Think7 Summit Communique

14. Juni 2022 | Think7 Summit Communique by Rupert Graf Strachwitz: Some Comments with regard to the role of Civil Society

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The T7 think tank group presented its findings to Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 24 May 2022, ahead of Germany’s hosting of the G7 forum in June. Our Director Rupert Graf Strachwitz shares his thoughts in this Communiqué, commenting from a civil society perspective. 

Strachwitz notes that the mention of civil society is usually excluded from papers produced by think tanks at the supranational level, but that the paper’s ‘state-orientated view-point’ fails to mention how civil society fits in with the T7’s proposed ‘inclusive, rules-and values based international order.’ Indeed, he stresses that the paper adopts a normative approach to international affairs. In his view, the T7 gives governments alone the responsibility of implementing its proposals, which negates the role of civil society in advocating for and inspiring social change.

He further comments that any mention of civil society within the paper is vague and imprecise, which in turn overlooks civil society as potential partners for the state.

In conclusion, he calls for improved government interactions with civil society and for groups such as the T7 to engage with experts from the field, which can better inform their policy positions.

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Rupert Strachwitz

Dr. phil. Rupert Graf Strachwitz

Vorstand der Maecenata Stiftung
rs@maecenata.eu

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