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Frank Röth

Heike Göbel receives the Social Market Economy Prize 2025

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation honours the clear and well-founded analyses of the FAZ editor.

The editor responsible for economic policy at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Heike Göbel, will be honoured with the Social Market Economy Prize of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation 2025. The award ceremony will take place on 2 September 2025 in Frankfurt am Main.

July 1, 2025
Press Releases
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Should delinquent children be criminally responsible at an early age?

The discussion on lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 years from the perspective of child and adolescent psychiatry

Currently, criminal responsibility in Germany begins at the age of 14. For juvenile offenders between the ages of 14 and under 18, the more lenient youth criminal law, which is oriented towards educational ideas and therapeutic needs, applies. Nevertheless, the question arises whether a 12-year-old child who has committed violent crimes should be placed in a prison together with older adolescents and young adults up to 27 years old, who for various reasons often still fall under the youth criminal law.

Elisabeth Hoffmann
June 26, 2025
Single title
Titelbild mit der KI Adobe Firefly generiert, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.

No Fear of Numbers: Why Math Belongs in Early Childhood Education

Strengthening Educational Opportunities Through Early Support

Early math education strengthens logical thinking, STEM skills, and social participation. Even toddlers develop a sense of patterns, quantities, and structures when supported by skilled early childhood educators. Introducing mathematical learning in preschool not only improves future career opportunities but also promotes equity, democratic understanding, and a sense of agency. To achieve this, we need strong structural support, professional development, more qualified staff, and political commitment.

Tobias Ernst
June 26, 2025
Facts and Findings
Adobe Stock / kaliel

Do not rely on deceptive energy security!

Energy policy consequences of the Iran-Israel war for Germany

The conflict between Iran and Israel reveals Germany's continuing vulnerability in terms of energy supply. Despite progress in infrastructure and diversification, dependence on global markets remains a risk. Decisive action is needed now - for lower energy prices, resilient supply chains and a secure, economically viable energy transition.

Dr. Christian Hübner, Laura Philipps
June 26, 2025
kurzum
Titelbild mit der KI Adobe Firefly generiert, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.

Criminal responsibility limits in Europe: Insights into the legal situation and juvenile delinquency

How European countries deal with criminal responsibility limits and what conclusions can be drawn for the German debate

The discussion about lowering the criminal responsibility threshold in Germany to less than 14 years of age is controversial. Proponents argue that earlier criminal interventions are necessary to prevent criminal careers. Critics warn against stigmatization and point to alternatives such as preventive and educational measures. A comparison of models in countries such as the UK, Sweden and Switzerland shows different approaches and their implications. This analysis sheds light on key challenges and perspectives for Germany.

Annika Schröder
June 26, 2025
Facts and Findings
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Quantum Technology and Germany's Security Policy: A Geopolitical Necessity  

Key Technology with Enormous Potential for Military and Civilian Applications

Quantum technology is a key security technology with disruptive potential. It threatens today's encryption systems, revolutionizes navigation and communication, and acts as a catalyst for other future technologies. Germany must become “quantum ready” – through strategic integration, agile innovation promotion, and international cooperation – in order to maintain digital sovereignty and security.

Manuel Steudle
June 24, 2025
Single title
Timon Studler/unsplash

Political climate ahead of 2025 federal election – Expectations of the parties

Everything must change, nothing may?

How do voters of different parties talk about key socio-political challenges such as migration, the economy and the climate? Has the political climate of opinion changed? Based on twelve face-to-face focus group discussions at a total of six locations, this study provides important insights into the basic political mood in Germany. The observations also allow positive conclusions to be drawn about the culture of debate in Germany.

Caroline Werkmann, Dr. Hans-Jürgen Frieß
June 20, 2025
Single title
Adobe Stock / Ali

Security Threats and Chances in the Baltic, High North and Indo-Pacific

Common Connections and Shared Concerns – Opportunities for Interregional Maritime Security Cooperation

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and wider geostrategic developments highlight the growing connection between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific defence and security concerns. The opening of the Arctic and the High North through melting sea ice will also bring the two regions closer together strategically. These links present opportunities but also prioritisation challenges for Baltic and northern European states.

Nick Childs
June 17, 2025
Monitor
Adobe-Stock

Principles of German Foreign Policy

Impulses from the Young Foreign Policy Working Group

In the midst of global upheavals and growing uncertainties, a sustainable German for-eign policy needs groundbreaking principles. The Young Foreign Policy Working Group provides some impetus for value-based and at the same time interest-led foreign policy action – with a strategic focus on European sovereignty, multilateral capacity to act and a clear anchoring in Western alliances.

Ferdinand Alexander Gehringer
June 8, 2025
kurzum
IMAGO / Steinsiek.ch

Back to square one!

The Free Democratic Party (FDP) after the 2025 federal election

For the second time in their history, the Free Democrats failed to enter the German Bundestag on 23 February 2025. It was only in 2017 that they fought their way back into parliament after an unprecedented renewal. Can the Liberals now repeat this feat?

