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Chris Troch, Dreamstime, Imago

Trade with Africa

New Old Dependencies?

It is often said that African countries cannot develop economically because they are still trapped in “neo-colonial” dependencies on Western states. But do the facts support that claim?

Anja Berretta
July 22, 2025
International Reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

Japan: A resounding defeat for the government

For the first time in twelve years, the ruling coalition of LDP and Kōmeitō has lost its majority in Japan's Upper House

Japan is entering a phase of political uncertainty: following a clear defeat in the 2024 Lower House elections, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Kōmeitō has now also lost its majority in the Upper House. Rising living costs, an escalating trade conflict with the United States, and an increasingly polarized debate over immigration shaped the election campaign.

Paul Linnarz, Johanna Bieger
July 21, 2025
Country reports

Strategic Communication Dialogue Program, Berlin 2025

Strengthening Strategic Resilience through Regional Cooperation

An exchange of expertise between Eastern European and German experts focused on strategic communication, information resilience, and countering hybrid threats.

July 21, 2025
Single title
IMAGO / ITAR-TASS

Foiled Coup in Armenia? Conflict with Church Leadership Escalates

Yerevan reports the thwarting of a violent coup with Moscow's fingerprints

On the afternoon of June 27, 2025, dramatic scenes unfolded in Etchmiadzin, the seat of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located 20 km west of Yerevan. Special police units moved in to detain Mikael Ajapahyan. The archbishop, along with other church leaders, had openly opposed the government, but hundreds of people—including clergy and ordinary citizens—blocked the path until the uniformed officers withdrew. When the wanted man voluntarily turned himself in to the authorities later that evening, asserting his innocence, he became just one of fifteen high-profile arrests within a matter of days. Nikol Pashinyan’s government claims to have thwarted a violent coup attempt. Critics, however, accuse it of launching a politically motivated campaign against the Armenian Church and the opposition, and of betraying the country to its archrivals, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Societal divisions appear more entrenched than they have been in decades. One year ahead of the pivotal parliamentary elections in the summer of 2026, the current escalation is unfolding against the backdrop of an increasingly polarized debate over the country’s direction, as Armenia stands at a historic crossroads in its foreign policy.

Jakob Wöllenstein
July 18, 2025
Country reports

Lesson and A New Direction from the 2025 PAO Elections

Thailand's Local Administration and Decentralisation

Although the elections for Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) Presidents and Councillors across the country took place last February, they were accompanied by observations and debates on various issues, such as holding the election on a Saturday, ensuring citizens had adequate access to vote, the campaign strategies as a power test between opposition and government parties, and the level of public participation—particularly among youth and the younger generation.

July 17, 2025
Single title

Polarisierung und Antisystem in der Slowakei

Neue Publikation des DEKK Instituts, 2025

Misstrauen gegenüber dem System und Polarisierung sind bis zu einem gewissen Grad gesunde Tendenzen, aber wenn sie ein bestimmtes Maß überschreiten, hat das Land ein Stabilitätsproblem und steht möglicherweise vor radikalen Veränderungen. Die Slowakei hat damit gute Erfahrungen gemacht und ein Großteil der Bevölkerung erinnert sich noch lebhaft daran - das Land erlebte 1989 einen radikalen Systemwandel. Das Ziel der Autoren ist es nicht, Menschen zu stigmatisieren, die dem System nicht vertrauen. Die Autoren sehen das Anwachsen von Polarisierung und Systemfeindlichkeit als Symptom für reale oder wahrgenommene Probleme des Systems, die untersucht und angegangen werden müssen. Mit diesem Ziel, und keinem anderen, wurde diese Studie erstellt.

Pavol Kosnáč, Hugo Gloss
July 17, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

Bulgaria and the Euro

The most important steps ahead of the 2026 introduction

Bulgaria continues to prepare intensively for adopting the euro. On July 8, the European Parliament and ECOFIN—the Council for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Council of the European Union, composed of the finance and economic ministers of the EU member states—gave their final approval for the country to join the eurozone starting January 1, 2026. First, the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted in favour of Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone by a large majority. ECOFIN then unanimously adopted all the necessary decisions in Brussels. This was the last hurdle for the country to overcome, making the introduction of the euro irrevocable. Bulgaria meets all EU convergence criteria ("Maastricht criteria"), its euro adoption is not based on any political compromise.

Norbert Beckmann-Dierkes, Borislaw Wankow
July 16, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Bestimage

Keir Starmer's first year

First-year political record and German-British friendship treaty

One year after taking office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer surprises with a foreign policy record that even sceptics acknowledge. He has succeeded in repositioning the UK as a global and European player - with initiatives to support Ukraine, to build and expand European defense capabilities and through international trade agreements. One of his most important successes is undoubtedly the rapprochement with Europe. At the beginning of his term of office, Starmer announced a “Brexit reset” in order to advance cooperation with European partners. Relations with Germany in particular are a high priority. During the first official visit by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on July 17, a comprehensive bilateral agreement will be signed with Germany - the most far-reaching agreement that the UK has ever concluded with a single European country. Starmer himself speaks of a “generational treaty”. Domestically, however, the balance sheet is mixed. The Prime Minister is under pressure - from his own party, from an increasingly dissatisfied electorate, and from the opposition. The right-wing populists from Reform UK are a particular concern. His government policy sometimes seems contradictory: pragmatic in its implementation but often lacking a discernible guiding principle. Since taking office, Starmer has shown considerable ideological flexibility - a course that is causing friction within the party. Even before the election, he had already led Labour towards the political center; in many areas, his government is now following the agenda of its Conservative predecessors. This change of course is particularly evident in migration policy, but is also reflected in other areas: deregulation of environmental protection in some areas, cuts to the welfare state and a significantly increased defense budget at the expense of international development cooperation. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Starmer government, one might provocatively ask whether Labor are the better conservatives.

Dr. Canan Atilgan, Sebastian Schnorrenberg, Marcus Leal
July 16, 2025
Country reports

The Dynamics between Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Returnees in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

by Carlos Naffah and Rasha Akel

In this report, Carlos Naffah and Rasha Akel explore the social and economic dynamics between Syrian refugees and Lebanese returnees in Beirut’s southern suburb of Ghobairy following the 2023 conflict. Based on interviews with refugees, returnees, local leaders, NGOs, and business owners, the report highlights key tensions over housing, jobs, and aid, while also noting instances of cooperation and shared hardship. The authors emphasize that both communities face overlapping vulnerabilities amid Lebanon’s economic crisis, calling for inclusive policies to support sustainable recovery and reduce tensions.

July 16, 2025
Single title

Dynamiques migratoires dans la région Maghreb-Sahel

Notes d’information : Dynamiques migratoires dans la région Maghreb-Sahel : Evolution, Défis émergents et réponses régionales *** Etude realisée par BEATRIZ MESA

Ce document analyse, d'une part, la manière dont ces pays abordent la question de la migration par le biais de politiques complexes et parfois ambiguës, l'influence des cadres internationaux et la pression croissante exercée par l'Union européenne (UE) pour freiner les flux migratoires vers le nord. D'autre part, elle met en lumière la mobilité au Sahel, une région qui connaît une forte instabilité en raison de conflits armés, d'insurrections et d'une recrudescence des activités des groupes extrémistes...

July 16, 2025
Single title

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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.  

International Reports

Journal for international issues, foreign policy and development cooperation

International Reports (IR) is the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's periodical on international politics. It offers political analyses by our experts in Berlin and from more than 100 offices across all regions of the world. Contributions by named authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial team.

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.

Interviews

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

kurzum

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

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.

Event Reports

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.