Events
With its numerous lectures, panel discussions, and lecture series, the HCA facilitates a dialogue between academia and the general public. Its key lecture series include “Encounters,” which sheds light on the relationship between the USA and Asia; “Migration and the Americas,” which focuses on Latin America; and the Baden-Württemberg Seminar, which, in cooperation with the American Academy in Berlin, offers a wide range of topics at institutions throughout the state. In addition, the HCA regularly welcomes distinguished speakers, such as Federal Minister Christian Lindner for the Alfred Weber Lecture, US Ambassador Philipp Murphy for its commencement, and historian Carol Anderson for the Pennington Lectures.
Event Series
THE FUTURE OF US DEMOCRACY
Since its establishment over two centuries ago, American democracy has served as a beacon of political participation and societal progress – despite its historical imperfections. However, in recent years, it has faced significant challenges. Political polarization has intensified, the media landscape often spreads misinformation, and key democratic institutions are under pressure. This lecture series examines the current state of American democracy, explores its most pressing challenges, and considers possible paths forward. How can the United States preserve and strengthen its democratic institutions to ensure a fair, responsive, and equitable society?
Geopolitics in the Age of Trump
This series features experts in international relations, economics, and security policies to explore the shifting patterns of geopolitics in the age of Trump. In a new era of uncertainty, marked by the unilateral and transactional policies of the 47th president, US allies in Europe and Asia are reassessing their strategic options. Talks in this series analyze these trajectories, discuss their underlying causes, and weigh policy implications.
Migration and the Americas
Migration movements turn out to be a particular global challenge of the twenty-first century in many regions of the world. The HCA addresses this topic together with the Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies and the Institute of Geography with the lecture series “Migration and the Americas,” with a special focus on the United States and Latin America.
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Yaatsil Guevara GonzálezProf. Dr. Ulrike Gerhard
Encounters: New Perspectives on Asia, America, and Europe
This series of dialogues focuses on the relationship between the two superpowers of the twenty-first century – the United States and China. One of its key questions is how Europe will position itself in this new era of super power competition and conflict. In cooperation with the Center for Asian and Transcultural Studies, “Encounters” brings prominent Asian and American academics, authors, activists, and artists to Heidelberg, where they engage with scholars from the HCA and the CATS.
Baden-Württemberg Seminar
The HCA’s longest running lecture series has brought distinguished scholars, public policy experts, journalists, writers, and artists to Baden-Württemberg since it was launched in 2007 in cooperation with the American Academy in Berlin. Participants present their current work at selected venues throughout the state, among them German-American Institutes, museums or libraries. The Baden-Württemberg Seminar reflects the interdisciplinarity of the HCA as well as the long standing ties between the German Southwest and the United States.
