European and International Affairs
The unity of Europe was a dream of a few. It became the hope of many. Today, it is a necessity for all of us. It is [...] necessary for our security, our peace, our existence as a nation and as an intellectually creative international community.
At a time when the realignment of global power relations is becoming increasingly obvious, Germany and Europe must adapt and expand their concepts, strategies and instruments. In the areas of foreign and European policy, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has set itself the objective of strengthening political and academic awareness of new foreign policy challenges, drawing up analysis and consulting services and contributing towards a new foreign policy culture in Germany. We do this with the help of our more than 100 country offices and our experts in Germany. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung uses its event series, its regularly published political reports and studies, podcasts, a stronger multi-media presence as well as the International Reports magazine to raise broad public awareness of European and international affairs. Which focal points and basic convictions guide us in this?
Security Is Becoming More Multifaceted and Increasingly Complex
For us, the Transatlantic Partnership and the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy are the cornerstones of our security. We want to strengthen them through our work. We believe, on the one hand, that security entails the classic military capability of national and alliance defence. Yet we know that we have to think about the concept of security in a multi-faceted way, on the other. The fight against Islamist terrorism is therefore just as high on our agenda as the complex interactions between climate change and security, and global health policy and security.
Innovations Determine Competitiveness
First and foremost, we see new innovations as an opportunity, and have tasked our country offices with keeping a close eye on how other societies are using possibilities of digitalisation. This is how we bring best practice to Germany. We are convinced that only through innovation can Germany and Europe remain economically competitive and in the political race with authoritarian models of society, while at the same time redesigning their production in an environmentally sustainable manner. On the other hand, we are aware of the challenges of digitalisation and discuss possibilities to politically shape it in terms of protecting the private sphere and our liberal social order.
Functioning Parties Support Stable Democracies
Democracy cannot function without functioning political parties! This credo also guides our work abroad. We thus strengthen and connect our partner parties in the different regions around the world and especially their young professionals, both with regard to content and to modern and value-based political communication. At the same time, we know that representative democracy facilitated by parties can be usefully complemented by participatory elements. That is why we strengthen selected civil society actors – not least in countries where free party competition cannot take place. It is particularly interested in supporting those people and institutions that champion the peaceful transition to democracy.
European Unification – Looking Ahead
We see ourselves as a European foundation. We would like to counter growing nationalist and populist tendencies in many European Union Member States. Therefore, our work in Europe fosters understanding between member states and looks to the future: What holds us together as Europeans and in what kind of Europe do we want to live together? How do we practice solidarity with our European neighbours without losing sight of the individual responsibility of each state?
Liberal World Order Must Be Reformed
Many crises in recent years not least the Corona pandemic, have illustrated how important functioning multilateral organisations are for a rules-based world order. We thus actively support the reform process of the United Nations, just like the World Trade Organisation and the World Health Organisation. For us, “multilateral world order” is always synonymous with liberal world order – both politically and economically. Today, this liberal word order is being challenged by authoritarian counter-models. That is why our work abroad is strengthening the ties with states, outside the North Atlantic region, which could be important allies in this conflict.
International Offices and Programmes
The commitment to democracy, rule of law, freedom and social market economy can only be sustainable if it is approached internationally.
Country Offices and Regional Programmes
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.
With more than 110 offices in over 80 countries, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung pursues three main goals:
- improving political framework conditions in the countries of operation and resolving problems in line with the foundation’s goals and values;
- promoting the transfer of knowledge between Germany and the countries of operation;
- creating public forums for the representation of German political and economic interests.
You can find an overview with all offices on our worldwide map
International Media Programme
Tim Weber
A democracy only functions if freedom of the press and of expression are guaranteed. However, these basic conditions do not exist in many countries around the world. That is why our offices in Johannesburg, Singapore and Sofia support media in the respective region with accepting its political responsibility and with contributing towards the development of democracy and strengthening statutory framework conditions. This enables the emergence of an independent media landscape as well as establishing a basis for the free formation of opinions in politics and society.
International Rule of Law Programme
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Since 1990, the foundation has complemented its international projects for democracy promotion and political dialogue with the transnational Global Rule of Law Programme. Locations of the five regional programmes are in Bogotá for Latin America, Singapore for Asia, Nairobi Dakar for Sub-Saharan Africa, Bucharest for South-East Europe and Beirut for the Middle East/North Africa. Global activities concerning the rule of law are coordinated from Berlin.
International Party and Political Dialogue
KAS MDPD
Democracy promotion is one of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s primary objectives abroad, too. For us, parties are integral actors of a functioning and vibrant democracy. That is why we promote and take care of exchange and cooperation. We support democratic parties and politically active persons that share our values. Through our work both on the ground and at regional and international level, we provide a platform for political dialogue with and between parties and their target groups. Learn more on the pages of our Regional Programmes.
