International Politics
a half-open gate
Introduction
International Politics
After the end of the cold war foreign and security policies have been subject to rapid change. This development has been further accelerated after September 11. Traditional security policies such as deterrence and containment have been replaced by risk prevention, crisis intervention, and preemptive policy measures.

Increasingly questions of foreign, security, and developmental policy have become intertwined.
The debates surrounding the war on Iraq have brought to the surface tensions between the USA and Europe – as well as within Europe itself. Against this background we would like to continue the debates on the future of transatlantic relations - and this against the background of new security policy risks, crisis prevention, and preemptive policies.

Concerning EU and European policy our focus is mainly on the following areas: Democracy and participation in the European Union; ecology and sustainable development; EU enlargement; a common European foreign and security policy; and the future of work and of social policy.

Resource Governance
Photo: ShellyS (photo is under the creative commons licence Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)
Study
From Money to Metals
Despite the current financial "crisis" investors are pouring money into mining companies and projects, with potentially negative consequences for thousands of communities around the world. Launched in 2008, and now available as a regularly-updated data base, "From Money to Metals" is a vital resource to discover who is funding what, and where, in one of the most potentially destructive of all global industries. By Nostromo Research, 2009. more»
petrol station
Dossier
Log, Stock and Barrel - Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector – Financial institutions play a major role in the exploitation and trade of natural resources. Over the years activists and organisations worldwide have used a variety of strategies to address these issues. The objective of the dossier Log, Stock and Barrel - Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector is to collect information on financial institutions, their role in the resource sector, and put together mechanisms, tools and strategies to address policy issues.
World Water Forum
Dossier
Water Policies in Turkey – The 5th World Water Forum took place in Istanbul from 16-22 March, 2009. The legitimacy of the World Water Forum is being seriously questioned by a number of non-governmental organisations. This dossier takes up the question of water and justice. more»
Deep Blue Sea, Photo by Lars Lentz/ CC
Dossier Resource Governance
To Have and Have Not - Resource Governance in the 21st Century – Transparent, sustainable, fair, and just governance of natural resources is a key for peace and sustainable development worldwide. “To Have and Have Not – Resource Governance in the 21st Century” is an international civil society Memorandum. more»
The Kimberley Process and the Chiadzwa Diamonds in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Effectiveness – July 19, 2010 - Amidst allegations of rampant human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields and reports of diamond smuggling the KPCS has failed to take decisive action. Claude Kabemba sheds light on the reasons for the KPCS’ inability to act and concludes that a failure in Zimbabwe will send a negative signal about the relevance of the KPCS and capacity for self-regulation of the diamond industry as a whole. By Claude Kabemba more»
Foreign Affairs and Security
A Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone in the Middle East: Shaping the Contours of Discussion toward 2012
July 6, 2010 - The final document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference includes reference to the convening of a conference in 2012 to discuss the idea of a Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free-Zone (WMDFZ) for the Middle East. By Emily B. Landau more»
Pakistan's Energy Future: What Role for Chinese Nuclear Reactors? – June 25, 2010 - Pakistan is looking to solve its energy supply crisis by importing nuclear reactors from China. However, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, of which China is a member, forbids transfer of any kind of nuclear technology to non-signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty like Pakistan. Pervez Hoodbhoy more»
Open the crossing points to Gaza! – May 31, 2010 -

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is currently being attacked by radical islamists. Recently a UNRWA summer camp for palestine boys and girls has been set on fire. John Ging about the humanitarian crisis due to the Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in violation of international law.

