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The Future of
Global Affairs
Managing Discontinuity, Disruption
and Destruction
Edited by
Christopher Ankersen · Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu
Foreword by Helen Clark and Vera Jelinek
 The Future of Global Affairs

“The Future of Global Affairs is an exciting and balanced contribution to the

debate about the potential trajectory of a world in flux. Tinged more with
concern than utopian optimism, this volume captures a panoramic view of our
cacophonous and disorderly world that is on the verge of disequilibrium and
potential destruction unless key political actors, institutions, and processes can
find a way to adapt global affairs to an increasingly plurilateral and intermestic
era. A must-read for serious IR scholars; written in a way that is understandable
to the lay person.”
—W. Andy Knight, Ph.D., FRSC, University of Alberta

“What is the future of the state? Is multilateralism overrated as an answer to

the diverse ills plaguing the global system? How might climate change disrupt
geopolitical alliances that have been essential to peace in different regions of
the world? Inspired by these and other urgent questions, this simultaneously
illuminating and profoundly unsettling book traces the contours of the ascendant
geopolitics, illustrating how one class of events can have contrasting resonances
and implications around the world. Each chapter explores a different facet of
global affairs, offering perspectives that, though not rosy, serious students of
world politics will do well to take to heart.”
—Ebenezer Obadare, Professor of Sociology, University of Kansas
 Christopher Ankersen ·
Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu
Editors

The Future of Global

Affairs
Managing Discontinuity, Disruption and
Destruction
Editors
Christopher Ankersen Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu
Center for Global Affairs Center for Global Affairs
School of Professional Studies School of Professional Studies
New York University New York University
New York, NY, USA New York, NY, USA

ISBN 978-3-030-56469-8 ISBN 978-3-030-56470-4 (eBook)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56470-4

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer
Nature Switzerland AG 2021
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the
Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights
of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on
microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and
retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc.
in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such
names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for
general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and informa-
tion in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither
the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been
made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps
and institutional affiliations.

Cover image: Felix Lipov/Alamy Stock Photo

This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature
Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
 Foreword by Helen Clark

The United Nations (UN) was founded 75 years ago to advance peace,
human rights, and development—a mandate as relevant today as it was
in 1945. Its most remarkable year in recent times in achieving global
consensus on a better future for all was 2015. That year, agreement
was reached on Agenda 2030 and its seventeen Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduc-
tion, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development,
and the Paris Climate Agreement. The New Urban Agenda was agreed
the following year at the UN’s Habitat III Conference on Housing and
Sustainable Development. Taken together, these constitute an ambitious
agenda, which if implemented in full would transform the prospects of
the world’s peoples and ecosystems.
This ambition is consistent with the UN’s impressive track record of
agenda-setting—the UN was credited by the UN Intellectual History
Project for having been an incubator of new and powerful ideas which
have shaped norms, policies, and practice in many areas. It has been a
platform for the negotiation of a substantial body of international law,
and it has enabled much practical development, and humanitarian work.
In earlier years, it played a significant role in supporting decolonization,
which in turn led to the expansion of its membership from the 51 member
states present at its founding to the 193 of today.
That is not to say that the UN’s record has been without blemish.
The 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica—also

v
vi FOREWORD BY HELEN CLARK

called a genocide by many—where peacekeepers were present and did not

act to save lives, will always be a stain on its reputation. Ongoing issues of
sexual and gender-based violence by peacekeepers and in individual UN
organizations are a disgrace. Despite those shortcomings, however, we
should not lose sight of the fact that the reason for the UN’s existence
is to contribute to global public goods, and these days, in doing so, to
contribute to the protection and management of the global commons.
Yet this premier institution in the multilateral system is now under
significant strain. Our world is preoccupied by a wide range of conflicts,
other geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions, environmental crises, and
disease outbreaks. In zones of conflict, there continue to be loss of life,
poor services, and little hope for many. Displacement crises are protracted,
and the numbers of those forcibly displaced are at record levels—now over
seventy million. Essential humanitarian relief is a first call on official devel-
opment assistance, leaving less for the poor in low income but more stable
countries. And, on reflection, the major international agreements reached
in 2015 could not have been concluded today; such is the impact of polit-
ical change since then in key capitals from Washington DC to Brasilia and
beyond.
The current situation makes reaching the SDG targets a stretch. In
2030, we could well see some six percent of the world’s population still
living in extreme poverty—far from the target of eradication. The absolute
numbers of hungry people in the world are increasing—according to the
World Food Programme, the total stands at around 820 million, or one in
every nine people on earth. UNESCO reports suggest that one in every
six children will not be able to achieve the SDG target of having twelve
years education by 2030.
While the SDGs were always an aspirational agenda, to fall so short
of their targets not only makes a mockery of them, but also calls into
question the seriousness of the member states which committed to them
and the credibility of the international system. The same is true of the
woeful underperformance on implementation of the Paris Climate Agree-
ment, which the 2019 Madrid climate change Conference of Parties made
plain. If solemnly reached agreements are followed by little action, what,
many will ask, is their point?
For a variety of reasons, the UN has also found it hard to address
new waves of conflict effectively. Its conventional response of dispatching
peacekeepers where there is a peace to be kept is often inadequate—peace-
keepers may be sent where there is no peace to keep, and they may be
 FOREWORD BY HELEN CLARK vii

