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 glance
- As a European foundation, we promote understanding between EU Member States, reject nationalist and populist tendencies and actively counter them.
- The aim of our work is to strengthen the transatlantic partnership and the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy as a cornerstone of our security.
- We bring innovative practices from abroad to Germany. After all, we are convinced that in times of increasing systematic competition, our western democracies can only preserve their economic and political competitiveness against autocratic states through innovation.
- One focus of our work abroad lies in strengthening and networking decision-makers, experts, partner parties and their junior members, the military and selected civil society actors and groups. The goal is to promote democratic developments and stabilise fragile democratic systems.
Content
1. We bring european and international issues to the general public
2. Security is becoming more multifaceted and increasingly complex
3. Innovations determine competitiveness
4. Functioning parties support stable democracies
5. European unification – looking ahead
6. Liberal world order must be reformed
7. Our offers and projects on the topic
8. Publications, events and media contributions on the topic
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.
We bring european and international issues to the general public
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 and secure their prosperity. 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.
Country Offices and Regional Programmes
With more than 100 offices in over 80 countries, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung pursues three main goals:
- contribute to 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 and a change of perspective between Germany and the countries of operation;
- creating public forums for the representation of German political, economic, security and social interests.
You can find an overview with all offices on our worldwide map
International Media Programme
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
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
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.
Multilateral Dialogue / Multinational Development Dialogue
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
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
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
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
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
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 International Security Conference
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 “Forte International Security Conference”. 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.
75 years of NATO
As an important pillar of European security, NATO has not lost its relevance in 75 years of its existence – quite the opposite. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has shown just how important the transatlantic alliance is for Europe. On our project page for the Alliance's 75th birthday, we take you on a journey through NATO's history and highlight current developments, challenges, and opportunities. So, come and take a look and discover our wide range of publications and other formats to mark NATO's 75th anniversary!
BRICS expansion
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?
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
Publications on this topic
IMAGO / Aton Chile
Chile: A failed experiment
An outlook to the presidential and parliamentary election in November 2025
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Colombia: Shots fired in the run-up to the elections
After an attack on an opposition politician, a polarized country fears a return to violent times
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
The US strategy in West Africa under Trump
America Engaged or America First?
IMAGO / NurPhoto
"Plenković is playing chess, everyone else is just playing ‘Ludo’”
The ruling HDZ party emerges surprisingly stronger from the 2025 Croatian local elections
KI-generiert mit Adobe Firefly, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.
Latvian local elections in June 2025
Voices of the centre, shadows of the fringes – Latvia's political fork in the road?
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Elections in crisis
Weeks before the presidential elections, Bolivia is going through deep political and economic turmoil
AdobeStock/Rochu_2008
Bulgaria ready for the eurozone
European Commission and European Central Bank with positive convergence report
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Making a Statement in Washington
Chancellor Merz's first visit to President Tump
Jer Clarke / flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 / creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.de
Postkolonial und antiwestlich
Die Überwindung des Westens als Grundidee postkolonialer Theorien
Adobe-Stock
Principles of German Foreign Policy
Impulses from the Young Foreign Policy Working Group
IMAGO / Xinhua
Local elections in Lebanon
Important milestone for the new government and indicator of the political balance in the country
PantherMedia / JaneUK
Election of judges in Mexico
Between the promise of democracy and the concentration of power
IMAGO / NurPhoto
Just How American Is the American Pope?
U.S. Reactions to the Election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV.
IMAGO / Steinsiek.ch
Back to square one!
The Free Democratic Party (FDP) after the 2025 federal election
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
The security situation in Lithuania in spring 2025: threat and response on NATO's eastern flank
Lithuania relies on deterrence, armament and close partnerships
Event Reports on the topic
Der 8. Mai 1945. Das Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs und seine Lehren für die Gegenwart
Bericht zu Fachtagung und Podiumsdiskussion anlässlich des 80. Jahrestags des Endes des Zweiten Weltkriegs
KAS Ecuador
Together for the Rule of Law
President of the Federal Constitutional Court visits the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Ecuador
KAS-Büro Israel
The Middle East after the terrorist attacks of 7 October
Visit of Dr. Gerhard Wahlers to Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Bonn/Berlin – Moskau. Irrungen und Wirrungen.
Die Geschichte der deutschen Russlandpolitik seit 1990: Ein Rückblick beim ersten Wetzlarer Gespräch
Was sind die Perspektiven der Ukraine nach drei Jahren Krieg?
Eine Bilanz des 50. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 25. Februar 2025 mit Marion Sendker und Othmara Glas.
Perspektiven der transatlantischen Partnerschaft unter US-Präsident Donald Trump
Eine Bilanz des 49. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 21.01.2025
Stabil oder fragil? EU- und NATO-Land Rumänien nach der Wahl
Eine Bilanz des 48. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 11.12.2024
Zuwanderung und Zugehörigkeit
Eine Bilanz des 1. Rheingauer Gesprächs zu Staat und Recht an der EBS Universität am 05.12.2024
"Trumps Schutz hat ein Preisschild" - USA nach den Präsidentschaftswahlen
Wintervortrag in Zusammenarbeit mit GSP und Bundeswehr
Media library
Leiter der KAS Serbien und Montenegro für Podcast "Podkast od uticaja" in Podgorica
Thema des Podcasts ist die Rolle der politischen Bildung bei der Stärkung der Demokratie und die Bedeutung junger Menschen für das politische Leben der gesamten Region.
Read now
Wahlergebnisse in Deutschland
Jakov Devčić, Leiter der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Serbien und Montenegro sprach für RTS über die gesellschaftlichen Trends in Deutschland, die durch die Wahlergebnisse aufgezeigt...
Read now
Fena/Sektor für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der PSBiH
Gespräch mit Parlamentspräsident Denis Zvizdić von NiP am 13. Februar 2025
Zvizdić und der Direktor der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in BiH Raabe sprachen über wichtige Schritte für den Fortschritt BiHs in Richtung EU. Medien berichteten über den Austausch.
Read now