International Energy Security and Climate Change Programmes
Allie Caulfield / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 / Stefan Stahlberg
Since 2015, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has played a role in strengthening supra-regional dialogue on the topics of energy, climate and environmental policy. Our Regional Programmes are located in: Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and the Middle East and North Africa. Here special emphasis is placed on accompanying currents debates, developing solutions as well as promoting specific projects of sustainable action in politics, business and society. For, the curtailment of man-made global warming and associated shift away from fossil fuels envisaged by the Paris Climate Agreement, presents humanity with just as great a challenge as the consequences of climate change.
Learn more about the energy security and climate change programmes
Multilateral Dialogue / Multinational Development Dialogue
Amin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
In New York, Geneva and Vienna - important main locations of the United Nations - our foundation offices deal with relevant and current discussions and debates conducted by the United Nations and its sub-organisations. At the Washington location, the office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung works, among other things, on the Bretton Woods Institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In Brussels, the Foundation promotes dialogue with the Global South. The work of our offices is oriented towards our overarching priority themes: “Security needs freedom”; “Sustainability needs innovation” and “Democracy needs participation”.
Learn more about the Multilateral Dialogue / Multinational Development Dialogue
European Offices
pixabay
The European Office Brussels has been supporting the European Union’s development since 1978. What is more, it supervises projects in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The goal is to positively influence the European integration process in the spirit of Konrad Adenauer, with EU policy being particularly important for us in this regard. The European Office sees itself as a forum for Christian Democratic interests. It primarily aims to heighten understanding of basic motives behind the unification process.
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Multinational Development Policy Dialogue in Brussels shapes development policy dialogue with the European Union and NATO. In doing so, it contributes the experience and expertise of KAS’ global project work as well as the interests of German development policy to the consultation process of the European Union.
Selected Event Series
Strengthening the culture of debate and arousing interest in international political issues: that is the main focus of our regular event formats. This way, our foreign policy expertise reaches a broad public outside the political establishment in Berlin, and, in turn, obtains valuable insights.
F.A.Z.-KAS Debate on International Politics
KAS / Sven Moschitz
The annual F.A.Z.-KAS Debate on International Politics intends to play a part in reinforcing the important discussion on foreign policy issues in Germany. This debate brings together two partners with extensive experience and knowledge in international affairs: The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung with its 111 offices abroad and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which for many years has been analysing international politics with its recognised foreign policy expertise.
Learn more about the F.A.Z.-KAS Debate
Adenauer Conference
Tobias Koch
What role does NATO play? What is the Corona pandemic affecting security policy? Where is Europe in the system competition? At the annual Symposium on Germany’s Role in International Security Policy, high-ranking politicians and experts discuss strategic issues for the future.
Speech on Europe
Switsch
The Speech on Europe is the annual statement by the highest representatives of Europe: The President of the Council of the European Union, the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Commission takes it in turns to present their positions on the idea and state of Europe. The format is a cooperation of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa and the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin.
GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum
Michal Petrík
Since 2005, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has been an important partner in the organisation of the annual GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum. The Forum is one of the most important strategic conferences in the field of security and international relations. The aim is to promote dialogue on current and future challenges in European and foreign policy.
Forte de Copacabana
KAS Brasilien
Since 2003, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Brazil, in cooperation with the foreign policy think tank Brazilian Centre for International Relations (CEBRI) and the Delegation of the European Union, has organised the annual International Security Conference “Forte de Copacabana”. The main objectives of the conference are to discuss and exchange current international security issues of common interest to partners on both sides of the Atlantic.
Selected publication and website projects
We accompany current events analytically and use our expertise on the ground or take up interesting debates and look at them from different angles: The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung regularly produces exciting information pages, publications and website projects on various aspects of international issues, which we present to you below.
BRICS expansion
Adobe
At its summit in August 2023, the BRICS alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa decided to expand by six countries from January 2024.
What does the inclusion of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia mean for the alliance's cohesion, economic power and geopolitical significance? How is "BRICS+" viewed in the various regions? And above all: what conclusions should the EU and Germany draw from this?
Protests in Iran
Darafsh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Since mid-September 2022, thousands of people in Iran have been protesting daily against the regime of the Islamic Republic. They are demanding more rights and freedoms as well as an end to the 43-year rule of the theocratic regime under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The wave of protests was triggered by the violent death of the Iranian Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amin, who was arrested by the notorious morality police in Tehran. The scale of the current protests is unprecedented, with people from all walks of life and age groups participating for the first time. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is monitoring the situation i Iran from the ZEntrale in Berlin and its foreign offices in the region.
