International Politics

Much of the public is deaf to the claims of President Obama that poverty and unemployment levels would be worse without the injection of stimulus money by his administration which provided tax relief and income support for millions of Americans.

Many Americans have long seen campaign finance laws as the best hope for restoring democracy in the US and were glad to hear President Obama's pledge to work with the Congress to overturn the Supreme Court decision. But the political tides are not moving in favor of democracy.  Money can't buy love or democracy.

The effect that the economic and financial crisis has had on the European Union and its policies is the central theme of this publication. The authors have looked at European policies from different angles. They have analysed and evaluated how the Union has dealt with the different aspects of the crisis: which measures have been successful, which have failed and what still needs to be tackled.

Prior to the 11. Annual Foreign Policy Conference, we offer suggestions in this matter for a green policy towards the Eastern neighbors of the EU, different views and possible strategies.

In May 2010, the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation and the Democratization Policy Council organized a policy roundtable in Berlin: “How to stop Bosnia and Herzegovina from further deteriorating? Time for a new transatlantic initiative”. The expert meeting brought together policy makers and analysts from Europe and America, including representatives from international organizations in Bosnia, with their counterparts from Germany.

Shortly after a new ruling coalition formed Slovakia’s new center-right government, a small shock wave rolled through Europe. First the Slovak government and then parliament voted to withhold Slovakia’s share of a European bailout loan for Greece’s embattled economy. Not that Slovakia’s minute share of the package would mean a lot for the eurozone – the decision’s importance lay in its symbolism and, therefore, in politics.

The European Union’s need for improved policy toward its eastern neighbors is increasing. To date, however, neither the European Union nor its member states have found a sustainable strategic approach to developments in the European neighborhood.

This paper summarizes discussions held during a transatlantic workshop at the Brookings Institution on June 1. The purpose of the workshop was to analyze the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on critical security issues affecting the transatlantic relationship between the United States and the EU. The workshop focused on four topics: Russia; Iran; China and “AfPak”. A summary by

Saliem Fakir draws balance over of South Africas economic policy of the last 15 years and derives from it recommendations for a future political agenda.

Africa is celebrating. Never in the history of the Mundial has the game of football inspire an entire continent to dream and hope for a brighter future than the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup. The soccer event, brings hope and joy to a continent long ravaged by poverty, wars and diseases.

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.

South Africa officially entered recession in May 2009, its first in 17 years. This issue of Perspectives discusses the implications of the global economic crisis for South Africa, and analyses the government’s responses in relation to social justice, gender equity and sustainable development principles.

Europe should recognize the U.S. coming on board finally with relatively ambitious 2020 targets (compared to the status quo), but has to push for further acceleration on efforts of the U.S.

Over the past years the Heinrich Böll Foundation has developed a large number of EU-funded projects in over 60 different countries worldwide, both as a project co-ordinator and a project partner. The foci of our EU projects are ecology, democratisation, international understanding and gender democracy.

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.

A maize shortage has led to an unprecedented price hike in Kenya; government has declared the food insecurity a national disaster. Many Kenyans attribute food price inflation to mismanagement and corruption. But to what extent does it result from actual scarcity? Do food crop producers - many of them small farmers - profit from high food prices?

Issue 01/2009 of Perspectives discusses current migration dynamics in Southern Africa from a human rights perspective.

This week the Berlinale presented four movies from a South African project called "Filmmakers Against Racism", which is supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Producer Don Edkins, whose film "Taxi to the Dark Side" was awarded an Oscar in 2008, talks in an interview about the initiative and xenophobia in South Africa.

With Barack Obama the USA will become both more american and more european. By entering into dialogue with its international partners, America will also expect them to shoulder more of the responsibility. This will not necessarily be comfortable for Europe.

Internationally, Africa is believed to be the continent with the most wars and conflicts. The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s conflict management program concentrates on cooperation with local stakeholders.