more»
An Inch Closer to a World without Nuclear Weapons – April 21, 2010 - The treaty signed by Presidents Obama and Medvedev last week brings us closer to fulfilling the vision of a world without nuclear weapons, but only by mere inches. A Czech Perspective on the Impact of New START on the Global Non-Proliferation Debate. By Šádí Shanaáh more»
Report
Japanese-German Dialogue on Non-Proliferation: Strengthening Multilateral and Regional Security Cooperation – March 31, 2010 - The Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, in cooperation with the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (CPDNP) at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), held an experts conference in Tokyo, Japan on March 8, 2010. A Report By Kentaro Ide more»
Interview
The Future of Afghanistan: A Perspective from India – March 15, 2010 - An interview with Shanthie Mariet D’Souza (Associate Fellow at IDSA, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS),National University of Singapore (NUS). more»
Documentation
Pakistan: Reality, Denial and the Complexity of its State – March 17, 2010 - On 11th February 2010, the Heinrich Boell Foundation organised an expert round table discussion to inaugurate the release of their new publication “Pakistan – Reality, Denial and the Complexity of its State”. Two authors who published articles in the book were invited from Pakistan to Berlin to present and discuss their work. more»
TLO-Policy Brief
Tribal Jurisdiction and Agreements: The Key to Sub-National Governance in Southeastern Afghanistan – March 16, 2010 - In many parts of Afghanistan, non-state institutions remain relevant to security and stability, despite repeated and concerted state-led attempts from the late 19th century onward to expand its administrative influence, including control over the provision of security and the administration of justice. This policy brief examines the historical background of tribal contracts, to what extent they still play a role in local governance today, and what implications can be drawn for the current promotion of community governance arrangements. more»
Global Zero or Nuclear Anarchy? – March 9, 2010 - Japan has been the only country in the world that suffered from a nuclear attack. Today, security and stability in Asia are at risk because of a potential nuclear arms race from the Persian Gulf to North Korea. By Ralf Fücks more»
Foto: Gregor Enste
Dossier
London 2010: New chance for Afghanistan? – This Afghanistan Dossier offers a variety of articles, analysis and commentary from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Germany, regarding the current situation in Afghanistan and its potential outcomes. more»
Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Photo: Christian Sterzing)
Conference and Dossier
The Transformation of Palestine – The geographic and social fragmentation of the Palestinian people is essentially a result of the conflict in the Middle East. This topic represents the main focus of our two-day conference with international experts in March 2010. Our dossier provides further information about the conference and the invited experts. more»
Dossier
A World Without Nuclear Weapons or Nuclear Anarchy? – How can the nuclear threat be reduced worldwide? How can the nuclear non-proliferation regime be strengthened to prevent a global nuclear anarchy? How can we prevent non-state actors, such as terrorists, from gaining access to nuclear weapon material? In this dossier, renowned authors from international politics, academia and civil society give us some answers. more»
Europe and Transatlantic
Summer School for Young People from Belarus
From 4-18 July 2010 the Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted the second "Summer School for Young People from Belarus" in Berlin. Twelve young adults from Belarus had been selected to participate based on their demonstrated interest in politics and local community initiatives. more»
Viral Video Award


Award:
For the best political viral video!
Submit virals until Sept. 11.

Cooperation of:
Heinrich Boell Foundation, interfilm, Zucker.
Events
14.9. Lehman ist tot – lang lebe Lehman! – Eine Vorlesung des Finanzexperten und Ex-Lehman Bankers Sony Kapoor
17.9. GREENING THE CITY - Strategien für den Green New Deal der Städte – Internationale Konferenz im Flughafen Tempelhof
7./8.
10. 		Europas Osten - Impulse für die Politik der EU gegenüber ihren östlichen Nachbarn – 11. Außenpolitische Jahrestagung
7./8.
10. 		Europe’s East - Ideas for the EU’s policy vis-à-vis its eastern neighbors – 11. Annual Foreign Policy Conference
23./24.
11. 		Deutsche Entwicklungspolitik im Spannungsfeld Globaler Krisen – Entwicklungspolitisches Forum der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
All events / search
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Video
Banner: Triple Crisis Blog Log, Stock & Barrel. Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector. Photo: Lee Jordan. License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 The Climate Network-Transatlantic Solutions for a Low Carbon Economy