Social Policy in Ukraine in the Wartime: 2022-2023 years

Policy paper

In this policy paper, Ukrainian researchers Oleksandra Betliy and Veronika Movchan from the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (Kyiv) summarise the catastrophic consequences faced by Ukrainians during the full-scale war, analyse the success of the Government's measures to mitigate them and the effectiveness of international partners' assistance, as well as the compatibility of social policy with Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

Finanz- und Rechnungswesen der Gebietskörperschaften

Finanz- und Rechnungswesen der Gebietskörperschaften ist ein neues Werk, das in arabischer Sprache von Mohamed Nabih, einem Experten für öffentliches Beschaffungswesen, Finanzen und öffentliches Rechnungswesen, herausgegeben wurde und von der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Marokko und Mauretanien, veröffentlicht wird.

Primaries in Venezuela

Two successes and one surprise

A success for the Venezuelan opposition and a success for liberal-conservative candidate María Corina Machado: On October 22, 2023, the opposition's self-organized primaries to determine a joint presidential candidate took place under difficult conditions. According to estimates, around two to three million voters took part, exceeding expectations. The participating parties are therefore unanimous in their assessment of the event as a success. The clear winner of the election is María Corina Machado, who, after counting 65 percent of the electoral files (as of the evening of October 23), has an unassailable lead with 93 percent of the votes. A clear success for Machado had already become apparent in the run-up to the election, so that all parties involved recognized her election victory early on. Many challenges accompanied the holding of the primaries, and there are more to overcome before the presidential elections are held in the second half of 2024. Shortly before the primaries, the Barbados Agreement between the government and the opposition surprisingly agreed on the period for the presidential elections and other related issues.

Regional elections in South Tyrol

People's Party loses - formation of government difficult

In South Tyrol, too, the days of absolute majorities are over: The South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP), the collective party of the German-speaking South Tyroleans, which has ruled continuously since 1948, suffered heavy losses in the regional elections on October 22, 2023: It lost more than 22,000 votes compared to the ballot five years ago, slumping from a previous 41.9 to 34.5 percent. In the future, it will have 13 deputies (two fewer than before) in the 35-seat provincial parliament in Bolzano. Against this background, the formation of a coalition, which must also include representatives of the Italian and Ladin language groups due to the principle of "ethnic proportional representation" enshrined in the autonomy statute, does not appear to be very easy.

Argentina has voted

Peronism is alive

Presidential and legislative elections were held in Argentina on October 22. Contrary to almost all predictions, incumbent Economy and Finance Minister Sergio Massa of the ruling Unión por la Patria alliance won the most votes with 36.68%, ahead of self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei (La Libertad Avanza) with 29, 98%, Patricia Bullrich (Juntos por el Cambio) with 23.83%, Juan Schiaretti (Hacemos por nuestro país) with 6.78% and Myriam Bregman (Frente de Izquierda y de Trabajadores - Unidad) with 2.7%. Thus, Sergio Massa and Javier Milei will face off in a runoff election on November 19. After finishing only in third place in the primary elections on August 13, the Peronist government alliance succeeded, against all expectations, in mobilizing the entire Peronist apparatus. Thus, the elections turned out similarly surprising and unpredictable as the August elections. Thus, everything remains open in the race for the presidency, but the majorities in the National Congress and the distribution of power in the provinces have already been determined (for the most part).

The Forgotten Element of Philippine Foreign Policy

Cultural Diplomacy through Music and Television

For the third issue of the Adenauer Young Researcher’s Report, former KAS Philippines intern Lara Estelle Filgueras shows the power of cultural diplomacy to help advance a country’s national interest.

A Just Transition?

Transforming Energy Systems in Africa

German development cooperation with African countries largely centres around the concept of a just (energy) transition towards low-carbon development of industry and infrastructure, as is prominently highlighted in the new Africa Strategy published by the Lead Federal Ministry. Even though creating jobs and boosting economic growth must be a key element of cooperation with Africa while at the same time taking into account environmental protection and biodiversity, it is questionable whether Germany’s approach of a “just transition” adequately does justice to African countries’ development priorities.

Editorial

“Billions to no avail?” – this question was used to headline an article published this year in the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung about Germany’s expenditure on develop­ment cooperation, which, the article states, is increasingly being questioned and criticised at home.

Interest-based Policy Rather than a Save-the-World Approach

Why German Development Cooperation with Africa Must Be Reconsidered

Germany’s interests in Africa are self-evident. They range from business and security to political partnership in the context of global systemic rivalry. But is Germany making use of all its options to preserve its interests on the neighbouring continent? The answer to this is: no! Particularly in view of the immense investments that Germany is making in the field of development cooperation, the question must be raised as to whether these investments could not be made in a much more targeted manner – to the benefit of the African partners, but also in our own interest.

Parliamentary elections in New Zealand

The Nationals "Back on Track"

New Zealand has held general elections on 14 October. The National Party led by Christopher Luxon seems to have achieved the most votes. Pending the counting of the “special votes”, they will form New Zealand’s next government.