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On 14 December 2020, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office was hosting the second Future Affairs conference in Berlin, a joint production with re:publica and with the support of the non-profit think tank Stiftung Neue Verantwortung. This year’s international event was focusing on the topic “Decoupling the Internet – Taking Sides or Chances?” It was taking place in a virtual format, broadcast live and freely accessible for the first time on www.future-affairs.de.

The Future Affairs forum addressed the latest future trends impacting foreign policy and security policy. After its successful premiere in May 2019, the event series was being continued in December 2020. Along with questions of national sovereignty and stability, this year’s forum was also focusing on the topics of data security and cybersecurity, the fragmentation of the internet, and the geopolitical power that technological leadership brings.

Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was opening the one-day conference in Berlin. This year’s entire event was streamed live on www.future-affairs.de, on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

In moderated panel discussions and digital roundtables, distinguished speakers from around the world was presenting new approaches and future scenarios, exchanging views on trends in digitisation, and developing ideas for shaping the policies of tomorrow in a transdisciplinary dialogue with the online community.

Future Affairs 2020: An event organized by the Federal Foreign Office, powered by re:publica with kind support of Stiftung Neue Verantwortung.