neither equipped to act nor have a mandate to act to stem the violence
which greets them. In a number of the currently raging conflicts, there is
no mandate for UN peacekeepers to be present at all. All too often these
conflicts are in effect proxy wars, with the powerful patrons who back
warring parties having little interest in international mediation.
Additionally, the UN is largely a bystander as key parts of the nuclear
weapons control architecture are being dismantled. An egregious example
is that of the Iran nuclear deal which was endorsed by the UN Security
Council. The US withdrawal from the agreement was a direct challenge
to the authority of the Council which all UN member states are bound
to uphold. The expiry of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
between the United States and what is now Russia is a major threat to
peace and security, but one which the multilateral system in its current
state is not equipped to address.
Challenging as the outlook for the multilateral system currently is,
however, it would be wrong to walk away from it. Its institutions need to
be maintained for times when geopolitics are more conducive to making
them effective. Disengaging only contributes to their decline in rele-
vance. Meanwhile thought should be given to how to reinvigorate the
system. Not all parts of it are useful. Some need a fundamental over-
haul and reorientation. Some entities barely continue on life support, and
would be better absorbed or eliminated altogether. Others need radical
improvements to their efficiency and effectiveness.
To date, neither the UN nor the Bretton Woods Institutions have been
able to address the nature of their outdated governance systems compre-
hensively. For example, the UN Security Council configuration with its
five permanent members designated in 1945 does not remotely reflect
today’s geopolitics. When the World Bank and the International Mone-
tary Fund changed their leaders last year, there was no serious questioning
of where the new heads would come from. They were preordained to be
an American and a European, respectively. Obsolete governance structures
undermine the credibility of these institutions.
The international system could strive to become more inclusive by
embracing a wider range of actors, beyond member states. A pioneer
in that was the International Labour Organization. From its inception
in 1919, it has had tripartite membership consisting of governments,
unions, and employer organizations. Other non-UN bodies, such as the
Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GAVI—the Vaccine
viii FOREWORD BY HELEN CLARK

Alliance, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative have repre-

sentation from governments, civil society, and the private sector on their
governing bodies.
It is a challenge for the UN and its core institutions to reform their
governance—they remain very much member state-driven and divisions
between those states run deep. Embracing a more inclusive approach to
the governance of the system would be useful in getting broader engage-
ment in global affairs and thereby securing our common future. Our
world faces profound challenges with which no single country can deal
effectively on its own. Shared problems need effective global governance
to address them. The negotiators of the UN Charter in 1945 understood
that. It is incumbent on the leaders of today in this 75th anniversary year
of the UN’s founding to show the same vision in renewing a multilat-
eral system which can be representative and effective in the twenty-first
century.
From the bedrock of evidence-based policy to the wisdom of gender
equality to the looming climate tragedy, this volume’s approach to the
issues facing the world serves as a useful primer. It stresses the risks and
opportunities posed by disruption and discontinuity, and highlights the
interconnectectedness and urgency required if we are to get this right and
avoid the destruction of the global system.

