@wonderwomanUN Congratulations on your appointment. Why do you think the UN choose you as honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls?

@berlinpolicy Not because I am a white woman of impossible proportions wearing a shimmery one-piece with a US flag. I hope.

@wonderwomanUN Why then?

@berlinpolicy I can only speculate – but in a post-fact world like ours, a lasso that forces the truth out of people comes in handy.

@wonderwomanUN Some people might say a real woman would have been more appropriate for the job. What would you say to them?

@berlinpolicy I guess they just thought there aren’t any women who are qualified – after all, they chose another man to be UN Secretary General.

@wonderwomanUN Do you think a woman would do a better job?

@berlinpolicy My creator, William Marston, was convinced women are morally superior. Looking at the American election, it’s tough to disagree.

@wonderwomanUN Who are the female leaders you personally admire?

@berlinpolicy Angela Merkel. I only had to deal with supervillains – she has to work with Vladimir Putin. I tip my tiara to her.

@wonderwomanUN Batman or Superman?

@berlinpolicy Catwoman.

@wonderwomanUN You’re gay?

@berlinpolicy I grew up with Amazons and I’m 5000 years old. Of course I’ve had relationships with women.

@wonderwomanUN Do you think of yourself as a role model for girls?

@berlinpolicy I am as beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, stronger than Hercules, and swifter than Mercury.

@wonderwomanUN That’s a hard act to follow.

@berlinpolicy What would you prefer? That girls aspire to be super models and reality show stars?

@wonderwomanUN Your worst moment in life?

@berlinpolicy When I discovered that my alter ego makes 17 percent less than Clark Kent.

@wonderwomanUN Your best moment?

@berlinpolicy When we realized in the 21st century that bright, serious female superheroes are more necessary than ever.

@wonderwomanUN Your very best moment?

@berlinpolicy When a real woman finally becomes UN Secretary General. There are plenty of them out there who could do a wonderful job.

The post In 140 Characters: Wonder Woman appeared first on Berlin Policy Journal - Blog.

@yanisvaroufakis You left office about a year ago – any regrets? #i140c #eurocrisis

@berlinpolicy None whatsoever. Once it was no longer possible to do good for Greece as minister, there was no reason to stay in office.

@yanisvaroufakis Your proudest moment as #Greece’s Minister of Finance?

@berlinpolicy When a poorly dressed boy pointed me out to another boy & said: “This is the guy that gave our mum a card to buy groceries!”

@yanisvaroufakis Since you left, #Greek #euro crisis no longer dominating Europe’s headlines – #coincidence?

@berlinpolicy My departure ended a rebellion against debt bondage slavery. Slavery does not create headlines. A slaves’ revolt does.

@yanisvaroufakis Describe your relationship with Wolfgang #Schäuble.

@berlinpolicy An interesting relationship between finance ministers of a strong & a weak country who were equally powerless to do what was right.

@yanisvaroufakis Any takeaway from the #finger #boehmermann affair? #Varoufake

@berlinpolicy That satire is despised by despots and only appreciated deeply by humanists (even if it comes at a political cost to them).

@yanisvaroufakis You recently came out as an admirer of Margaret #Thatcher – elaborate. #oppositesattract

@berlinpolicy I admired something prescient once said by a political opponent. If we cannot do this, politics is inhuman.

@yanisvaroufakis You were once dubbed “Most interesting man in the world” by .@businessinsider – are you? #nofalsemodesty

@berlinpolicy If this is true, the world has become very boring.

@yanisvaroufakis You are critical of the #EU but pro-#European – how does that work?

@berlinpolicy In the same way that to be a good patriot you must often be searchingly critical of your government.

@yanisvaroufakis Do you think there would have been a #Brexit if there had been no #austerity?

@berlinpolicy No.

@yanisvaroufakis In 2015 you started democracy movement .@DiEM_25 in #Berlin. Do its aims fit into the current framework of the #EU?

@berlinpolicy DiEM25 believes that the EU is disintegrating. We must stabilize Europe’s economy first, before radically democratizing the EU.

@yanisvaroufakis Any realistic hope to fulfill .@DiEM_25 ‘s demands?

@berlinpolicy Did the initiators of the anti-slavery movement think their demand was utopian? You bet they did! So what? They succeeded.

@yanisvaroufakis Describe a day in the life of #Varoufakis.

@berlinpolicy Writing, reading, debating late in the day, and, at some point, chatting, watching, and listening with my partner-in-everything.

@yanisvaroufakis You’re a fan of #motorcycles. Favorite model and/or place to ride?

@berlinpolicy Yamaha XJR1300, coastal roads in northern and southern Attica, the Peloponnese plus wonderful B roads on Scotland’s West Coast.

@yanisvaroufakis What cause are you most passionate about today? #i140c

@berlinpolicy Democratizing Europe (against the troika’s will) in order to prevent a return of the 1930s in some vicious postmodern form.

