Identity and Exile

Published: 20 April 2016
Over five million Iranians in exile – about 120,000 of which live in Germany. The contributions in this volume provide the impetus for an exemplary discussion of the productive potential of the Diaspora.

Democratic Money and Capital for the Commons

Published: 15 January 2016
This "Democratic Money and Capital for the Commons" report is a rare synthesis of perspectives for rethinking money &  finance, even if a more complete commons agenda on this topic remains to  be developed.

Blue Diplomacy: Transboundary Water Governance from a Foreign Policy Lens

Published: 7 January 2016
Water quantity and quality are deteriorating and the struggle among all common water users is likely to intensify. This may become even more visible in river basins that cross political boundaries of different countries. History reveals that in many situations, this mutual need may bring strategic cooperation rather than open conflict, and lead to peaceful solutions to water disputes. Over the last 67 years, we have witnessed only 37 severe water disputes globally, in comparison to 295 water cooperation treaties (UN Water 2008: 3).

Blue diplomacy

Published: 31 December 2015
Water quantity and quality are deteriorating and the struggle among all common water users is likely to intensify. This may become even more visible in river basins that cross political boundaries of different countries. Dr. Aneel Salman highlights in this paper the significance of shifting from techno-centric water governance models towards inclusive and sustainable hydro-diplomacy. The paper briefly looks at various transboundary cases of successful, unsuccessful and potential hydro-diplomacy cases to understand the various dimensions of shared water governance for South Asia, Africa and Europe.

Unmaking Political Patriarchy Through Gender Quotas?

Published: 28 December 2015
In this study, the authors, Farzana Bari, and Andrea Fleschenberg, are identifying commonalities and differences of Gender Quotas in the parliaments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and contextualize women’s political participation and gender democracy worldwide. From the findings of the country studies, they are drawing concrete recommendations for practice.

Unmaking Political Patriarchy Through Gender Quotas?

Published: 23 December 2015
In this study the authors, Farzana Bari and Andrea Fleschenberg, are identifying commonalities and differences of Gender Quotas in the parliaments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and contextualize women’s political participation and gender democracy worldwide. From the findings of the country studies, they are drawing concrete recommendations for practice.

TAPI: Impact on Security and Development of the Region

Published: 30 November 2015
The study focuses on the impact on security and development by the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India gas pipeline (TAPI), which is one of the most ambitious and long debated infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

Outsmarting Nature? Synthetic Biology and Climate Smart Agriculture

Published: 30 November 2015
Many of the world's largest agro-industrial corporations are pushing forward the poorly-defined idea of "Climate-Smart Agriculture"(CSA) to re-market industrial agriculture as 'climate-ready'. This report uncovers how some advocates of CSA are embracing the extreme genetic engineering tools of synthetic biology ("Syn Bio") to develop a set of false solutions to the climate crisis.

Perspectives 02/2015: Bodies, Morals and Politics

Published: 1 December 2015
Despite the formal commitment of many African states to universal human rights, the realisation of those rights remains unfulfilled for a great number of their citizens, especially women. Reflections on sexual and reproductive rights in Africa.