Christchurch, New Zealand Helen Clark

March 2020
 Foreword by Vera Jelinek

The idea for a Center for Global Affairs at New York University had been
brewing in my head for many years prior to its establishment in 2004, but
gained momentum with the seismic and rapid shifts occurring in the field.
With the end of the Cold War, the events of 9/11, and the US invasion
of Iraq in 2003, it became increasingly evident that “international affairs”
was no longer an adequate rubric to describe, understand, and cope with
the rapidly changing landscape. The number of players, even in terms
of traditional states, were expanding exponentially from the 51 original
United Nations members to 193; Non-Governmental Organizations had
evolved to become contenders in shaping and influencing policies; the
private sector and international organizations were setting new norms.
And that speaks only to the actors shaping international relations.
The impact of horizontal forces that were either ignored or previ-
ously played a minor role was also coming to the forefront. The role of
gender, peacebuilding, refugee flows, climate change, energy, terrorism,
transnational security, the internet and communication, among many
other factors, begged for closer scrutiny and study. New trends became
evident: nonalignment lost its salience as the world moved first to unipo-
larity and then multipolarity, multilateralism flourished and gained an edge
over bilateral arrangements, regional organizations expanded, and global-
ization trumped borders and promoted a freer movement of capital, ideas,
people, and goods.

ix
x FOREWORD BY VERA JELINEK

Despite criticism from traditionalists, by 2004, we felt the need to

create a curriculum, which was based on the conviction that the world’s
challenges could not be understood and resolved from the standpoint
only of relations among states but had to take into account the role of
non-state actors, regional organizations, corporations, urban and rural
communities, as well as non-traditional diplomatic channels. Time has
proved that we were justified in launching a graduate program in Global
Affairs.
Fifteen years on, there is a backlash to such a cosmopolitan—some
might say “globalist”—point of view. Ethnic slurs, nationalist ideolo-
gies, demagoguery, exclusionary rather than inclusive politics, polarization
within and between states, barriers to the free flow of trade and other
“isms” reminiscent of the 1930s, not just in Europe and Asia but also
here in the United States, have reared their ugly heads.
That, however, does not mean the end of the liberal era. I am an
unreserved optimist: what we are seeing now is nothing more than a
blip. Eventually, hopefully sooner than later, it will become clear that the
overwhelming challenges that the world faces can only be tackled with a
unified approach. We here at the Center for Global Affairs, and by that I
mean an amazing faculty, many of whom have contributed to this book,
will continue to do battle to help the next generation understand, cope
with, and resolve global problems. We will continue to do so from the
transdisciplinary, flexible, and constantly evolving perspectives that lie at
the heart of the Center’s founding and continue to shape its curriculum
and mission to this day.
No greater proof than the contents of this gem of a volume is needed to
attest to the tumultuous changes in global affairs and the Center’s pivotal
role in the shaping of practice and the study of Global Affairs.

Vera Jelinek
Divisional Dean
Center for Global Affairs, School of Professional Studies
New York University
New York, USA
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 Acknowledgments

The genesis of this edited book project was to celebrate the fifteenth
anniversary of the Center for Global Affairs (CGA), and be a festschrift
to honor the vision of its founder, Dean Vera Jelinek. CGA’s faculty
warmly embraced the idea and also provided ambitious and encouraging
inputs. Based on that, the initial conception further evolved into a volume
that would offer a glimpse into the future of global affairs across the
concentrations and specializations that the Center offers.
It is of course, one thing to plan an edited volume but quite another
to bring it to fruition; and we are deeply grateful and indebted for the
support and contributions of the many individuals who made it possible.
First, under the tutelage of Dr. Jelinek, CGA has become a home for
global scholars and citizen to hone their skills, and apply lessons from
the classroom into the policy world. Her enthusiastic support helped to
get this project off the ground. Second, our heartfelt thanks to faculty
colleagues who carved out time from their busy teaching, researching,
and engagement schedules to contribute insightful chapters.
The project came alive at workshop on September 13, 2019, which
allowed for a critical discussion of the overall theme of the book, as
well as critique of the individual chapters. It is no exaggeration to claim
that without the frank feedback of the discussants from the academic
and policy worlds, this book would be a shadow of what it is now.
For their constructive inputs and comments we are very grateful to
Franz Baumann, Visiting Research Professor, Program in International

xi
xii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Relations, New York University; Stacey Connaughton, Director, The

Purdue Peace Project, Purdue University; Noa Gafni, Executive Director,
Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation; Edward Goldberg,
Adjunct Professor, Center for Global Affairs, New York University;
Karen Guttieri, Associate Professor of Cyberwarfare Studies, USAF Cyber
College; David M. Malone, Rector, United Nations University; Heidi
Rosbe, Project Officer, International Rescue Committee; Sarah Taylor,
Senior Fellow, International Peace Institute; and Andras Vamos-Goldman,
Adjunct Professor, Center for Global Affairs, New York University.
The road to publication was made all the more smoother by the
unwavering support and commitment of Dr. Anca Pusca, the dynamic
Executive Editor for International Relations and Security Studies at
Palgrave. Her suggestions, as well as the helpful comments and feed-
back of the anonymous reviewers, were invaluable and helped improve
the final product immeasurably. Additionally, Arun Kumar Anbalagan
and Azarudeen Ahamed Sheriff provided deft editorial and production
support with grace and aplomb. We are grateful for their quest for perfec-
tion. Of course, any errors or lapses that remain are our responsibility
alone.
Finally, we would like to dedicate this volume to CGA’s students, staff,
and faculty—past, present, and future—who have collectively put this
Center on the global affairs map. Their continuing involvement will be
vital to the discipline of Global Affairs in these interesting times.

