Working conditions of local civil society in Afghanistan Published: 22 February 2024 Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the landscape of Afghan civil society has dramatically changed. Understanding these conditions and constraints is crucial for external actors, especially as they attempt to engage with local organizations.
(Not) Upholding Feminist Principles in Peace and Security Policies Published: 16 February 2024 Feminist peace is directly linked to a commitment to demilitarization, but the concrete implementation of this often appears inadequate. A discussion with Hilina Berhanu Degefa and Barbara Mittelhammer.
Europe’s Flawed Approach to Critical Minerals Published: 15 February 2024 The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act is peppered with commitments to “value-addition” in the countries where critical minerals will be mined and processed. But there is reason to believe that this means little.
How the EU Can Secure a Sustainable Supply of Critical Minerals Published: 15 February 2024 The European Union has understood the importance of critical minerals in building a sustainable future. But neglecting to address the mining industry’s human-rights violations and environmental destruction could harm the ensure access to raw materials and boost the climate change.
Transatlantic Burden Sharing for the Western Balkans: The Route to Strategic Alignment Published: 14 February 2024 The full and strategic alignment of policies and strategies between the United States and the EU regarding the Western Balkans region needs to be prioritized in the current challenging security context. It has worked before and will work again.
Move the Money! The Necessity to Redistribute Feminist Resources Published: 14 February 2024 Which role does feminist development and foreign policy play as a tool of state-funded resources for feminist movements and organisations? A discussion with the activists Amina Doherty and Michelle Reddy.
From Climate Action to Feminist Justice Published: 12 February 2024 This article discusses the potential of a feminist approach to climate justice and feminist foreign and development policy. The authors, Gina Cortés Valderrama and Katy Wiese, argue that feminist perspectives are unabdingbar in addressing economic rights, energy transition, and climate-related damages and losses.
Shaping the EU's Financial Architecture for the Future Published: 15 July 2024 The European Union faces the enormous challenge of having to achieve the necessary climate targets it has set itself, while at the same time increasing industrial competitiveness and ensuring public services of general interest. A sustainable European financial architecture based on three pillars is needed to finance these green-social investments at EU level. It is presented in this policy paper.
Snap Elections in Azerbaijan's Political Quagmire Published: 6 February 2024 In December 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev surprisingly announced snap presidential elections. Accordingly, Azerbaijani voters will go to the polls on February 7th. These elections signal one thing: the consolidation of authoritarian power.
One year since earthquakes hit Turkey, refugees are in an even deeper hole Published: 5 February 2024 It has been a year since the February 6th earthquakes ripped through southern Turkey and northern Syria. The 7.8 magnitude quake and several tremors directly affected more than 9.1 million people in Turkey, among them 1.7 million Syrian and numerous other refugees. The next day found the country shaken by a wave of anti-refugee policies and rhetoric never seen before. What is the situation today in Turkey, which continues to be the world’s largest refugee-hosting country?
Feminist foreign and development policy: beyond the label Published: 13 March 2024 This dossier is a result of an exploration of Germany's current feminist foreign and development policy, aiming to address the fundamental question: What is actually feminist about it?
Transatlantic Unity for a Ukrainian Victory Published: 30 January 2024 In view of the upcoming US elections and the difficult situation on the battlefield, there is a need for urgency and clarity about Western support for Ukraine in the coming months.
The Sustainability Transformation Needs a New Narrative Published: 29 January 2024 The UN’s Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 shows that achieving the agreed targets requires sweeping reforms, not incremental steps. To ensure broad-based support for wholesale change, policymakers will need to create new narratives and pursue an equitable and just transformation.
The role of the UK in a new European Security Architecture Published: 26 January 2024 The United Kingdom has developed its contribution to European security in the context of its withdrawal from the EU. However, a more formal relationship between the two in the areas of foreign, security and defence policy remains to be desired.
The Two-State Solution in the Twenty-First Century Published: 25 January 2024 The terrorist attack against Israel showed that the status quo in the Middle East is as dangerous as it is unsustainable. Peace between Israel and the Palestinians, based on a two-state solution, is not just a lofty diplomatic dream; it is a practical political necessity.
