Publications

Israel's scars after October 7: The return of the hostages and the national trauma

How the Hamas attack exposes social fault lines and calls old principles into question

On January 26, 2026, the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage in the hands of Palestinian terrorists, returned to Israel. The police officer, who belonged to an elite unit, had been fighting Hamas on October 7, 2023, when he was killed by terrorists and abducted to the Gaza Strip.  With the return of his body, there are no Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas for the first time since 2014. Now his family and the entire community can say goodbye. Ran Gvili symbolizes the two traumas Israel has suffered since October 7, 2023. The first trauma, the attack on October 7 that left over 1,200 dead, was followed by the second, the taking of 251 hostages, some of whom were held captive by Hamas for two years.  It is clear that October 7 was not the beginning, but rather a dramatic escalation of an already familiar pattern.

U.S. Perspectives One Year Into Trump’s Second Term

“Move Fast and Break Things”

Showing strength, challenging traditions, and putting America’s interests—along with his own—first: the first year of President Trump’s second term has been a whirlwind of national and international change. Nowhere is this more evident than in foreign policy, where he has profoundly reshaped the role of the United States and challenged the existing order.

Grassroots Perspectives on AI

Shaping Policy in Education, Ethics, Engineering, and Enforcement

Grassroots Perspectives on AI is a publication by CirroLytix Research Services, with the support of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines. The publication documents key insights, discussions, and policy directions that emerged from a multi-sectoral roundtable on Artificial Intelligence governance in the Philippines, bringing together voices from government, industry, civil society, and academia.

The ignored diaspora

A qualitative research

This qualitative research study - conducted by sociologist Barbu Mateescu and the IRES institute, published in January 2026 by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation - provides a comprehensive examination of Romanian diaspora communities across Europe.

Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy and defense strategy amid competing geopolitical blocs

Hanoi maintains careful balance among the major powers while advancing modern defense procurement, international partnerships, and the development of its domestic defense industry

Vietnam’s foreign policy of strategic balancing, which has been described as “bamboo diplomacy”, is exerting an increasingly significant influence on the country’s defense and industrial policymaking. In the context of escalating tensions in the South China Sea and growing uncertainty within global supply chains, Hanoi is pursuing new partnerships while avoiding any abrupt disruption of its existing dependencies. This report analyzes the interplay between diversification, technological acquisition, and domestic value creation, and evaluates the associated risks and opportunities for regional stability and for cooperation with European partners.

EU-Jordan Summit

A Symbolic Step for a Strategic Partnership

With the first bilateral summit between the EU and Jordan, both sides sent a signal of their intention to deepen the partnership at a time of heightened regional instability in the Middle East. Through its support for Jordan, the EU aims to strengthen the country in its stabilising role in the region and to contribute to Jordan’s internal stability, particularly by supporting economic resilience and growth. For the EU, the deepening of relations also provides an opportunity to position itself as a reliable partner and actor in the Middle East against the backdrop of an increasingly unpredictable US foreign policy.

Future EU-Development Cooperation from a Christian democratic perspective

The future direction of European development cooperation (DC) is a key issue for European Christian Democrats and thus also for the European People's Party. European DC is an important instrument of EU foreign policy and, if properly designed, can be an investment in Europe's security and prosperity. In view of drastic geopolitical changes and a global shift in values and power, Europe should see DC even more strongly as a powerful instrument for shaping its external relations.

Moderne Städte- und Gemeindepartnerschaften Fördermöglichkeiten und Praxistrends

Neue Handreichung erscheint anlässlich des Deutsch-französischen Freundschaftstages

Angesichts globaler Krisen, wachsender gesellschaftlicher Herausforderungen und eines zunehmenden Drucks auf die Europäische Union kommt der deutsch-französischen Partnerschaft im 21. Jahrhundert eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Städte- und Gemeindepartnerschaften sind dabei ein zentrales Instrument gelebter Verständigung, bürgernaher Zusammenarbeit und europäischer Integration.

VotoBot Joven

VotoBOT Joven es una innovadora herramienta de inteligencia artificial (I.A.) que facilita el acceso a las propuestas de los candidatos presidenciales de Costa Rica.

Chatbot de inteligencia artificial (I.A.) alimentado con los planes de gobierno de las 20 candidaturas presidenciales de Costa Rica

France 2026

A challenging year in the shadow of the presidential elections

France looks back on a year 2025 that was marked by political instability with a change of government, increasing social polarisation and growing dissatisfaction among the population. The year 2026 also promises to be hardly any more stable. In addition to the difficult budgetary situation, local and senate elections are coming up, and the 2027 presidential election is already casting its shadow. In this environment, the current government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu must navigate wisely, avoid an impending vote of no confidence and initiate crucial reforms for the country. This domestic political instability contrasts with the image that President Macron wants to convey of France on the international stage: a strong France that is committed to Europe and wants to strengthen its role in the world. So where does France really stand at the beginning of 2026, and can those in charge steer the country back into calmer waters?