Read more in the Berlin Policy Journal App – September/October 2016 issue.

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@bueti Describe the state of the #EU, please. #i140c

@berlinpolicy State of the #EU, described with just 1 word: Bad. Described with 2 words: Not bad. Confused, but more resilient than it seems

@bueti What are the continent’s biggest #problems right now?

@berlinpolicy 2 biggest: not realizing a) that the multiplicity of crises engulfing the EU is the “new normal”, b) how strong we still are

@bueti Your message to the Brits pondering #Brexit?

@berlinpolicy Leave 1 union & lose 2, plus special relationship with the US; cut loose from continent, and you’ll be more dependent on it

@bueti And how are Europe’s #Greens doing?

@berlinpolicy #Greens serve in 4 nat’l gov’ts, in 22 nat’l parliaments, in 15 regional gov’s; Green presidents in LAT & AUT. 6th group in EP

@bueti Do you regret #German #Greens not entering a coalition with Chancellor Angela #Merkel back in 2013? #missedopportunity

@berlinpolicy Not at all. Merkel wasn’t willing to offer a fair partnership, she wanted greenwashing. She has until next year to reconsider

@bueti You are a close #US watcher: What’s the real meaning of @RealDonaldTrump?

@berlinpolicy Status quo is broken, it’s reform or insurgency. Establishment doesn’t get it. Only Sanders could safely defeat TheDonald

@bueti Your first interest in #China coincided with #culturalrevolution. Any #regrets from wild communist student days?

@berlinpolicy My 1st interest in China was motivated by the Chinese language. Maoism followed. Regrets? Of course. And lessons learned

@bueti Did you own #Mao’s little red book? Any favorite quotes?

@berlinpolicy Sure. Both editions, with & without Lin Biao’s introduction. The most famous quote: “Rebellion is justified.” That was dope

@bueti What’s your take on today’s #China?

@berlinpolicy Mao’s dictum still applies: “A spark can light a prairie fire.” The CPC knows that – and still can’t run away from it

@bueti You’ve been an #MEP since 2009. Your best experience?

@berlinpolicy Beer, French fries and chocolates. And having at least 2 friends in other political groups 4 every enemy in my own.

@bueti And your worst experience as a Member of the European Parliament?

@berlinpolicy The beer, the French fries and the chocolates.

@bueti You’ve seen the likes of @MLP_officiel and @Nigel_Farage up close in the #EP. Impressions?

@berlinpolicy When they speak in plenary, they don’t speak 2 the house, but 2 domestic audiences. Use EP as a platform while denouncing it

@bueti What’s on your #desk that may surprise us?

@berlinpolicy A statue of St. Ivan Rilski, patron saint of Bulgarian miners. Podium Passes from the 2000/’04/’08 US Dem National Conventions

@bueti What’s easier – uniting Europe or German #Greens “fundi” and “realo” wing?

@berlinpolicy Europe is obviously bigger challenge, there are not only fundis and realos, but nationalos, banalos, brutalos and federalists

@bueti How do you relax?

@berlinpolicy I can’t relax, now that you make me think about it.

@bueti Your favorite #soccer (ie. football) metaphor in politics?

@berlinpolicy My favorite sports metaphors are from baseball. “Step up to the plate.” “Throw a curve ball.” “Hit it out of the ball park.”

@bueti Who wins @UEFAEURO, and why? #i140c

@berlinpolicy Hollande needs it the most. Renzi wants it the most. A German victory would be hated the most. Maybe neutral Switzerland?

The post In 140 Characters: Reinhard Bütikofer appeared first on Berlin Policy Journal - Blog.

@vestager You’ve just completed your #firstyear in office – what surprised you? #i140c

@berlinpolicy How much energy and concentration it takes to get used to work in a different language than your mother tongue

@vestager And your biggest #disappointment so far? 

@berlinpolicy Not #disappointment – rather an observation: that you need a lot of patience because some cases do take a lot of time

@vestager #Google, #Amazon, #Apple, #Starbucks, and now #McDonalds: you’ve been called their “steely foe” – fair description?

@berlinpolicy We are not against any companies, small or big. What we look for is their behaviour and that they compete on a level playing field

@vestager Another label you’ve earned from the #press is “iron lady”. What does that mean?

@berlinpolicy That the #press gets more clicks and sells more news with descriptions like this

@vestager Your predecessor aimed for settlements with the likes of #Google #Gazprom. Why did you choose a more confrontational approach?

@berlinpolicy The settlement approach was tried 3 times and without success. Therefore there was a need to change approach

@vestager What’s a good example of #EU #antitrust laws at work?

@berlinpolicy We enforce the competition rules case-by-case basis define and implement the orientation of the EU competition policy

@vestager What are the biggest challenges for #EU #competitiveness?