Tobias Montag
May 26, 2025
Monitor

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Facts and Findings

Selected contributions to the series with international relevance

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.  

EPP Party Barometer

The Situation of the European People's Party in the EU

The EPP Party Barometer illustrates the current situation of the EPP party family in the EU. On a non-regular basis, it provides a concise overview of current election results, polls from the member states and the composition of the party family.

Handouts for Political Education

Grundlageninformationen zur Beteiligung
an aktuellen politischen Diskussionen

Mit der Reihe „Handreichungen zur Politischen Bildung“ möchte die Politische Bildung der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung interessierte Bürgerinnen und Bürger über politische Entwicklungen informieren, Orientierungen in Sachfragen geben und das Interesse an politischer Mitwirkung stärken. Die Handreichungen verstehen sich als Grundlageninformationen zur Beteiligung an aktuellen politischen Diskussionen.

Historical-Political Communications

Archive for Christian democratic politics

The "Historisch-Politische Mitteilungen" are available in bookshops. They appear once a year with a volume of approx. 260 pages. The retail price is 19,50 EUR.

Interviews

In our series "Interviews", talks and discussions are held with experts from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. on various topics.

Country Reports

Short political reports of the KAS offices abroad

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

Monitor

The Monitor series deals with one main topic at a time from the perspective of KAS experts and places it in the political and social context on the basis of a few key points.

Materials for the Work on Site

Kleine Schriftenreihe zu aktuellen Themen der Kommunalpolitik

Mit der eigenen Reihe "Materialien für die Arbeit vor Ort" bereitet die Stiftung zu aktuellen Themen wichtige Informationen in handhabbarer Form auf, so dass sie in der kommunalpolitischen Praxis nutzbar sind. Eine weitere Serie unter dem Titel "Diskurs kommunal" befasst sich mit besonderen Aspekten der Kommunalpolitik.

Commercial Publications

Zu aktuellen und zeitgeschichtlichen politischen Themen veröffentlicht die Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. Publikationen in renommierten Verlagen. Ein besonderer Stellenwert kommt hierbei der seit dem Jahr 2000 erscheinenden Taschenbuchreihe der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung im Herder Verlag zu.

in short

Concise, reduced to the essentials, but always highly topical. In our series “in short”, our experts summarise an issue or problem on a maximum of two pages.

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Completed publication series

Working Paper

Broschürenreihe mit Darstellungen und Positionen, die kurzfristig auf aktuelle politische Fragen reagieren

Research and Sources on Contemporary History

In der Reihe „Forschungen und Quellen zur Zeitgeschichte“ veröffentlicht das Archiv für Christlich-Demokratische Politik seit 1980 wissenschaftliche Studien zur Christlichen Demokratie, Darstellungen zur Geschichte der Bundesrepublik und der CDU sowie Biographien wichtiger Repräsentanten. Zu den 50 bisher erschienen Büchern zählen auch Quelleneditionen, wie Protokolle von Parteigremien oder Tagebücher von einflussreichen Politikern. Die Publikationen sind im Buchhandel erhältlich.

Sociopolitical Series

Veröffentlicht wurden herausragende Dissertationsschriften mit gesellschaftspolitisch relevanten Themen von Stipendiatinnen und Stipendiaten der Begabtenförderung und Personen, die ihrem Promotionskolleg „Soziale Marktwirtschaft“ kooptiert sind. Die Reihe gab den Autorinnen und Autoren ein wissenschaftliches und publizistisches Forum und brachte aktuelle Themen in die öffentliche Diskussion ein.

Basic Questions of Christian Democracy

In dieser Reihe erschienen im Jahr 2006 Texte namenhafter Autoren zu Grundfragen der christlichen Demokratie.

In Conversation

Kulturpolitische Umschau

Zeitschrift mit Berichten aus Bundestag und Bundesländern, Gastbeiträgen, Rezensionen und Presseauswertungen zur aktuellen Kulturpolitik.

In Plenary

Broschürenreihe der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung mit den Beiträgen von Konferenzen, Fachtagungen und Kongressen, die von längerfristigem Interesse sind.

In Plenary Compact

Die Broschüren im DIN-A-4-Format fassen kurz und knapp die Ergebnisse von Konferenzen, Fachtagungen und Kongressen zusammen, die von längerfristigem Interesse sind.

Positions

Reden, Essays und Grundsatzpapiere zu drängenden Zeitfragen

In dieser Broschürenreihe veröffentlicht die Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung grundlegende Positionen zu wichtigen Themen der Zeit.

Future Forum Politics

Broschürenreihe zu aktuellen politischen Themen, welche über die Tagespolitik hinaus reichen

Zukunftsforum Politik

KAS International

Information from the Division of European and International Cooperation

This series informs about current important events and developments of our work to point out our wide spectrum of activities.