The Jordanian Paradox

Participation and control

Jordan wants to enable more political participation and strengthen parliamentarism. The legal course has been set. At the same time, the scope for critical expression of opinion is narrowing, most recently as a result of a new law to combat cybercrime. But the country's modernization can only succeed if the state has confidence in its citizens.

Where angels would have feared to tread: Reformists, Revisionists and the 2023 BRICS Summit

Author: Professor van der Westhuizen, Stellenbosch University

What is BRICS for? Is it a bulwark against US-China polarization or a mechanism to counter a "Western hegemonic bloc"? Professor van der Westhuizen unpacks how this questions was navigated at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in August 2023.

Podzieleni Polacy, sceptyczni Niemcy

Barometr Polska Niemcy 2023 - część II

Tegoroczne badanie w ramach projektu Barometr Polska-Niemcy pokazuje, że w 2023 roku po raz kolejny pogorszyły się polskie oceny stosunków dwustronnych, a wizerunek Niemiec w Polsce jest coraz bardziej ambiwalentny i zależny od orientacji politycznej badanych. Pomimo tego, polskie opinie na temat Niemiec nadal są bardziej pozytywne niż obraz Polski w Niemczech.

Segundo encuentro del ciclo “La experiencia política de la Unidad Popular. 1970-1973”

En Puerto Montt participaron de este diálogo Joaquín Fermandois, presidente de la Academia Chilena de la Historia y del Instituto de Chile; y Sol Serrano, Premio Nacional de Historia.

Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean: Challenges of Climate Change and Key Opportunities

3rd article of KAS-REMENA Publication Series “Climate Change Mitigation in the Eastern Mediterranean”

Dr. Agis Digkas analyzes Greece's climate change challenges and prospects, highlighting the necessity of strategic adaptation in vital sectors like tourism, agriculture, and energy to foster collaboration, innovation, and growth in the face of ecological and societal impacts.

BRICS is growing

Ethiopia’s new relevance in geopolitics and trade

The BRICS community of states will be history from 1 January 2024 and will receive a new acronym through the admission of six new member states. Ethiopia will also join the BRICS next year and has high hopes for its membership. But what does this mean for the fundamental positioning of Africa's most populous country after Nigeria in world politics?

Conflict Weekly #189, 17 August 2023, Vol. 4, No. 33

An initiative by NIAS-IPRI and the India Office of KAS

Political Violence in Ecuador, Wildfires in Hawaii and Two Years of Taliban Rule

Conservation of Oasis Ecosystems in the MENA Region under Water Stress

Report

This report addresses the conservation challenges faced by oasis ecosystems in the MENA region due to climate change and unsustainable practices, based on discussions from a regional dialogue program in June 2023, offering recommendations for policymakers to enhance conservation efforts and regional cooperation.

Government work involving right-wing nationalist parties

Current experiences from Sweden and Finland

Since the fall of 2022, Sweden has had a conservative minority government made up of the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals, supported by the right-wing nationalist "Sweden Democrats" (SD) via a cooperation agreement, the so-called "Tidöavtalet." While cooperation on issues such as fighting crime, expanding nuclear power, as well as in economic and budgetary matters seems to be working, the SD's rhetoric on the EU, migration and Islam has become increasingly strident in recent weeks. Although the Sweden Democrats have officially endorsed Sweden’s membership in NATO in the wake of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the party’s action about Koran burnings has complicated the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership by Turkey and contributed to the destabilization of Sweden’s domestic security situation.

Since June 2023, Finland has also had a conservative government, which – unlike in Sweden - brought the right-wing nationalist Perussuomalaiset (PS) into government as a coalition partner with a portfolio covering 8 ministries. Within just a few days of the formation of the government, however, cracks began to show - the PS's economy minister was forced to resign over ties to neo-Nazi circles, and two other PS ministers had to publicly apologize for making racist comments. The finance minister and PS party leader is also under pressure after a violent, xenophobic blog post she had written surfaced. Leader of the conservative National Coalition Party and Prime Minister Orpo has now invited the leaders of the governing parties to an internal debate about racism and discrimination immediately following the summer break. As a result, there is a high degree of confidence that the work of the government can progress. This process was important for the continued viability of the coalition, as the increasing number of scandals surrounding right-wing PS politicians, or their statements put the three other coalition members under immense political pressure.

"Change and the future" - Hope has triumphed

Presidential elections in Guatemala: result clear-impact open

After the surprising outcome of the 1st round of presidential elections on June 20, 2023, Guatemalan democracy came under intense pressure in the weeks that followed. The fact that the runoff election with the two top finishers in the 1st round could now actually take place shows that basic democratic structures are still in place and capable of acting. The election results are clear: based on 99.59% of the votes counted, Bernardo Arévalo won 58.14% for the SEMILLLA party against 37.10% for Sandra Torres of the UNE party. This result is a sensation and would have been considered impossible weeks ago. However, the stress test for Guatemala's political system may not yet be over.