Christopher Ankersen
Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu
 Contents

1 Introduction: Navigating Unchartered Waters 1

Christopher Ankersen and Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu

2 The Turbulent Future of International Relations 23

Michael F. Oppenheimer

3 A Kaleidoscopic Future: The State and Assemblages

in Global Affairs 49
Christopher Ankersen

4 The Empiricism Strikes Back: Strategies for Avoiding

a Post-truth World 71
John V. Kane

5 Toward an Enlightened Form of Capitalism:

The Changing Role of Private Organizations
in the Context of Global Affairs 97
Christian Busch

6 International Justice and the International Criminal

Court at a Critical Juncture 123
Jennifer Trahan

xiii
xiv CONTENTS

7 Feminist Principles in Global Affairs: Undiplomatic

Practice 149
Anne Marie Goetz

8 Taking Conflict Transformation Education Seriously 175

Thomas Hill

9 A Changing Agenda for International Development 199

Jens Rudbeck

10 Cyber Competition and Global Stability 223

Pano Yannakogeorgos

11 The Upending of the Geopolitics of Energy:

Disruption Is the New Normal 247
Carolyn Kissane

12 The Future of Climate Action: From Systems Change

to Behavior Change 271
Michael Shank

13 The United Nations: Managing Unrealistic

Expectations 295
Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu

Index 321
 Notes on Contributors

Christopher Ankersen is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Center for

Global Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University. His
research focuses on international security and civil-military relations. He
has experience as a military officer, consultant, and UN civil servant in
Europe and Asia. His Twitter handle is @ProfAnkersen.
Christian Busch is a Clinical Assistant Professor, and Director of the
Global Economy concentration at the Center for Global Affairs, School
of Professional Studies, New York University. His latest publication is The
Serendipity Mindset. His Twitter handle is @ChrisSerendip.
Anne Marie Goetz is a Clinical Professor at the Center for Global
Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University. She
researches gender issues in democratization and peacebuilding processes
in East Africa, South and South East Asia, and has worked for the UN
on gender and governance, peace and security. Her twitter handle is
@amgoetz.
Thomas Hill is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Center for Global
Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University. He also
serves as director of the Peace Research and Education Program (PREP).
The Twitter handle for PREP is @NYUPeace.
John V. Kane is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Center for Global
Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University. His research

xv
xvi NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS

interests include public opinion and experimental methodology. His

research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed academic jour-
nals, and featured in leading media outlets. His Twitter handle is
@UptonOrwell.
Carolyn Kissane is the Academic Director, and a Clinical Professor
where she leads the Energy and Environment concentration at the Center
for Global Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University.
Her Twitter handle is @CarolynKissane.
Michael F. Oppenheimer is a Clinical Professor, and leads the IR
Futures concentration at the Center for Global Affairs, School of Profes-
sional Studies, New York University. His latest book is Pivotal Coun-
tries, Alternate Futures. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign
Relations. His Twitter handle is @MFOppenheimer.
Jens Rudbeck is a Clinical Associate Professor, and the head of the
International Development and Humanitarian Assistance concentration
at the Center for Global Affairs, New York University. His research
focuses primarily on processes of democratization and regime change in
developing countries. His Twitter handle is @JensRudbeck
Michael Shank is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Center for Global
Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University, and Commu-
nications Director at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. His Twitter
handle is @Michael_Shank.
Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu is a Clinical Associate Professor, and leads
the United Nations specialization at the Center for Global Affairs, School
of Professional Studies, New York University. Widely published, he has
over 25 years of experience in policy research related to the United
Nations. His Twitter handle is @wpssidhu.
Jennifer Trahan is a Clinical Professor, and head of the Human Rights
and International Law concentration at the Center for Global Affairs,
School of Professional Studies, New York University. She is a prolific
scholar on issues of international justice and international law, including
the veto power of the UN Security Council.
Pano Yannakogeorgos is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Center for
Global Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University, and
is leading the launch of the new Masters of Science in Global Security,
Conflict and Cyber. Previously he was Founding Dean of the Air Force
Cyber College at Air University.
 List of Figures

