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Facts and Findings

Selected contributions to the series with international relevance

Publications

Media Lens King, stock.adobe.com

AI in Subsahara-Africa – Afrofuturism without African languages?

The challenges for large language models

As a technology, AI has enormous potential to make many processes simpler, faster and more efficient. AI would therefore be suitable for so-called leap-frogging. If AI were integrated quickly and well, especially the global South could benefit from it. However, large amounts of data are required for the development of large language models (e.g. ChatGPT). This could slow down the spread of AI on the African continent. Liberal and transparent data policy should therefore play a central role in the political discourse there.

Adobe Stock / zimmytws

German Universities in International Comparison

Challenges and Need for Action

The modernisation of teaching and research as well as increased financial support and structural reforms are essential in order to further improve the international competitiveness of Germany as a university location. High-quality education and excellent research play an outstanding role in promoting innovation and creating economic prosperity in Germany and Europe. Investments in this area must therefore be seen as long-term, non-negotiable investments in the future, even in financially difficult times.

Adobe Stock/ nadezhda1906

Pathways to the third child

An international comparison of family policy measures

As demographic change progresses, the question of the third child plays a central role in the context of discussions on the development of birth rates. What factors influence the decision of couples to realise their desire for more children and what family policy measures are used to support multi-child families in France and Scandinavia, for example?

IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Security alliance AUKUS

A tectonic shift in the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific?

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are creating the basis for a new powerful naval power in the Pacific. It can permanently change the balance of power between China and the USA and their Western allies in the Indo-Pacific region. The construction of nuclear-powered attack submarines and the stationing of American and British submarines in Australian harbours will significantly increase the military deterrent potential of the three Western allies. How will the agreement be implemented in practice and what significance does it have for Europe?

stock.adobe.com/ink drop

Radicalisation as last resort?

The disorientation in the “climate fight” and the limits of activism in extremism

Climate activism in Germany is in a state of flux. Radicalisation tendencies and links with left-wing extremist elements are leading to political challenges. Groups that focus on confrontational actions are on the rise and climate activist offences are increasing. The link between climate activist groups and left-wing extremism is being monitored more closely by the security authorities. This change requires careful analysis and a differentiated approach in order to assess the potential threat to internal security accordingly.

Adobe Stock / STORYTELLER

East African Ports in the Geostrategic Scramble

Eyes on Tanzania’s Port Deal with Dubai

According to a report by consulting firm PwC, ports are responsible for 80 per cent of the world’s trade in goods by volume and 70 per cent by value. They can act as a key driver for economic growth.

Adobe Stock / Manuel Schönfeld

Human Dignity - New Challenges

Socio-political issues in the context of human dignity

The core issues of many political projects currently under discussion concern the inviolable dignity of the human person. This applies both to the recently enacted Self-Determination Act and to the government coalition's plan to regulate abortion outside the Criminal Code in the future. But in 2020, the Federal Constitutional Court also established the need for a new regulation of assisted suicide that is compatible with human dignity. How can human dignity be adequately taken into account in these borderline issues?

Stagnation instead of Growth

Why the Bundeswehr is not an attractive employer and how it can become one

The Bundeswehr must grow in terms of personnel in order to be able to meet the demands placed on it. Despite efforts, its goal of 203,000 active soldiers is a long way off. Why has the Bundeswehr so far failed to recruit and retain personnel and how can it become an attractive employer in the future and thus a guarantor of security for Germany and its allies?

Adobe Stock / Marius

How much responsibility does the “Community of responsibility” hold?

Responsibility, but without legal protection in case of separation

According to the coalition agreement (2021-2025), the major reform of family law planned by the Federal government will include the new legal institution of the “Community of responsibility” (“Verantwortungsgemeinschaft”) for an unlimited number of persons. Its main characteristics will be the easy conclusion as well as quick separation. As the planning goes, the Community of responsibility will offer marriage-like tax privileges whilst avoiding any regulations  for the period after the separation to protect those individuals who have provided unpaid care or nursing.

imago/Gemini Collection

They know what they are doing

Prostitution and the Nordic model from the point of view of the clients

Prostitution is one of the most controversial topics in society and politics, which is also reflected in the various legal regulations within and outside Europe. While prostitution is legal and regulated by law in Germany, in other countries it is completely prohibited or is in a legal gray area. The so-called Nordic Model is another way and consists, among other things, of the complete decriminalization of prostituted persons with simultaneous criminalization of all profiteers including the demand, i.e. the clients. This article deals with the experiences of clients in the German prostitution milieu, what they know about coercion and violence within prostitution, and whether they should be criminalized in Germany.

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About this series

The series informs in a concentrated form about important positions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on current topics. The individual issues present key findings and recommendations, offer brief analyses, explain the Foundation's further plans and name KAS contact persons.

 

Ordering Information

Editor

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.

Dr. Kristin Wesemann

Dr

Head of Strategy and Planning

kristin.wesemann@kas.de +49 30 26996-3803

Sophie Steybe

Referentin Publikationen

sophie.steybe@kas.de +49 30 26996-3726