Concept

Since its establishment, the Atlantic Academy has cultivated encounters between people—with the connection between Germans and Americans remaining at its core to this day. A glance at the organization's statute (§2) clarifies this orientation:

"The purpose of the Association is to intensify German-American and European-American dialogue and the dialogue between member states of the North Atlantic Alliance. These activities are based on the traditionally close links between the Rhineland-Palatinate and the United States of America; their objective is to contribute significantly to international understanding and to the promotion of a free and democratic political culture."

For nearly three decades, the Academy has fulfilled this mission through diverse collaborative projects—with numerous partners including the Association of German-American Centers (AGAC), Rhineland-Palatinate communities shaped by US military presence, and local initiatives such as sports and cultural associations. This demonstrates that encounters emerge where society converges in everyday life—in associations, schools, festivals, conferences, and increasingly in digital spaces.

From discussion groups to school workshops, from panel discussions to exhibitions: the Academy makes transatlantic themes tangible. Whether addressing economic issues, security, art, or intergenerational exchange—encounter remains the common thread. This also creates new spaces for discussing current topics, such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, or startup culture.

Fears and prejudices arise where encounters and mutual understanding give way to hearsay. Where retreat into isolationism fails to account for the realities of an interconnected world, solutions to complex problems devolve into simplistic "us versus them" paradigms.

A particularly important component is the program "Welcome to Rhineland-Palatinate! Our Neighbors from America," which the Atlantic Academy has implemented on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior and Sports since 2016. It connects precisely where integration and exchange occur in daily life: in local communities. Rhineland-Palatinate, with the largest US presence, represents the most transatlantic of all German federal states. Making this potential not only visible but actively utilizing it for encounter, dialogue, and social cohesion constitutes the program's core mission. It networks and supports municipalities, civil society, and American families—contributing to Rhineland-Palatinate's perception as a lived bridge between the US and Germany.

This commitment is complemented by the Atlantic Academy's Young Leaders Forum, which specifically brings together young Germans and Americans. This initiative aims at nothing less than actively shaping future transatlantic relations: young leaders develop their own perspectives on global challenges and opportunities in foreign and security policy. They shape the future of transatlantic dialogue within their own networks—both analog and digital.

To expand encounters beyond traditional formats, the Academy increasingly emphasizes inclusive digital offerings. Online discussions, virtual panels, and hybrid formats enable voices to be heard from those who cannot participate in person. Digital spaces thus become genuine encounter spaces—accessible to younger generations, working professionals, and international cooperation partners.

The mission is clear: encounters must not be confined to historical references but must operate in the here and now. Rhineland-Palatinate, with its close connection to the United States, numerous communities with US presence, and diverse partnerships—including with the state of South Carolina—represents the ideal location for building new bridges together. The Atlantic Academy positions itself as a catalyst, partner, and platform to keep these contacts vibrant and to continuously reconceptualize encounters—from local partnerships to innovative digital networks.

Over the past thirty years, the Atlantic Academy has evolved into a center of expertise on American affairs. Through a broad spectrum of projects, it significantly shapes the educational landscape in Rhineland-Palatinate and is recognized and valued for this work beyond regional boundaries. Collaborations with academic institutions and partners such as RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (GISA/SWP) in Berlin, the German Association for American Studies (GAAS/DGfA), the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at the University of Mainz, and the State Institute for Education Rhineland-Palatinate underscore its academic foundation. Additional partners, including the US Consulate General in Frankfurt, the Fritjof Nansen Academy in Ingelheim, and the Europe Direct Information Centers in Kaiserslautern and Ingelheim, demonstrate the thematic and institutional breadth of its educational work.

Support from the State Agency for Civic Education Rhineland-Palatinate and recognition as an educational provider by the Federal Agency for Civic Education underscore the exceptionally high quality and relevance of this work.

A particular flagship is the week-long Summer School on the USA, implemented jointly with RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau. In terms of content quality and structural form, it possesses a unique position nationwide: here, scientific excellence meets broad societal and civic educational outreach. Students, pupils, and interested citizens alike receive well-founded insights into the role of the USA in world politics, its culture and society, and perspectives on transatlantic relations.

Furthermore, the Academy's thematic openness demonstrates its innovative capacity, particularly in the cultural sphere: events examining the influence of popular culture or sports on societal perceptions and developments, or the relevance of American political television series, exemplify the diversity of approaches. Looking toward the present, topics such as artificial intelligence, social media, and digital public spheres increasingly occupy a permanent place in the educational program. This particularly accommodates the experiential worlds of younger generations, who think and act within globally networked spaces.

Not least, the Academy opens new pathways through digital and hybrid educational formats. Online seminars, digital discussion series, and hybrid conferences expand reach and participation for broader audiences—from students to international experts. Offerings such as the Academy's own podcast "America's Constitution/Condition. Society and Politics in the US" and the publication series "Atlantic Blog" provide current insights into transatlantic relations. In this way, the Atlantic Academy embodies modern civic education: locally anchored, scientifically grounded, globally networked, and accessible across generations.

The third pillar of the Atlantic Academy emerges directly from its educational and encounter work: from the US expertise built over nearly three decades, the extensive network in American studies and international policy consulting, an important role as a consultative institution has developed. Particularly for political institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate and beyond, the Academy serves as a central point of contact for questions concerning US domestic, foreign, and security policy and their significance for Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and Europe as a whole.

The growing interconnectedness of global politics and economics necessitates the systematic integration of transatlantic perspectives into decision-making at the state level. The Atlantic Academy makes an important contribution to this by providing scientifically grounded analyses, contextualizing political, economic, and security policy developments, and identifying potential courses of action. As an independent institution, it thus contributes to enabling political decisions that extend beyond the immediate term to be made strategically, evidence-based, and internationally embedded.

Furthermore, the Academy's staff actively engage in public debate through regular authorship, publications, and interviews in national and international media. In doing so, they address both current political developments and longer-term trends in American domestic, foreign, and security policy as well as transatlantic relations. This open science communication is part of the Academy's institutional identity. This presence strengthens the visibility of our institution as an independent voice of American expertise in Rhineland-Palatinate and throughout the federal territory, and contributes to effectively deploying its expertise beyond the immediate political sphere.

Through the expansion of this third pillar—Expertise—the Atlantic Academy sharpens its profile: it is not only a forum for education and encounter but also a strategic knowledge bearer that accompanies politics, society, and business in Rhineland-Palatinate in their engagement with transatlantic themes.