BOOK REVIEW
All Quiet on the Western Front Lambsdorff, A.G. (2021). Wenn elefanten kämpfen: Deutschlands rolle in den kalten kriegen des 21. Jahrhunderts. Berlin: Propyläen Verlag.
domıNık PıETZCKER Prof. Dr. Public Relations and Communication's Management, Macromedia University of Applied Sciences
TWO DECADES OF ACCELERATED overturning organizational, political, and econo-
change have completely altered the world and our mic limitations of the past.
concerns about it. Ecological issues have gained A new equilibrium, with new alliances
undeniable importance for our survival. World and forms of international cooperation, is ne-
hunger is a potential reality again. The rise of East cessary to identify and face these unpreceden-
Asia, particularly China and India, have redefined ted global challenges. Power, hegemony, libe-
geostrategic reality by challenging the conditions ral pluralism, and consumerism ought to be
of the Pax Americana in the Pacific. Russia, con- reconsidered under the light of a new global or
sidered once again as the political antagonist of “terrestrial” perspective (Bruno Latour).2 This
Western democracy, is of growing diplomatic and scenario, our new reality, might have been a pro-
decreasing economic importance. Digitization is mising starting point for a book on liberal ide-
the new driving force of civilization, completely as and political practices in a changing world.
1 Since 2012, Dominik Pietzcker, Dr. phil., is a fulltime professor at Macromedia University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg and
Berlin Campuses and a member of the Media Faculty. He studied comparative German literature, philosophy and history at the University of Freiburg/Br., Trinity College Dublin and in Vienna. From 1996-2010, he worked as a creative director for political public institutions (E.U., the German Government’s Federal Press Department) and taught at Universität der Künste (UdK) Berlin, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Berlin and Technische Universität (TU) Dresden. Since 2014, he is an honorary juror at the Foundation of German Entrepreneurs (Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft, SDW). Since 2017 he holds lectures at universities in China, at Zheijang University City College (Hangzhou) and Tongji University (Shanghai). He publishes regularly on intercultural, Sino-German, and socio-economic topics.
2 In his essay “Down to Earth” (2018), French philosopher Bruno Latour argues for the necessity of a new era of international cooperation.
Ecological challenges in the age of Anthropocene demand, to follow Latour, require not a common or “global”, but a planetarian or “terrestrial” political approach. Latour stresses the responsibility of human beings, of all of us, not only for ourselves but particularly for the earth as long as our lifestyle and actions have ecological consequences.
How to cite: Pietzcker, D. (2021). All quiet on the western front. [Review of the book Wenn elefanten kämpfen: Deutschlands rolle in den kalten kregen des 21. Jahrhunderts, by Lambsdor, A.G.]. Belt & Road Initiative Quarterly, 2(3), 70-73.
BOOK REVIEW
Readers who look for fresh ideas in Alexander for Western European democracies against aut-
Graf Lambsdorff ’s latest book, however, are to be horitarian and totalitarian aggressors since 1916.
thoroughly disappointed. Lambsdorff, a member But is there, here and now, not an option for Euro-
of the German Bundestag and expert in foreign pe in the 21st century to stand as the third player
affairs, reiterates Europe and Germany’s political between America and China (so-called “Chimeri-
options in the 21st century. ca” by historian Niall Ferguson)?
European unity (although increasingly utopian) bears at least the potential of European so-
Liberal political ideas have lost all vereignty in its own right. But political liberalism,
their former charms. They are neither the ideology of individual freedom and responsibi-
courageous, liberating, nor inspiring lity, apparently has its limitations in Realpolitik. In
anymore. Chapter 9, Lambsdorff is far from even considering
a strategic change in European policies (p. 282).
Unsurprisingly, Lambsdorff defends Wes- Yet, what is true sovereignty if not the willingness
tern wealth, values, and privileges. For him, they to take political risks? The whole idea of political
together form a role model of universal meaning. and societal progress is based on the necessity to
In Chapter 9, the “European way of life”, as Lamb- embrace change. To quote Italian novelist Giusep-
sdorff puts it, offers a very convenient although pe Tommasi di Lampedusa (The Leopard): “Ever-
totally unrealistic option: that it is possible for the ything must change for everything to remain the
West to carry on in the same way as before (pp. same.”
269–294). The “good Europeans”, as already Nietz- Reading Lambsdorff ’s book leaves the unp-
sche recognized, are those who claim all privileges leasant impression that even Western liberalism
for themselves and leave the problems to others. might have lost its ability to free the human mind
Former European colonies and nations whose of the ideas, patterns, and prejudices of the past.
frontiers were defined by European diplomats, The liberal “European way of life”, which Lamb-
ignorant to all ethnic, geographic and historical sdorff is endlessly endorsing, embodies the inner
singularities, might have a very different view of contradictions of a system and its representatives
the “European way of life” than Lambsdorff (pp. that desire both a good life and a clear conscien-
97–148). To keep economic privileges without ta- ce. Lambsdorff ’s book is written by a shortsigh-
king political responsibility is unfeasible, indeed. ted liberal reactionary who has little to add to the
In Chapter 9, Lambsdorff, board mem- rapidly changing world and its necessary strugg-
ber of the influential pro-American organizati- le for a new global order. If Europe has nothing
on Atlantik-Brücke, is well aware of the fact that more to offer than the political recipes of the Cold
only American hegemony can guarantee Euro- War era, it might have become too old for its own
pe’s position as an economic powerhouse wit- future. Liberal political ideas have lost all their
hout true strategic sovereignty (pp. 279–282). former charms. They are neither courageous, libe-
The Atlantic alliance, led by the US, is for Lamb- rating, nor inspiring anymore. “Riding the tiger”
sdorff the last legitimate political heritage of the is a much more poignant metaphor of European
20th century. Undeniably, the US has been a shield politics than “Fighting elephants”.
