Articles

Ireland’s Referendum on the Fiscal Compact

A Lifeline after the Rise and Fall of the Celtic Tiger?

In the referendum held on 31 May 2012, 60 per cent of the Irish people voted in favour of accepting the European Fiscal Compact, thus agreeing that Ireland should in future be legally bound by its rules. For Ireland and the other countries in the European Union, the “Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union”, agreed by 25 of the 27 heads of state and government on 9 December 2011, is vital if we are to preserve the EU and the euro. In terms of financial and economic policy, the government is on the right track.

Kid Gloves at the Keyboard

Defamation Charges Threaten Freedom of Speech in Asia

Concerns are growing in Asia about offensive and extremist material on the internet. New laws have been passed to remedy this, but they have collided with the ways that search engines, social networks and internet cafes run their operations. These service providers have therefore been resisting calls for self-censorship, which is often technically difficult, too. And the media are worried that press freedom and freedom of speech will be put at risk. The threat of retribution could lead to even more content disappearing from the Web than is actually stipulated by law.

Africa – A Continent on the Rise

The fact that successes, setbacks, upheavals, booms and busts can all happen at the same time is part and parcel of the complexity that is Africa’s reality. There is not one Africa, but hundreds, perhaps thousands of Africas. Africa is a huge, heterogeneous continent. Despite the many obvious differences, there is one very clear trend: 21st century Africa is now in much better shape than before. The continent has seen many successes of late and many more are in the pipeline.

Democratisation Trends in the Maghreb

The political and social upheavals that have been taking place in nearly all the states of the Arab world since December 2011 have different causes that partly go back a long way. The initial assumption that there would be a “domino effect” has gradually given way to the realisation that while parallels exist, there are also many idiosyncrasies between the different countries.

Editorial of the issue "50 years of worldwide cooperation"

We will be celebrating "50 Years of Democracy Worldwide" in July this year. This is why the July edition of the International Reports is a littledifferent. We have produced a commemorative issue in which we take the unusual step of reflecting on our own work and achievements. Today we have more than 80 offices around the globe. We work tirelessly to make a lasting contribution to peace, freedom and democracy – a contribution that is always based on creating a partnership of equals.

Ex Oriente Lux

The Work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Central and Eastern Europe

When the Eastern Bloc collapsed in the 1989, its countries started to open up, providing an opening for our work. The main focus of our activities was the creation of KAS offices in former communist spheres of influence. The launching point for the expansion of our office network in Central and Eastern Europe was our existing office in Vienna. Today we have over 18 offices in these countries of which 15 are full KAS offices and three are liaison offices.

KAS in Asia

From “Help to Help Themselves” to a Dialogue between Equals

September 2004. A telephone call comes in from Beijing. The caller is a representative of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. His question: a draft of China’s new company law is now available. Would it be possible for German experts to conduct a critical review of the draft and to make suggestions for improving it during a workshop organized for this? Would the KAS be able to support this exercise? Requests like this are the result of the trust that has been built over many years of successful cooperation with local partners.

Konrad Adenauer and the Beginnings of the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung's International Activities

The Institute for International Solidarity started its work in 1962. With an eye on Latin America, Konrad Adenauer opened up three new windows of opportunity as a means of making a German contribution to the global challenge: encouraging church social work via the church relief organisations; supporting value-based democratic reformists via the political foundations; and improving the effectiveness of foreign relations by institutionalising an independent development policy.

The Landmarks of Half a Century of Solidarity

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Chile (1962-2012)

Germany and Chile are shining examples of democracy and socio-economic development on their respective continents. Behind these achievements are the people and the parties, the Christian Democratic parties, and the cooperation between the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and its Chilean counterparts. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung promoted visits and seminars and did everything it could to strengthen relations between Germany and Chile.

A New Start in Myanmar

The April By-Elections and the Outlook for Political Change

In the by-elections in Myanmar on 1 April 2012, the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi achieved an overwhelming victory. Even many opposition politicians had not expected the NLD’s victory to be so decisive. This election outcome is a clear indication of the people’s rejection of the government and proof of the widespread support and high esteem enjoyed by Aung San Suu Kyi.