Exile and Emigration in Germany’s Age of Extremes: Biographical Perspectives.”

Co-convened by Professor Anna von der Goltz (Georgetown University) and Professor Frank Biess (UC San Diego), in collaboration with Simone Lässig (TU Braunschweig) and Richard Wetzell (German Historical Institute Washington), the workshop brought together scholars to explore experiences of displacement, exile, and migration through the lens of individual lives.

Supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the event offered an opportunity for scholarly exchange and reflection on Germany’s turbulent twentieth-century history.

🇫🇷 Kicking off our (Il)liberal Orders series!Today, the BMW Center for German and European Studies welcomed journalist a...
10/19/2026

🇫🇷 Kicking off our (Il)liberal Orders series!

Today, the BMW Center for German and European Studies welcomed journalist and author Victor Mallet Financial Times for a conversation on Far-Right France: How the Rise of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella Will Transform Europe and NATO.

Drawing on his latest book, Mallet explored the rise of France’s far right, its growing influence on French politics, and what it could mean for the future of Europe and transatlantic relations.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first event in our series! Stay tuned for more conversations on democracy, populism, and the future of liberal orders.

Learning from experience, building connections, and making the most of the MAES community! 🌍🌐Over the past few weeks, ou...
10/14/2026

Learning from experience, building connections, and making the most of the MAES community! 🌍🌐

Over the past few weeks, our students have had the opportunity to learn from both alumni and peers through two events organized by the CGES Alumni and second-years.

🗣️ At our Networking Tips & Tricks session, MAES alumni Charlotte Carstens (‘20), Sam Denney (‘18), Colleen Dougherty (‘22), and Pete Giannino (‘18) shared advice on navigating Washington, D.C.’s professional scene, from networking events and think tank gatherings to LinkedIn outreach and building meaningful connections.

⛱️ At How I Spent My Summer Vacation, our second-year students shared their summer experiences with the incoming cohort, from internships at BMW and on Capitol Hill to opportunities at think tanks and organizations across Europe and the United States.

A big thank you to our amazing community for sharing their insights, experiences, and advice with the next generation of MAES students!

Georgetown SFS 🇪🇺🇺🇸

What would the rise of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella mean for France, Europe, and NATO? 🇫🇷Join the BMW Center for Ge...
10/07/2026

What would the rise of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella mean for France, Europe, and NATO? 🇫🇷

Join the BMW Center for German and European Studies for a conversation with Victor Mallet, senior editor for world news at the Financial Times and author of Far-Right France: Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe.

Drawing on more than three decades of international reporting, Mallet will discuss the rise of the Rassemblement National, the transformation of French politics, and the broader implications for European democracy and the transatlantic alliance.

📅 Monday, October 19
🕧 12:30–1:30 PM EDT
📍 Georgetown University
🥪 Lunch will be provided

Part of CGES’s 2026–27 (Il)liberal Democracies event series.

10/05/2026

During his visit to Washington, D.C. and Georgetown University, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset took a moment to step beyond his day-to-day work and answer a more personal question from our students: what advice would he give to his 20-year-old self? 💭

This Monday, we’re sharing a little motivation for all the young people navigating their early twenties: stay courageous, stay curious, and keep learning.

09/25/2026

The BMW Center for German and European Studies was honored to host .berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, for a conversation at Georgetown University.

Secretary General Berset joined the community to discuss the role of the in a rapidly changing international environment, including the future of multilateralism, democratic security, international law, and transatlantic cooperation. His visit to Washington comes as 2026 marks 30 years since the United States became an observer state to the Council of Europe.

Thank you to Secretary General Berset for an engaging conversation and to everyone who joined us!

After attending our open house for admitted students, was convinced that the MAES program was the place for her. Alongs...
05/12/2026

After attending our open house for admitted students, was convinced that the MAES program was the place for her. Alongside the MAES community, she was impressed by the Georgetown faculty and course offerings, and she didn’t shy away from taking some challenging classes!

Grace says that Gender and Migration, taught by Professor Joyce Mushaben, was her favorite class - while challenging, it was incredibly interactive and interesting, and it was a huge help in preparing to write her Capstone.

Grace’s research, “The Politics of Critical Minerals: Lobby Influence on the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act,” utilized a technical “text-as-data” approach to analyze how lobby interests shaped final policy language. Shoutout to her advisors, Dr. Newman and Professor Wolf, for their guidance!

During her time in the program, Grace completed two internships that gave her perspective on transatlantic science and research exchange from both sides of the Atlantic! Last summer, she interned with BMW’s Innovation and Academia Team in Munich, looking at how BMW interacts with research communities. This year, she got an American perspective during an internship with the American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

After graduation, Grace is looking to work in the field of environmental and energy policy. We wish her all the luck and can’t wait to see her impact in the transatlantic arena!

With a real passion for how global trade and tech are changing, .althainz (MAES ‘26) came to Georgetown to take a deep d...
05/11/2026

With a real passion for how global trade and tech are changing, .althainz (MAES ‘26) came to Georgetown to take a deep dive into transatlantic relations. He’s now graduating with a Master of Arts in European Studies, ready to kickstart a career at the intersection of policy and international affairs.

For Nils, the strength of the MAES program lay largely in its incredible faculty and access to the broader transatlantic community in DC. He credits adjunct professors like Emily Benson and Spencer Boyer with pushing him to broaden his perspective and find inspiration in places he didn’t expect.

He especially loved Professor Benson’s Geopolitics of Technology class: “This course explored the intersection of geopolitics and technology in a fully digitalized world, delving deeply into topics such as export controls, AI, and the intersection between emerging technologies and national security. In addition to her own expertise, Professor Benson regularly invited fascinating guest speakers to the class”.

Outside of class, Nils’s internships helped him figure out the ins and outs of American politics. While interning at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he saw firsthand how advocacy groups shape policy. As a TAPS Executive co-chair, Nils spent countless hours to make this year’s a success.

After graduating, Nils is looking for a job in trade policy or geopolitical risk consulting, especially roles with a German-American or transatlantic focus. But first, he’s excited to explore the American West. We’re excited to see him continue to dominate the soccer field at our annual Flynn game - now on the alumni team!

As today’s global market is shaped by rapid technological advancement, diverging regulations, and political instability,...
04/01/2026

As today’s global market is shaped by rapid technological advancement, diverging regulations, and political instability, “we should not fear competition, but welcome it.” This was Oliver Zipse’s main message as he delivered the 8th Herbert Quandt Distinguished Lecture on The Hilltop last week. He noted that geopolitical shocks of the last few decades— COVID, financial crises, armed conflicts— have all led to a “dissolution in global collaboration.”

In his introduction, SFS Dean Joel Hellman reminded us that, “one of the things we have learned at this moment of tremendous change is how critical the role of the private sector is in shaping wherever the global order goes from here.”

As Chairman of the Board of BMW, Mr. Zipse is cultivating an open, fact-driven global marketplace driven by customer demands and innovation. Mr. Zipse highlighted the importance of American technologies and manufacturing as “a perfect example of successful foreign direct investment and the economic benefits of open markets and free trade.” This sort of collaboration and growth will help bring a future in which the global marketplace can thrive by "sharing ideas and experiences with people from every culture.”

Thank you to BMW Group for making this event possible!

Read the full event recap here: https://cges.georgetown.edu/news/event-recap/chairman-of-the-board-of-bmw-oliver-zipse-strategic-challenges-for-theglobal-auto-industry/

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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