Promoting peace and prosperity for all

Growing up in Cameroon, it became apparent at a young age that living in a developing country can limit your life prospects. I witnessed several of my schoolmates drop out of primary school to support their families who faced economic hardships. I was fortunate enough to live in several countries such as Germany, France, the People’s Republic of China, and Italy. But even in these developed countries, I encountered many young people who worked extremely hard to fulfill their dreams yet never stood a chance to succeed due to existing structural barriers.

These personal experiences not only exposed me to the societal effects of underdevelopment and inequality but also fueled my desire to contribute toward finding sustainable solutions for promoting peace and prosperity for all. Today, they continue to be a source of personal motivation, especially in my current role as a Member of the German Bundestag. I am a member of the Committee for Digital Affairs as well as the Finance Committee, where I serve as Deputy Speaker for Finance of the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) parliamentary group. In this role, I aim to achieve a just and fair society in which everyone can participate and realize their goals, irrespective of their race, gender, religious belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

I first encountered Atlantik-Brücke through the various political events they organize in Germany. The insights I received from several alumni of the Young Leaders Conference, such as Metin Hakverdi, Tim Klüssendorf, and Verena Hubertz, fueled my desire to join this network. I was particularly keen to participate in the German-American Young Leaders Conference, as it would give me a unique opportunity to discuss current domestic, bilateral, and global issues with experts from different areas such as business, politics, journalism, culture, and academia. I believe that such an interdisciplinary approach is indispensable to finding sustainable solutions to common challenges.

The transatlantic partnership has always been and remains an anchor for global order and stability.

The transatlantic partnership has always been and remains an anchor for global order and stability. With regard to the current multiple crises and challenges, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, climate change, and the rise of populism and nationalism, it is our joint responsibility to protect the rules-based international order and our common values. The conference was an excellent opportunity to engage with some of the world’s brightest minds and future leaders and work towards designing urgently needed solutions.

The week in Detroit was full of new insights, fun, and determination. What surprised me the most was the fact that we grew together as a group very quickly despite all our differences. Despite different approaches and opinions, the common goal of making the world a better place was a strong unifying element. We had very critical and controversial discussions, but they were always constructive. Everyone was passionate about their opinion but always open to the arguments of others. We celebrated each other but were also aware that, as a group, we only represented a small fraction of our generation.

Attending this year’s Young Leaders Conference and joining the alumni network gave me the opportunity to continue building personal and professional bridges across the Atlantic. It’s all about building strong relationships and friendships. When you don’t understand certain political or economic developments, you want someone on the other side of the Atlantic whom you can call to discuss the issue with. Of course, it helps when you actually like the person and consider them a friend.

Armand Zorn is a Young Leader Alumnus from the class of 2024. He is a Member of the German Bundestag for the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) parliamentary group.