Ukrainian resources and european supply chain resilience in times of war
Ukraine has high reserves of raw materials, the extraction of which could significantly improve the economic situation and finance the reconstruction of the country. Some of these raw materials are essential for the production of weapon systems. Increased cooperation with the EU could integrate Ukraine into the European internal market and promote its own production of military technologies. However, it is crucial to minimize political challenges to enable necessary investments and not to lose the raw material reserves to Russia.
Jakob Kullik, Juliana Süß, Yilmaz Akkoyun
August 21, 2024
Facts and Findings
Adobe Stock/Pavel Losevsky
Russia's War Economy – an Assessment of Russia´s Military Industrial Complex
A Long-Term Plan
Since the beginning of the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, analyzes have been carried out about the strength and endurance of the Russian military. Considering the importance of the military-industrial complex (MIC) during the Soviet era and its place in Putin's Russia leaves no doubt about the Kremlin's determination. There is no price we wouldn't pay for victory, is the message.
Daivis Petraitis
August 2, 2024
Monitor
Adobe Stock / Alexey Novikov
Cyber-Actors: Iran
How Attacks Strengthen the State
Iran has become a major player in the cyber and information space. Through events such as the Stuxnet attack 2010 and the organization of opposition groups through the Internet, the state has expanded its cyber capabilities. Today, Iranian cyber units have a wide range of operations at their disposal, including espionage, sabotage and influence operations. As an ally of the USA and Israel, Germany in particular is in focus of Iranian cyber operations and must be prepared for a wide range of threats.
Ferdinand Alexander Gehringer, Julia Kramer
August 2, 2024
Facts and Findings
Adobe Stock / Diki
CO2 compensation – climate protection instrument, fraudulent labelling or modern indulgence trade?
On the controversial role of CO2 offsetting and the importance of binding global standards to avoid greenwashing – with insights from Latin America
In order to combat the consequences of advancing climate change, all appropriate instruments should be used. In addition to the urgently avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this also includes offsetting them in areas where damage limitation is (still) the only way to contribute to climate protection. However, internationally valid quality standards for offsetting projects must be defined and appropriately communicated to producers, consumers, and people in the implementing regions.
Patricia Ehret, Gisela Elsner, Dr. Arnd Küppers, Denis Denis Machnik, Roberto Stohmann, Dr. Christina Stolte, Maximilian Willner, Sabina Wölkner
July 31, 2024
Sustainability Monitor
Privat
„Trump versus United States“
Interview about consequences for the USA following the Supreme Court ruling of July 1, 2024 with Prof Russell A. Miller (Law School of Washington & Lee University in Virginia, USA)
On July 1, 2024 the Supreme Court delivered his historic judgement. They found that the US-President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct related to his core constitutional competences. Is the President now above the law, as the critics say? In any case, it particularly strengthens the position of the US President, who is often referred to as “the most powerful person in the world”.
Dr. Franziska Rinke
July 26, 2024
Interviews
Alfred-Wegener-Institut/Robert Ricker (CC-BY 4.0)
Marine researcher Antje Boetius accompanied the KAS for a year
Report on the KAS-Fellowship 2023: Antje Boetius on the Arctic, the deep sea, climate change, sustainability, political consulting and women in science
Research and science are important foundations for political decision-making. In many meetings, conversations and discussions with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and its guests, Antje Boetius has advocated knowledge-based political decision-making, modern climate and resource policies and good governance as the KAS-Fellow 2023. She has raised perspectives, demanded answers and suggested solutions. This report documents the past KAS-Fellowship 2023 with Antje Boetius with many pictures and text contributions.
Antje Boetius
July 4, 2024
Single title
KAS
Intra-party democracy in the elections for the CDU and SPD party leadership
On the influence of regional conferences and member surveys on the increase in intra-party democracy from consensus-orientated to competition-orientated procedures
In many Western democracies, political parties are experiencing a surge in democratisation. German parties, on the other hand, are often known for their stable recruitment. Recently, however, both CDU and SPD have attempted to increase the inclusion of party members in decision-making processes through member surveys and regional conferences. Initial results suggest that consensus over competition, self-empowerment and a mobilisation of party wings are increasing. Both instruments of participation have proven to be valuable and can therefore contribute to a pacification of inner-party conflicts.
Dr. Benjamin Höhne
July 3, 2024
Single title
Child poverty: causes, effects, ways out
Securing children against poverty
Child poverty is parental poverty. Around 2.9 million children and young people under the age of 18 in Germany live in families that are at risk of poverty. The Federal Minister for Family Affairs wants to lift low-income families out of poverty with a basic child protection program, which provides for a reform of social transfers. How young parents who are able to work can be supported to integrate into the labour market is not the subject of basic child support. The study analyses the causes of poverty risks for children and presents possible solutions for the reduction of child poverty.
Elisabeth Hoffmann
June 26, 2024
Single title
Adobe Stocke / Wojciech Wrzesień
Critical Junctures – The Future of the North
Latest development in the Baltic Sea Region
The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO brings new strategic implications and defense opportunities for the Baltic Sea region. At the same time, it poses additional challenges for the alliance in light of Russian ambitions in the region. As NATO develops agile defense strategies, cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic states becomes even more crucial.
Nick Childs, Ferdinand Alexander Gehringer, James Hackett, Fenella McGerty
June 21, 2024
Monitor
Adobe Stock / Elle Arden / Generiert mit KI
A qualitative analysis of the political mood in Germany
Disappointment, frustration and resignation
The political climate in autumn 2023 is characterized by profound uncertainty and dissatisfaction. This study paints a picture of the mood in German society. It analyzes the political climate, attitudes to key political issues, the image of the parties, voting motives, the role of the AfD and draws conclusions for the future. In particular, it examines the question of what this mood means for democracy in Germany and to what extent it is linked to the rise of the AfD.
