Korbinians Kolleg 2024/25

Cybersecurity: The Dark Side of Technological Progress

The question of how we can still keep pace with the speed of technological revolutions has many answers and aspects, but much remains unanswered. The ever-widening gap between societies, countries, and companies that master digital technologies and those dependent on them grows daily. And ultimately: How do we, as people, citizens, and users of digital technologies, deal with the dark sides of these technological conveniences? What impact does Artificial Intelligence have on the digital world?

The lecture offers insights and outlooks into the digital world, the threat posed by cyberattacks, and the influence of Artificial Intelligence on our digital infrastructures. The question is, what can we do ourselves to protect ourselves in the digital world?

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Syria, Ukraine, Gaza: International Law and Modern Warfare Today

In the past ten years, armed conflicts around the world have significantly increased, with international law playing a crucial role. Legal proceedings are being initiated before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court is gaining jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes, and national courts are also bringing war criminals to justice. There is not only an arrest warrant for the current President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, but also Germany must defend itself in court against accusations of aiding genocide. What are the differences between these cases, and what significance do these legal disputes hold for war and peace? What role does Germany play, and why is the history of the 20th century particularly relevant in this context?

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Why Immigration to Europe Is Neither Humanely Just Nor Economically Efficient – And What Needs to Change

For demographic and economic reasons, the countries of the European Union – especially Germany – need significant immigration. As a relatively wealthy continent with historical responsibilities, Europe also has the humanitarian duty to contribute to alleviating the suffering of refugees and displaced persons worldwide. While Europe and Germany are indeed major destinations for immigration, this process largely occurs in an uncontrolled manner and is marked by significant fluctuations, making successful integration more difficult. Moreover, the composition of this immigration is neither fair nor aligned with labor market demands. Europe has so far been unsuccessful in attracting enough skilled workers from third countries. Many immigrants who do arrive are asylum seekers who lack the qualifications needed for successful integration into the labor market. This form of immigration is also not humanely just, as the most vulnerable refugees never reach Europe.

These issues create a vicious cycle, in which uncontrolled migration and the accompanying integration problems give rise to right-wing populist parties, further reducing Europe’s attractiveness for qualified immigrants. How can Europe, and how can Germany, truly – and not just rhetorically – become a country of immigration where migration occurs in a controlled and measured way, benefiting both immigrants and the receiving society, and supported by broad political consensus? This is the key question of immigration policy, one that will determine whether immigration in Germany and Europe remains a divisive social issue or actually helps secure the future of our continent.

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