Fig. 4.1 Ideological differences in believing an unsupported claim

is true (Source Author’s creation based on data collected
from U.S. adults. Notes Left half of figure shows results
for one claim, while right half of figure shows results for
the opposite claim. Bars indicate proportion of group
believing that the claim is “likely to be true.” Bars include
95% confidence intervals) 77
Fig. 4.2 A small, but encouraging, effect for warning of motivated
reasoning bias (Source Author’s creation based on data
collected from U.S. adults. Notes Left half of figure shows
results for liberals, while right half of figure shows results
for conservatives. Bars indicate proportion of group
believing that the claim [“Placing strict limits on welfare
increases drug-related crime.”] is “likely to be true.” Bars
include 95% confidence intervals) 79
Fig. 4.3 Providing empirical evidence had no effect on perceived
veracity (Source Author’s creation based on data collected
from U.S. adults. Note Bars indicate mean scores on a
1 [“Extremely Unlikely to Be True”] to 5 [“Extremely
Likely to Be True”] scale regarding the claim [“Allowing
more immigrants into a country will tend to increase
crime rates.”]. Bars include 95% confidence intervals) 83

xvii
xviii LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 5.1 The impact organization (Source Author’s own creation) 113
Fig. 11.1 Estimated petroleum and natural gas production in
selected countries (Source U.S. Energy Information
Administration, based on International Energy Statistics.
Note Petroleum includes crude oil, condensate, and
natural gas plant liquids) 251
 List of Tables

Table 4.1 A limited interest in examining evidence 82

Table 4.2 A step-by-step guide for evaluating claims 87

xix
 CHAPTER 1

Introduction: Navigating Unchartered Waters

Christopher Ankersen and Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu

“The world,” according to, United States President Donald Trump, “is
a very dangerous place.”1 While this might be dismissed as character-
istic hyperbole from, perhaps, the most sciolistic leader of our times, it
inadvertently underlines the existential challenges posed by the multitude
of seismic shifts since the start of the twenty-first century. While Trump’s
sentiment is perceived by many as characteristic of the international arena,
the ways in which it is dangerous are changing. Three distinct trends
are discernable. First, there are growing intrastate conflicts, which range
from urban violence to terrorism, the takeover of ungoverned spaces
by extremist groups, secessionist movements, and civil wars. These have
erupted on every continent and have mostly been conducted with small
arms and light weapons, though some conflicts have also witnessed the
use of chemical and biological weapons. The period has also seen matura-
tion of the “Forever War” that started on 9/11, accelerated after the
invasion of Iraq, and now sees US forces continue to fight terrorism

C. Ankersen (B) · W. P. S. Sidhu

Center for Global Affairs, School of Professional Studies, New York University,
New York, NY, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
W. P. S. Sidhu
e-mail: [email protected]

© The Author(s) 2021 1

C. Ankersen and W. P. S. Sidhu (eds.), The Future of Global Affairs,
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GEDICHTE

KURT WOLFF VERLAG / LEIPZIG

B Ü C H E R E I „ D E R J Ü N G S T E TA G “ B A N D 6 6
GEDRUCKT BEI DIETSCH & BRÜCKNER, WEIMAR

Necessita ’l c’induce e non diletto

(D a n t e)
Die Gedichte „Erwachen und Bestimmung“ sind ein Halte- und
Höhepunkt des gesammelten lyrischen Buches „D e r K r e u z w e g
Stationen eines Anstiegs zum Menschen“, das in seiner Gesamtheit
einer späteren Veröffentlichung vorbehalten sein wird. Die Stücke
dieses Zyklus sind — bis auf eine Ausnahme — ab 1916
entstanden. Ich widme sie dem Gedenken meiner toten Freunde E.
C., K. St., J. Z., A. D.
Sommer 1918
Auferstehung, Himmelfahrt
Aus lohenden Ekstasen
Sprang ich zurück zu mir,
Nun bin ich ausgeblasen —
Verklimpertes Klavier.

Im Echo meiner Töne

Vagiere schattenhaft —
Nie hat noch Stadt-Gedröhne
Mich so dahingerafft.

Nüchternen Speichels Ekel

Peitscht meine stumpfe Wut;
In sinnloses Geräkel
Wälzt sich das dicke Blut.

Vorbeigedrehte Wände
Und Häscherarme ruhn.
So müd sind meine Hände —
Weiß kaum, von welchem Tun.

