Editorial

A look back often provides the ideal opportunity to assess a particular year’s significance. That especially applies when issues have become part of the global agenda that two years on remaincentral challenges for the work of a political foundation such as the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The 2011 tsunami in Japan and the resulting Fukushima nuclear disaster accelerated Germany’s exit from nuclear energy. In the same year, the staggering consequences of the debt crisis also became clear – it continues to dominate the European agenda to this day. Finally the “Arab Spring”, which spurred a process of change in countries in North Africa and the Middle East, were hopeful developments that turned increasingly violent. The process has yet to lead to stable and democratic structures – let alone the rule of law – anywhere.

With these issues, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is called upon to use the tools at its disposal to solve problems and to better understand as well as foster the acceptance of change. Our 2012 report on our work proves this. But this publication also takes up longer-term issues and laysout our priorities for the year 2013. That includes the switch to sustainable energy – necessitating a new relationship between economy and the environment. Or overcoming the debt crisis, which in Germany, too, is undermining acceptance of the European process of unification and the common currency – as such it is a crisis that requires a solution in the interest of future European generations. And not least the still challenging work in Arab nations – all the more essential since the development of democratic institutionsthat operate under the rule of law in Europe’s southern neighbours is of great interest to us.

The future and especially that of the younger generation are common themes for these topics and most other issues our foundation addresses. In Arab nations young people are largely the ones who have risen up. In some member states of the European Union, youth unemployment has risen to fifty percent. And how we in Germany can ensure that young people can look ahead to a life of prosperity and democratic stability is not just an academic question. That is why the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in a historic first, coined a slogan that guides its 2013 projects. “Perspectives for Young People” examines opportunities, risks and the future situation of young people in the national, European and international contexts, and puts these issues at the centre of a number of programmes. How do young people define a liveable future? What is important to them? What should they be and what are they interested in learning? We surveyed a number of young people who are either Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung staff or have close ties with the foundation. You will find their statements at various places throughout the document. It is central to our mission to enthuse young people about democracy, to inspire and strengthen their appreciation of and engagement for politics – not just in the year of a Bundestag election but for the long haul.

This Annual Report 2012 – Perspectives 2013 once again provides you with information on a selection of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s many activities. Detailed reports on the foundation’s programmes are available at www.kas.de. This report, along with the information available online, reflects the high levels of engagement, skills and motivation of our staff both at home and abroad. We are grateful for their efforts – it is they who make up the foundation. We also thank the members of the Friends of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung as well as our donors, sponsors and partners for their many kinds of support. We will do everything in our power to deserve their ongoing trust in our work.

You can download the full report as pdf.