Post by Public Makers

Day 1 at the #GermanAmericanConference2025 left us with one big question: How do we hold onto hope in a world that feels increasingly uncertain? Ambassador Wendy Sherman opened the conference by naming some uncomfortable truths about the global moment we’re in. She urged young people to step into leadership. Her message was clear: we need a new kind of politics to counter the rise of the right worldwide. A panel on populism unpacked this further. Professor Daniel Ziblatt reminded us that resilient democracies don’t appear by accident. They’re built through strong constitutional design, responsible political leadership, and a robust civil society able to push back when norms erode. We also took an unexpected but refreshing turn with Hazel Brugger, who flew in for a keynote on “Laughing Through Uncertainty.” She made a simple but powerful point: humour can puncture echo chambers and help people listen to each other again. The day closed with an exclusive conversation with Felix Beer and Baran Peters on reimagining institutions for the future. We discussed how young people can be encouraged to work on institutional reform and what it means to build democratic systems in an era of unprecedented power concentration. It was the kind of exchange that reminds you that the value of attending conferences like these lies in the connections that last beyond the conference. At Public Makers, nurturing young, interdisciplinary talent for public sector reform is at the heart of what we do. As Wendy Sherman said, now is the moment for young leaders to take up the baton. We’re excited for the next two days at #GAC2025 — stay with us as we continue exploring, learning, and connecting.