Hast, Herr, sie nicht erkoren

Zum Dienst der Göttlichkeit?
Und bin, ach! ganz verloren
An meine Irdischkeit!

Fanfare sollt’ ich werden

Und Sieges-Läufer dein;
Der Paradieses-Erden
Mund sein und Fackelschein!

Was gabest du das Wissen

Um diese Landschaft mir!
So bin ich ganz zerrissen,
Ein Sphärenwind und Tier.

Doch wenn die Uhren schlagen

V hütt t G b i
Verschüttetem Gebein,
Ziehn, auf bekränzten Wagen,
Die wilden Träume ein.

Und morgen, Acucena,

Schluchzt deines Sohns Gebet —
Wer nennt mir die Arena,
In die mein Tanzschritt weht?
Sendung
Nicht sind mehr die Hände zum Reigen verschlungen,
Keine Weite mehr öffnet sich träumendem Fall.
Die Schreie des Lebens sind ausgeklungen:
Uns weckte ein neuer, ein dunklerer Schall.

Der Freund entschwand. Wir standen allein

Vor erloschenem Himmel und klaffendem Grab.
Aufscheuchend warf ein geröteter Schein
Uns schwer in das flutende Chaos hinab.

Geliebte Alleen der Städte erstarben.

Wir schwiegen, verhüllt in Scharlach und Schmerz ..
Bis hoch in das Graue an blutroten Garben
Emporschoß der Menschheit brennendes Herz!

Aus Sumpf und Gewässern standen wir auf

Und hatten im Nacken ein morgenlich Wehn;
Hart sprang in die Faust metallener Knauf —
Erde hub an, sich aus Angeln zu drehn.

Wir fühlten der Brüder Opfer und Tod

Und wußten erst jetzt unser Dasein verbürgt.
Ausspien wir der eigenen Schuld gärenden Kot,
Der uns zum Ersticken die Kehle gewürgt.

Da flammte, befreit, ein andrer Gesang

Und fuhr in der Jahre klirrenden Schritt;
In unserem weitausholenden Gang
Zog immer jetzt fernes Donnern mit.

Nun reichen wir Hände zu heiligerm Bund

Als zum Tanz über schimmerndes Erdenrund!
Wir glühen nicht minder — doch ist es die Glut,
Die Gottes Liebe im Menschen tut.
 Erneuerung

Wir stehen vorgebeugt an steiler Küste.

Wir müssen uns durch Nachtorkane drehn —
Doch noch ins Flackerfeuer roter Lüste
Fühlen wir kühl den Sternenwirbel wehn.

Zerrissenes Herbstgewölk Blutregen speit

Und wirft uns hin in schwefligen Gewittern,
Daß wir erfrieren an der Einsamkeit
Und klein an Gottes Saume wir erzittern.

Durch das betäubende und stumpfe Hämmern

Des aufgeputzten Wahnsinns tobender Zeit
Zuweilen schon Fanfarenschreie dämmern ..
Wir wissen uns zum Sturz der Macht bereit!

Nicht kämpfen wir mit Stahl und Haß und Giften

Für unsere erdentblühte Menschlichkeit —
Es flamme über unsern jungen Triften
Gestirn der Liebe auf und strahle weit!

Gewürm der Nacht, gedörrt und ausgesogen,

Versinkt in klaffendem Schlund .. Tiefe rollt hohl —
Und größren Willens hochgespannter Bogen
Wölbt sich unendlich hin von Pol zu Pol.
Wann tagt der Morgen, der die
Feindschaft löst?
Die Stadt versank, in Dämmerung verwoben,
Darüber zag verklungnes Läuten schwebt;
Sie zittert leicht aus Angst vor schwarzen Roben,
Wie sie die Türme in den Abend hebt.

Und lernte nicht im jähen Sturz von Jahren,

Daß solche Schreckensnacht nicht ewig währt ..?
Daß hinter Berges sturmzerwühlten Haaren
Stets wieder neu das junge Leuchten kehrt?

Nun stoßen Menschen dort durch welke Gassen,

Mit denen sie am Mittag aufgeschrien,
Und müssen schmählich mit dem Tag verblassen,
In dumpfe Räume ihrer Häuser fliehn.

Wie traurig stehn in Stein erstarrte Wände,

Verschmiert, vom Gift der Flüche angeraucht!
Erstickend schwelen eingesunkne Brände,
Darin sich Gier und Wahnsinn ausgefaucht.