I am stubborn, and that’s a good thing! Published: 25 January 2024 Yuliya Sporysh brought the “leader” concept from the male-dominated IT industry to a civil society organisation. Her NGO, Girls, supports Ukrainian girls and women as they shape their own futures independently and successfully.
Indo-Pacific Calling: Where is the US heading and what does it mean for Europe? Published: 24 January 2024 The geopolitical centre of gravity is shifting towards the Indo-Pacific. What are the implications for the transatlantic relationship?
The “nature-based solutions” trap Published: 24 January 2024 "Nature-based solutions" receive widespread support. Yet they are so vaguely defined that corporations use them as a diversionary tactic for the ongoing destruction of "nature" on an industrial scale.
Hard Power or Diplomatic Power? Europe Has Faded From the World Stage Published: 22 January 2024 Whether hard power projection or diplomacy, Europe’s role on the world stage might already have evaporated. This article analyses three aspects of a dwindling Europe in the global security realm.
The never-ending debate of the European Army and why it is unhelpful Published: 22 January 2024 Ever since its first proposal in the 1950s, the European army has been a ghost in the system of European Defence debates. But it is an unhelpful and distracting concept for the challenges that the EU and Europe more broadly are currently facing.
Guiding principles for anti-discrimination and diversity at the Heinrich Böll Foundation Published: 22 January 2024 The Heinrich Böll Foundation is committed to ensuring that neither employees, interns, scholarship holders, applicants, external service providers, nor visitors to the Foundation are discriminated against or disadvantaged on the basis of gender, race, religion or belief, socioeconomic status, disability or chronic illness, age, sexual or gender identity.
The Debt Brake Must Not Become a Brake on the Future Published: 19 January 2024 With the floods in northern Germany, the relaxation of the country’s debt brake is back on the agenda. But instead of always returning to the same debates, what is finally needed is sustainable reform. A new study shows what this could look like and sets out the options for financing climate protection over the short term.
Silencing Voices in Italy: The Erosion of Media Freedom Published: 16 January 2024 Italy's media is in crisis, battling legal onslaughts and facing a surge of censorship one year after the establishment of the far-right government led by Giorgia Meloni.
Women don’t feel safe in earthquake housing in Diyarbakır outskirts Published: 16 January 2024 Interview with Hamide Ayaz, whose house collapsed in the conflicts in Sur, Sociologist Mihriban İlbaş, and Selma Aslan, Co-Chair of the Diyarbakır Branch of the Chamber of Architects, about the earthquake houses undertaken by TOKİ and their impact on women's lives.
South Africa’s ICJ Case Against Israel: A Judicial Stress Test for the Multilateral System Published: 10 January 2024 The landmark application by the South African government to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to institute proceedings against Israel for its reprisal military assault against the people of Gaza, following the 7th October 2023 attacks and kidnappings in Israel, caught the majority of the world off-guard. It represents a significant judicial test to the functionality of the international multilateral system.
COP 28: No outcome is better than Article 6 Published: 9 January 2024 At the climate conference in Dubai, the implementation details of the controversial Article 6.8 work programme was agreed. An assessment from an Indigenous perspective.
Info Hub Plastic Published: 8 January 2024 Are you interested in understanding the plastic crisis and its solutions? ▶ Delve deeper into our comprehensive information hub on plastic, gathering vital data and facts for everyone committed to combatting this global challenge.
Plastic in the Ocean Published: 7 January 2024 Every year, approximately ten million tons of plastic waste end up in the world's ocean. An estimated total of 86 million tons of plastic has been introduced into the seas so far.
Plastic Waste Published: 6 January 2024 Plastic waste is the most visible problem of our plastic crisis. Whether in rivers, on land, or in the ocean, enormous amounts of plastic waste are already polluting the entire planet.
Reflection: 30 years of women in Cambodian politics Published: 20 December 2023 The results of the July 2023 elections show that Cambodia is far from achieving its stated vision of gender equality and equitable political participation for women. A reflection.