Former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock rejected criticism that surfaced after she announced her plans to stay in New York and accept a multi-year professorship at Columbia University. Speaking to the weekly magazine “Die Zeit,” Baerbock commented on the modern media environment, stating, “In these times driven by social media, not everyone immediately has an opinion on everything, and algorithms are also programmed to make hate and outrage click far better.” She added that this pattern affects both men and women, noting that “the combination of being prominent, opinionated, and feminine clearly triggers some people in particular-no matter the area.”
Baerbock intends to use this specific experience to mentor younger generations as co-director of a “Global Leadership” master’s program. The focus, she explained, will be on remaining steadfast despite fierce opposition and making decisions even under maximum pressure, arguing that the ultimate target of such attacks is never just an individual, but the societal change that motivates the actions.
Her one-year term as President of the UN General Assembly officially concludes on September 8th.