@berlinpolicy To protect competition and to ensure a dynamic and innovative Europe

@vestager We hear you keep an irreverent #artifact on your coffee table – what is it, why are you keeping it?

@berlinpolicy A fuck finger given by a trade union who disagreed with me. I keep as a reminder: with difficult decisions there is often disagreement

@vestager Who do you think are #must-follows on Twitter?

@berlinpolicy Well, it depends on your interests. I follow different news, old and new colleagues and themes I like

@vestager What statement or #tweet has brought you the most criticism?

@berlinpolicy I cannot remember. But limit of 140 characters sometimes makes it difficult to explain and thus understand…

@vestager You are an accomplished #knitter of #elephants. Do you do other animals?

@berlinpolicy No. I like the elephants because they bear no grudge, but remember well.

@vestager If you could have a one-on-one meeting with anyone in the world, who would it be? #i140c

@berlinpolicy Nelson Mandela. He spoke to the best in people. I hope that his fight for freedom lives on

The post In 140 Characters: Margrethe Vestager appeared first on Berlin Policy Journal - Blog.

@carlbildt You’ve served both as PM and Foreign Minister of #Sweden, which job is more enjoyable?

@berlinpolicy Very different jobs. As a PM you have direct overall responsibility in your country. As FM you certainly have your responsibilities, but sometimes rather more limited possibilities of actually influencing the state of the world.

@carlbildt You’ve been described in US cables as “medium size dog with big dog attitude“ – fair comment?

@berlinpolicy Well, not entirely unfair. A smaller country must always try to play in a somewhat higher league. Whether I succeeded or not is for others to judge. But the attempt was certainly there.

@carlbildt As EU envoy you much contributed to a diplomatic settlement in the #Balkans; main lessons? (1/2)

@berlinpolicy First that you must truly understand the nature of a conflict. I’m not sure we always did that in the Balkans. And secondly that in order to try to get a settlement you must have all the external actors of relevant lined up for the same policy. That took far too long to achieve in the Balkans.

…

Read the complete article in the Berlin Policy Journal App – September/October 2015 issue.

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@ilvestoomas What’s the most important skill that you brought to your office from a previous job?

@berlinpolicy Through Columbia College’s Contemporary Civ and Humanities core courses  I came to understand the Enlightenment basis of a liberal democratic society.

@ilvestoomas What’s the biggest obstacle for you at work?

@berlinpolicy Very early flights.

@ilvestoomas You’ve done a lot of work with soft power tools. Can soft power be effective against Russia?

@berlinpolicy Genuine soft power is not against but for something. Free flow of ideas, peace and development are much cheaper than war. Fake soft power can be bribery.

…

Read the complete article in the Berlin Policy Journal App – July/August 2015 issue.

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@jensstoltenberg What’s the most important skill for your job?

@berlinpolicy The ability to build consensus.

@jensstoltenberg Tell us about an unknown unknown you’re thinking about.

@berlinpolicy I have learned to expect the unexpected. New security threats can arise quickly. Readiness is key.

@jensstoltenberg What was your immediate priority when you started the job?

@berlinpolicy Keeping #NATO strong. Must keep bond Europe – North America rock solid & work w partners to build stability.

@jensstoltenberg What’s on your desk that might surprise us?

@berlinpolicy A photo of Anna Lindh. From our teenage years through her tenure as Swedish foreign minister, she was a dear friend. I honor her memory.

@jensstoltenberg What’s the biggest obstacle for you at work?

@berlinpolicy As many #NATO colleagues will agree, just getting to work can sometimes be an adventure – Brussels traffic is famous.

@jensstoltenberg What do you do at lunchtime?

@berlinpolicy In Norway, lunch is @ 11 a.m. By the time of Belgian lunchtime, I am hungry for a good meal & discussion. I rarely eat alone.

@jensstoltenberg How would you increase public enthusiasm for NATO?

@berlinpolicy I  will visit every #NATO country. Everywhere I stress that NATO will defend all allies against any threat.

@jensstoltenberg What’s the most constructive thing #NATO could do about #Ukraine?

@berlinpolicy  Support UKR politically&practically, incl w 5 trust funds. Call on Russia: respect UKR’s sovereignty & territorial integrity.

@jensstoltenberg Is the Red Phone to the #Kremlin still working?

@berlinpolicy #NATO has suspended practical coop w Russia, but we keep political & mil-to-mil channels open.

@jensstoltenberg How do you relax at the end of the day?

@berlinpolicy I love to go cross country skiing, but not really that easy in Brussels. Instead biking in the woods.

@jensstoltenberg What’s the biggest challenge to #NATO that doesn’t start with “R”?

@berlinpolicy Extremism to #NATO’s south. It has inspired attacks in our streets. We must fight terrorism & stand up for our open societies.

Read more articles from the May/June 2015 issue FOR FREE in the Berlin Policy Journal App.

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