Wenn jetzt die Hand der Liebe auferstünde

Und legte mild sich auf die dunkle Stadt —:
Dann gäben in die Nacht geborstne Schlünde
Gebilde, lichter als der Tag sie hat.

Es würden tanzen Sterne und Kometen,

Von Friedensklängen läutete die Luft ..
Aus Gärten, die der niedre Geist zertreten,
Erhöbe sich ein Paradiesesduft.

O Hand, die Kinder in den Schlummer leitet,

In kleinem Lampenlicht ein Glück entfacht,
Die kühlend über müde Stirnen gleitet
Und Tränen der Verlassnen süße macht!

In Gold auf weißen Fahnen wehn Gesetze —

D Fl h t ht h id d d h di L ft
Das Flammenschwert geht schneidend durch die Luft.
Es küßt ein Knabe die geschminkte Metze,
Und alle Krämer fahren in die Gruft.

—————

Ganz kränklich ist der Spätstern aufgeglommen ..

Wann tagt der Morgen, der die Feindschaft löst? —
Es muß ein steppenheißer Wirbel kommen,
Der zischend in die trägen Straßen stößt!

Daß Männer sich besinnen, stirnendrohend,

Und Häuser stürzen über Trug und Schmach —
Und eine große, rote Flamme lohend
Sich losbricht von dem allerhöchsten Dach!
 „Vermißt“
(März 1915; meinem wiedergewonnenen
Freunde L. H.)
Atemloser von Tag zu Tag lief ich in der großen Stunde des
Postverteilens durch das Lazarett,
Gejagt von Unruhe um den Freund, der draußen noch in den
Schlachten steht.
In der bebenden Minute des Abschieds, als mein Zug in dunkelnde
Ferne rollte,
Da war es uns doch gewiß, daß keiner den andern verlieren sollte.
Lang war das Schweigen; dann kamen Grüße und Briefe — o
seltsamer Geschicke Gang:
Ich war nun geborgen, und er warf sein teures Leben hinein in den
schauerlichen Gesang!
Der Zuversicht war ich voll; doch dieses zweite Schweigen packte
mich unheimlicher an,
Und schon ahnte entsetzt ich das Verhängnis, noch ehe der wichtige
Mann
Mir harmlos-geschäftig meinen eigenen Brief wiedergab in die
stürzende Hand,
Auf dem (die Blutflecken übersah ich erst ganz!) mit Bleistift in einer
zerknüllten Ecke sehr steif und ungeschickt das Wörtchen
„Vermißt“ geschrieben stand.
O Schmerzgefühle, unsäglich groß! O Wut über das sinnlos-
furchtbare Gemetzel! Wie dampften die lösenden Tränen zum
Himmel empor!
Oft langte ich die kleine Photographie hervor,
Auf der wir beide in enger, verhaßter Montur Arm in Arm stehen im
heimatlichen Wald;
Und von Rührung und Wehmut niedergerissen mußte ich oft, immer
wieder, wie irrsinnig, den Vers des melancholischen Reiterliedes
flüstern: Ach wie bald, ach wie bald ...!
Ich sah die vertraute, gelassene Pose und dachte viel der Zeiten,
Da wir zweisam in der geliebten Stadt am Rhein die Straßen wallten,
wo ein Gang von weitem
Uns oft entrückte, so daß niemand sprach.
Nun höre ich nie mehr deinen Schritt auf knarrender Treppe, nun
wirst du, ach!
Nicht mehr (die Akten auf den Tisch werfend) dich neben mir
niederlassen,
Dein Mißgeschick beklagend und preisend mein wunderliches Glück,
das nicht zu fassen!
Ich werde nicht mehr dein Lächeln sehen über ein etwas kitschiges
Bild, das neu in meiner Bude hing,
Nicht mehr dir von frohen Sommerfahrten erzählen, wenn hell ein
Gefährte mir zur Seite ging.
Keinen Brief, nicht einen neuen Vers mehr kann ich dir freudig zeigen
...
Denn dein Mund, deine Augen schlossen sich zu tiefem Schweigen.
(Denk’ ich des grimmigen, viehischen Mordens in dem
Wahnsinnskessel, wo du mußtest kämpfen
Mit deinem breiten Säge-Messer, mit dem Spaten in dem Schwall von
Dolchen, Kolben, Bajonetten, Wut und Würgerkrallen und den
giftigen Dämpfen:
Unmöglich mir, noch eine Tröstung zu erflehn;
Den Hoffnungs-Zuspruch meiner Kameraden kann ich nicht
verstehn.)
Mein armer Freund! vielleicht liegst du verschüttet jetzt in
selbstgegrabenem Schacht
Und die Verwesung verzehrt deine Hände in gräßlicher, feuchter
Nacht!
Oder zerfällst du gar in der Sonne (niemand holt dich zurück)
Und in den toten Leib noch bohren sich weiße und rote Kugeln,
Stück für Stück?