Digital Transformation in Asia-Pacific
pixabay/Gerd Altmann
The Asia-Pacific region is considered a pioneer in the digitalisation of the economy and society. In no other region of the world are digital processes so advanced and the use of digital products and everyday aids so widely established as in the countries of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. This includes future technologies and future trends such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, FinTech or e-health.
These developments are of particular interest to the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung with its offices abroad and regional programmes in the Asia-Pacific region. In order to create social and economic added value in the sense of the social market economy, we promote the exchange of knowledge between Germany, Europe and Asia together with regional actors from politics, business, society and science.
Partner Atlas
New world order, new partners?
A Partner Atlas for German Foreign Policy
YouTube, Onlinekas
With the “Partner Atlas” we have developed ideas and proposals with which international partners Germany's foreign policy interests can be implemented. Currently, the value- and rule-based world order is being challenged by a war in Europe. Multilateral institutions and rules are also increasingly being called into question and liberal democracies are coming under pressure from within and without. It must therefore no longer be a question of only strengthening existing partnerships, beyond NATO and the EU, but also of exploring new partnerships, forging relationships and placing them on a stable foundation and gradually developing them further.
Selected Podcasts
Politics for on the Move: Accessible via any Smartphone, our podcasts provide exciting insights and background information on international topics. In discussions that are easy to understand by the general public, experts as well as KAS specialists explain foreign policy events and developments, international politics and place global debates in the forefront. Thanks to the audio format, conversation partners can be reached anywhere in the world.
Auslandsinfo.Spotlight
Background information in which there is no space in the news or topics underexposed in the media – the “Spotlight” podcast gives them the attention they deserve: Hence, scarcely addressed ongoing crises are examined, geopolitical shifts are explained and connections are established.
MultiPod
How does the United Nations Human Rights Council work? What multilateral alliances are there in Latin America? And why is arms control important? From New York to Brussels, Geneva and Vienna to Singapore - in the MultiPod, once a month we talk about current international and multilateral issues. Besides experts from international organisations, our colleagues from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s worldwide network of country offices have their say. They classify processes in depth, explain connections and provide background information.
Rule of Law Rules
What value is accorded to human rights in the digital age? We speak to international experts about data protection, legal tech and the use of artificial intelligence.
Learn more about the Rule of Law Rules
Anniversary: 60 Years of International Work
Our international engagement began in the 1960s in Latin America. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is now represented on all continents with over 100 offices in more than 80 countries. With its projects, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung campaigns worldwide for the rule of law, multilateralism, climate protection and social market economy.
On the Beginnings and Development of Work Abroad
The world has changed dramatically over the last 60 years. Yet the mission of realising a political, social and economic order based on human dignity in all parts of the world, has remained. Here you can read, see and hear all about the beginnings and development of our work abroad.
Learn more about the beginnings and developments of the work abroad
International Elections 2023: When? What? Where?
A direct look at elections in all regions of the world as well as further links are provided here in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s country offices.
Publications to the topic
Adobe Stock / vepar5
The Democratic Republic of the Congo before the election
The Democratic Republic of Congo with its 100 million inhabitants votes in December - an opportunity and a challenge
EPP Party Barometer November 2023
The Situation of the European People’s Party in the EU
Conventions on the Ban of Anti-Personnel Mines and Cluster Munition
Map of the Month 11/2023
IMAGO / NurPhoto
Facing difficult dilemmas
Rishi Sunak and the Tories ahead of the 2024 elections
Jahrestreffen der Stipendiaten
Länderbericht: Paukenschlag in den Niederlanden
Rechtspopulisten erstmals stärkste Kraft im Land
ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Journal
Ideas for evidence-based energy policies and strategies in West Africa
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
Security alliance AUKUS
A tectonic shift in the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific?
IMAGO / Xinhua
A leap into the unknown
Libertarian Javier Milei is the new president of Argentina
David Canales / Zuma Press / ContactoPhoto (europa press)
Re-election of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
Fragile minority government will increase polarization
Adobe Stock / Pamela Ranya
Chad - The next candidate for upheaval in the Sahel?
An important partner in the Sudan crisis
Die Entdeckung der Tiefsee - Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius in Freiburg
Was uns die Meere über den Klimawandel verraten und was wir tun können
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.
Zypern auf dem Weg zur Inklusion
Inklusion weltweit – Aktueller Stand aus Zypern
Adobe Stock / butenkow
The Art of Crisis Management
The Pandemic Agreement – An Opportunity for Health for all
weyo / Adobe Stock
The pro-European
Representative survey on attitudes toward Europe in the German population
Przyszłość stosunków polsko-niemieckich w obliczu wojny w Ukrainie
Pryzmat polityczny
IMAGO / CHROMORANGE
Local elections in Bulgaria
GERB Strongest force, but with losses
KALUZA+SCHMID Studio
EU-Kazakhstan Green Hydrogen Partnership
Mapping Barriers and Establishing a Roadmap
wikimedia / Gary Todd from Xinzheng CC0
Minimizing the Human Factor
Mongolia's search for the "perfect system"
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.
