Ranveer Allahbadia - Dr. Philipp Ackermann

1)      Dr. Philipp Ackermann, a German diplomat, explains the skills required to be a successful diplomat, which include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to defend the interests of the diplomat's country while making their requests and requirements understood by their counterparts in other countries. He also explains that politicians and diplomats have different roles, with politicians tasked with making decisionsvwhile diplomats work to communicate effectively. He praises Dr. Jay Shankar as havingvboth sets of skills, having spent decades as a diplomat before moving to politics. While he has not chilled with Dr. Jay Shankar personally, he describes him as a respected foreign minister worldwide and a "dark horse" in the conversation for the next Prime Minister of India, although he notes that as a diplomat, it is essential to be careful about throwing one's hat into the political ring to avoid being burned or kicked out early.

2)      Ranveer and Philipp discuss the importance of the German perspective in World War I and World War II. Philipp recommends the film "All Quiet on the Western Front" to understand the darker side of the war, and mentions how the author, Maria Remark, was a pacifist and wanted a more peaceful world. They also talk about how Germans are taught about the world wars in school, and how the responsibility for World War II lies exclusively with the Germans due to Hitler's crazy ideas of how Germany should look like.

3)     Philipp discusses the two World Wars, stating that the Second World War had to be fought and he is grateful to the United States, Britain and France for their help in overcoming it. He also talks about the debate among historians over the causes of the First World War, with Christopher Clark proposing the theory that non-democratic rulers decided on a war because they anticipated it would be quick, without much loss of life. However, he points out that they were not prepared for the advancement in weapons which made the war much more violent than they had anticipated. He recommends a book called "The Book of Everlasting Things," which describes the experiences of Indian soldiers fighting in the First World War, who were shipped to Europe to fight for the British army. His father was born in 1935 and the speaker and his family have talked extensively about their experiences during the war.

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4)      Philipp discusses how Germany became one of the world's biggest economies despite suffering great losses during World War II. He explains that the German government brought in workers from Greece, Italy, and Turkey in the 60s to help rebuild the country after the war. He highlights the importance of education and training in Germany, including the world-class technical schools for academic education and the specific training formid-level workers such as bakers and welders who receive diplomas after a few years of apprenticeship. These workers are highly regarded in German society and play an important role. The traditional approach to training and education gives them self-confidence and helps them become very good at their craft.

5)      Philipp discusses how the level of craftsmanship and vocational training in Germany contributes to their systematic approach to football, which may not be as playful as countries like Brazil or Argentina. However, he also notes that organization and structure are in the country's DNA, and this contributes to their economic success. He highlights the positive impact of refugees on the German economy, as they bring an enormous willingness and readiness to invest and start a new life, citing examples of successful Syrian refugee integration into German society, including a Syrian candidate for the mayor of Frankfurt. He suggests that the growth of the German economy would not have been possible without the contribution of foreigners.

6)      Philipp talks about how Germany has become more diverse and international, with a fifth of Germans having one non-German parent. He praises India's global spirit and the number of Indians in top positions in American firms. The interviewee then shares his experiences as a diplomat, including living in Morocco, New York, and Afghanistan, where he was head of the provincial reconstruction team. He reflects on his time in Kundus, where 550 soldiers and a small group of diplomats worked to change and support the government institutions in the area. He admits that they failed because they believed security and development were interdependent, but it turned out to be the opposite.

7)     Philipp talks about the challenges they faced inunderstanding the country and its people. He mentions the difficulty ininteracting with the Afghans due to their fear of the Taliban and theirconservative ideology. He also talks about their perception of the burka, whichis not seen as their most significant problem. The diplomat adds that he feltthey have failed as diplomats due to their lack of cultural understanding ofAfghanistan and its people.

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8)     Philipp discusses the complicated conflict between ethnicities in Afghanistan and how German efforts to allow Pashto settlers back into the country were met with resistance by the local population. He also emphasizes the importance of educating women and highlights Israel's successful move to make Hebrew education compulsory for girls until the age of 18. He also shares his experience of bringing a Taliban member to Berlin and showing him the Islamic collection of the Berlin museums, which the Taliban member found interesting. He then takes the Taliban member to the Museum Island, where he sees traces of World War II, which he is surprised to learn have been preserved to remind people of the horrors of war.

9)     Philipp talks about the development projects they built in Afghanistan and how they are now in the hands of the Taliban. He mentions a large hospital that is still standing, but many of the schools they built are closed or their fate is unknown. He also talks about her impressions of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his dedication to leading the country. He notes that being in national politics is a commitment, almost like a religious one, and requires sacrificing personal time and interests. He recounts meeting Barack Obama and his charisma compared to other world leaders. Finally, he comments on Putin's popularity in Russia and how expressing opinions about politics can be dangerous there.

10)   Philipp explains that the border between Germany and Poland is porous and allows people to cross it freely without hindrance. He reveals that Germany has lost one-third of its territories to Poland and Russia, but with Poland being a member of the European Union, people now visit their parents' homes in villages that were once German but are now Polish, and there is no question about it. He believes that when borders are managed this way, they can be kept while being overcome at the same time. The diplomat also asserts that there is no special training given for war; however, there are international protocols that exist when it comes to war, which should be followed. Furthermore, he is confident that there will be no third world war, as world leaders and powers, including Putin, are not interested in a large-scale war. He believes that the earth is in an excellent phase right now, with medical, educational, and economic progress all being made.

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