stern DISCUTHEK
Do guns make peace? Lobbyist argues with left-wing politician about arms exports
Watch the video: lobbyist argues with left-wing politician about arms exports.
Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the discussion about German arms deliveries has been more topical than ever. But apparently the war has changed the attitude of many. So can the question of arms deliveries not be answered unequivocally at all? In the DISKUTHEK, our guests debate: Are arms exports right or wrong?
We want to know from our guests whether Germany is acting hypocritically when it comes to armaments exports, whether weapons can make the world a safer place and what influence the armaments industry has on rearmament and wars. Is it justifiable if economic interests lead to German technology falling into the wrong hands? And is “Never Again War” realistic at all?
Should we ban arms exports? These guests discuss:
Daphne Weber researches political slogans and advertising media at the Humboldt University in Berlin and is a member of the national board of “DIE LINKE”. She is also active in anti-fascist, feminist and anti-militarist movements and fights to stop arms production and exports.
John Varwick is Professor of International Relations and European Politics at the University of Halle-Wittenberg. Varwick was the first to sign the petition Manifesto for Peace in the Ukraine-Russia War initiated by Sahra Wagenknecht and Alice Schwarzer in February 2023. He withdrew his signature, but continues to support the intention of the petition.
Peter Scheben is head of the politics and communication department at the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry. He is also the association’s expert when it comes to arms exports.
Here you will find the timecodes for the statements of the DISKUTHEK:
03:05 – Statement 1: Guns create peace.
12:14 – Statement 2: Arms exports must be banned.
24:46 – Statement 3: Germany cannot guarantee that weapons fall into the wrong hands.
35:08 – Statement 4: Arms race leads to war.
Here watch the episode directly on YouTube.
This is the ninth stern DISKUTHEK that we are producing together with the Hamburg Körber Foundation – as DISKUTHEK@KörberFoundation. The program was recorded in front of an audience in the foundation’s forum in Hamburg’s warehouse district.
Moderator: Lars Eric Paulsen
Editors: Marco Klehn, Isa von Heyl
Editorial collaboration: Fanny Rudolphs, Linda Richter
Camera: Xandra Baier, Ingmar Jessen
Light and sound: Jan Görmer, Juiljette Wion
Cut and graphics: Markus Schwager, Lukas Witting
Graphic concept: Vladislav Estrin, Edgars Noskovs
Production coordination: Arndt Neysters
Director: Xandra Baier, Christoph Gülich
Production management: Sarah Gutbrodt, Christoph Gülich
Fact checks: Dirk Liedtke