- The Heinrich Böll Foundation Turkey office decided to launch a foreign policy program with an initial series of meetings in Istanbul, Berlin and Brussels. The goal was to shape guiding questions and frame the foundations interests in its analysis and policy interventions in foreign policy debates between Turkey, the European Union, and the Middle East. A report from the first expert roundtable in Istanbul, on October 19 2009. more»
Actors without Society - The Role of Civil Actors in the Postcommunist Transformation – - Twenty years after the epoch-making change in 1989, which affected the post-Yugoslavian space in a way entirely different from other former “real-socialist” European countries, this study is an effort toward an analytical view on the past two decades of development of civil society in the western Balkans. The study shows: Without civic engagement, there will be no changes. more»
Militarization of the Arctic continues – - While global warming unlocks a host of new treasures and trade routes in the Arctic, the region is facing steady militarization. The article gives a comprehensive update about policies and strategies of the circumpolar nations Russia, Denmark, Canada and Norway today and in the future. more»
What Next in Bosnia? – - Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress is stalling, even reversing. High-level diplomatic efforts are under way to pull the country out of its decline. For the U.S. and EU it is time for a co-ordinated and focused policy. The present haphazard pursuit of self-serving goals will lead to nothing but more damage in Bosnia. more»
Hungarian Elections: New Green Party Achieves Unexpected Success, But so Does The Radical Right – - The international relations coordinator of the new Hungarian Greens analyzes the countries results of the European Party Elections. The radical right Jobbik has risen, while the left is in disarray. The new green party surprisingly also won a seat. more»
Beyond Guantánamo - Restoring U.S. Credibility on Human Rights – - How to restore the credibility of a country whose foundations and self-understanding are based on the universality of freedom and human rights, but that has violated precisely those rights by practicing torture in Guantánamo and other prisons around the world? more»
A Thaw in Turkish-Armenian Relations – - Turkey and Armenia may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in bilateral relations. The border between the two countries, closed for a decade and a half, may soon re-open. What would an opening mean for the two countries? What has made the rapprochement possible? This dossier combines expert analyses and interviews with political leaders to give a deeper insight into a complex region. more»
NATO in a Changing World - Outdated Organisation or Indispensable Alliance ? – - Is there a future for NATO? And, should the answer be in the affirmative, what might it look like? The question whether NATO is an outdated organisation or an indispensable alliance is a moot point. We hope that our conference and this dossier will help foster an enlightened debate on these issues. more»
Western Balkan Transition Countries Face Their First Recession – - Who could have predicted that the subprime crisis, which exploded in mid-2007 in the U.S., would bring a recession to the Western Balkans in 2009? Especially since we knew that the financial sectors in the Balkan economies did not deal at all with toxic assets – those derivatives connected to subprime mortgages. more»
Schwarzenberg’s Mission to the Middle East – - The Czech EU Presidency was thrown right into the middle of the war in Gaza. And Czech politicians stumbled. Unlike the majority of their colleagues from Western Europe, who condemned Israel’s actions as disproportionate, the Czech prime and foreign ministers initially blamed Hamas for the conflict. more»
Dealing with the Financial and Climate Crises – - Policymakers must make sure that the restructuring of the financial system lays the ground for an ecological transformation. This, in turn, will stimulate the economy. To secure its international competitiveness Europe needs to retain its leadership in energy efficiency and green collar industries. more»
Development of socio-political situation in Belarus – - Belarusian politics, society, economy, and foreign relations enter a new stage in post-Communist history. Yet the expected transition provides only dim prospects for democracy, more likely seems the return of another, kinder form of authoritarianism. more»
Belarus’s Post-Georgia Elections: A New Paradigm or the Same Old Balancing Act? – - The EU has its own balancing acts to perform. If Belarus were to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the window of opportunity for improved relations may close almost as soon as it opened. more»
More Than Just Georgia – - Only if Georgia succeeds in building a dynamic and attractive democracy, the populations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will have a real choice – between a democratic Georgia and an authoritarian Russia. more»
Moving Out of the Doldrums? – - Russia and the European Union are increasingly bound together – if not by common values, then by virtue of their interdependence. Beyond strong economic ties, both actors have a mutual interest in maintaining international stability and a secure neighbourhood. mehr»
- This publication describes a new start of cooperation between Europe, the United States, and regional partners in the Middle East to tackle the challenges in Iraq and to help bring peace, stability, and sustainable development to the wider region. more»
The Future of the Constitutional Treaty – - Ways out of the dead end - How to get the European Constitutional Treaty back on track more»
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Offices of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Europe and North America – - In Europe the Heinrich Böll Foundation has offices in Istanbul (Turkey), Belgrade (Serbia), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Zagreb (Croatia), Warsaw (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Kiev (Ukraine), Moscow (Russia), Tbilisi (Georgia) and Brussels (Belgium). Its office in North America is located in Washington D.C. more»