—————

Wer blickte noch so tief in die Gemächer meiner Seele

Wie du, den mir der Zufall erst und dann die Not gewann!
Wie schrecklich, daß ich nun mit einer unverhofften Begegnung,
einem nächtlichen Brief, einer Arie aus heller Kehle
Dir nicht mehr für dein Dasein danken kann!
Unsere Freundschaft war still, brauchte keine großen Worte;
Nur in den Zeiten der Angst mußte das übervolle Herz sich entladen
(Wenn allzuheiß unsre Ader von langem Getrenntsein dorrte )
(Wenn allzuheiß unsre Ader von langem Getrenntsein dorrte —)
Doch oft brauchte man sich zum Troste nur das eine Wort: W i r
b e i d e s i n d d a ! zu sagen.
Nun bin ich .. allein! (O harte Vokabel, du läßt dich nicht bemänteln!)
Und freier wird meine Brust auch kaum, wie sonst wohl, wenn ich
Gefühle ablegte, indem ich sie niederschrieb.
Ist dieses Bild, sind Erinnerungen und einige tote Briefe wirklich
alles, was mir von dir noch blieb??

—————

Nehmen — zur Ausgehzeit — die Straßen, Alleen, die Parkwege

(oder ein noch verschneiter Bergpfad) mich auf,
Bin ich ganz von dir erfüllt und unsrer heimlichen Verwandtschaft.
Oft pochen den einsamen Lauf
Gesprächige Winde an; schwatzen viel von Zeit und Vergehen — —
— Wozu, ach wozu sind nun unsere Träume geschehen! —
Kinder, frisch und rotwangig von des Winters stürmischen Küssen,
Und Leute, die ich nicht kenne, lächeln mir zu und grüßen.
Alle sind mir so gut! Sie ahnen vielleicht meine Not?
Wohlwollen macht mich verlegen; ich strauchle und werde rot.
Doch hab’ ich ein großes Sehnen nach eines guten Menschen Schoß,
In den mein heißes Gesicht ich könnte bergen und schluchzen
grenzenlos!
Mitgefühl, süß und erhaben, o wonnige Bruderhand!
Wird euer gesegneter Hafen noch einmal mir winken,
Wenn die schwarze Flut mich wieder bedrängt, ich drohe zu sinken,
Und den einen Schrei nur kennt meine Zunge: Land!?
Vor spätem Schlafengehen
Du löschst ein Licht am Rand der wachen Stirn,
Die, leicht gekräuselt, ahnt den weiten Teich
Süßesten Schlafs. Und stehst nun, fröstelnd, bleich,
Im großen Fensterrahmen ferneren Lichts.
Noch kühlt die Dämmerung. Ein graues Nichts
Hängt mantelgleich sich dir um Aug’ und Hirn.

Da klirrt es silbern auf von allen Dächern:

Gesang der Drossel steigt und reckt sein Haupt.
Ein neuer Tag naht sommerüberlaubt!
Will grausames Gestirn zum First erheben —
Du wirst jetzt deinen Leib den Linnen geben,
Nahenden Traums porphyrenen Gemächern.

Du hast ja deiner Stunden Sturm geschlichtet,

Die Augen kochen dir: nun willst du ruhn.
Doch weißt du auch, wie viel Geschöpfe tun
Bald ihr Geschick in dieses Tages Brand?
Wie an erblaßten Horizontes Wand
Unzähliger rote Qual und Tod sich schichtet?

Will dich das Los der Dienenden nicht rühren?

Der Blick, darin sich sanftes Tier verhüllt
Vor dem entmenschten Jäger, wenn erfüllt
Sein kleines Dasein, an das Licht gebaut?
Hofft nicht von diesem Morgen schweißbetaut
Erlösung wer von gräßlichen Geschwüren?

Der du dies tragen magst und hältst noch Freuden,

Die dir ein Kind bringt auf gewiegtem Schritt:
Komm in den Wahnsinn der Arena mit,
Die tobend uns umkrampft mit Blut und Wunden!
Sind dir Gefährten nicht dahingeschwunden,
Die dich geliebt in güldenem Vergeuden?!

Doch du bist müde und du möchtest schlafen ..

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