Der lange Weg zur Inklusion in Namibia
Inklusion weltweit – Aktueller Stand aus Namibia
Events on the topic
Oct
24
2023
Jan
30
2024
Europa und die Meere
Strategische Herausforderungen des 21. Jahrhunderts in maritimer Perspektive
Nov
07
2023
Feb
07
2024
Europa in der Zeitenwende: Europakonzepte auf dem Prüfstand
Online-Vorlesungsreihe zum Thema "Europa in der Zeitenwende"
Nov
14-29
2023
Das Hamas-Massaker und der Krieg um Gaza
Wie ist die Situation in der Region und wie wird der Konflikt in anderen Ländern gesehen? Auslandsmitarbeiter der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung berichten vor Ort
Dec
04
2023
Facebook Live: Reden wir über Familie – Der Feierabendtalk
Demokratiebildung - Aufgabe in Familie, Schule und Gesellschaft!?
Event Reports on the topic
Erich Westendarp auf Pixabay
Die europäische Stimme der bürgerlichen Mitteparteien
EVP: Die proeuropäische Kraft im Europäischen Parlament
KAS
Sind Auslandsdeutsche nur Folklore?
Abendveranstaltung im Bremerhavener Auswandererhaus
Ein Grund zum Feiern: 10 Jahre Kroatien in der EU
2. Jugendtag für Europa - Welches Europa wollen wir sein?
Kooperationsveranstaltung mit EUROPE DIRECT Düsseldorf, der VHS Düsseldorf und dem MAXHAUS - Katholisches Stadthaus Düsseldorf
A call for more investment in female-led businesses
Europa vor der Wahl - Rumänien
Online Diskussionsreihe zur Europawahl 2024
Dorin Recean, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, visits the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Talks with Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert on reforms, challenges and the country's European path
Von kleinen und großen Schritten
50 Jahre Deutschland in den Vereinten Nationen
Martin Reuber
Lackmustest für die Zusammenarbeit in Europa
Wofür stehen die europäischen Christdemokraten?
Chinas Nationalismus und der Taiwan-Konflikt
Kooperationsveranstaltung mit der Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik Sektion Oldenburg
Die Zukunft des Westlichen Balkans liegt in der EU
8. Westbalkan-Botschafterkonferenz
Europa neu entdecken
Studienfahrt in die europäische Metropole Brüssel
Wir müssen für die Demokratie kämpfen – Peter R. Neumann zur neuen Weltunordnung
Talk im Bahnhof
kas.de
Südkorea: Konfliktregion, Wertepartner, Innovationsmotor
Eine Bilanz des 42. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 25.07.2023
Veranstaltungsbericht vom 04.07.: „Politische Gefangene in Belarus“
Am 04.07 lud die KAS zu einer Abendveranstaltung in Kooperation mit der belarusischen Gemeinschaft „Razam“ zu der Thematik „Politische Gefangene in Belarus" ein.
„Zeitenwende – Wie steht es um die deutsche Landes- und Bündnisverteidigung?“
KAS/Jana Reimann-Grohs
Wissenschaftskooperationen zu Tropenkrankheiten zwischen Deutschland und Afrika
Parlamentarischer Abend
Bundeswehr der Zukunft
Verantwortung und Künstliche Intelligenz
KAS
50 Jahre UN-Beitritt Deutschlands und die Zukunft der multilateralen Weltordnung
Old partners, new alliances?
The "German-Arab Gulf Dialogue" for the first time at the KAS
Media library
Wilders: Gewinner und doch kein Sieger?
Trotz Wahlsieg und de-facto-Zuschlagsrecht könnte es für Geert Wilders und seine Partei PVV schwierig werden. Denn momentan möchte keine Partei mit ihm koalieren.
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MINA CG
RTCG
Interview mit Jakov Devčić -RTCG "Guten Morgen"
"Nova Vlada da završi fazu lutanja Crne Gore"
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Intervju Jakov Devčić:TV Nova S
Jakov Devčić – Nisu dovoljna samo obećanja da će Srbija ući u EU
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SWR Aktuell Radio
Spannungen zwischen Serbien und Kosovo: Droht ein neuer Balkan-Krieg?
Wie wahrscheinlich das ist, darüber hat SWR-Aktuell-Moderator Andreas Böhnisch mit Jakov Devčić gesprochen, dem Leiter der CDU-nahen Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Belgrad.
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EURONEWS SERBIA
Aktuell zur Krise im Kosovo
Die aktuelle Situation im Kosovo: eventuelle Maßnahmen gegenüber Serbien
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