Publications

Two years of war – where is Israel headed?

Israel two years after the Hamas attack

October 7, 2025 marks the second anniversary of Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel – the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust and a turning point in the history of the state. The attack led to the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel's longest war since its founding. Forty-eight hostages are still in the hands of Hamas, including seven Germans; around 20 of them are believed to still be alive. The fate of the hostages is emblematic of a society that, two years after the attack, has still not found a way back to normality. What impact has war and uncertainty left on Israel's politics, economy, and society?

Building a Sustainable Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline

Security Blueprint no. 4

In the fourth issue of Security Blueprint, Dr. Sven Herpig, an expert on cybersecurity policy, explores the potential of German-Philippine Defense Cooperation.

Czechia before the Election

Stability or Change of Course? Foreign Policy Orientation under Scrutiny

On 3–4 October 2025, Czechia will elect a new Chamber of Deputies. The political landscape is polarized, the security and budgetary challenges are considerable, and populist as well as extremist forces are gaining influence. Yet the country now more than ever needs responsibility and a clear anchoring in Europe.

Alternative Policy Options for Uganda's Approach to Human Rights

Youth4Policy in Human Rights

Alternative Policy Options for Uganda's Approach to Human Rights is a collection of policy alternatives by fellows from the concluded Youth4Policy in Human Rights Fellowship. These young professionals have delved into several areas of human rights and political representation, offering fresh perspectives. Their contributions are a response to the pressing human rights issues of our time, from the representation of the most vulnerable communities to the digital sphere. The Youth4Policy Fellowship is a vital component of the concluding Human Rights Our Concern! Project, a laudable initiative co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project aims at strengthening evidence-based advocacy for the protection and promotion of Human rights and freedoms in Uganda.

Change of Government in Thailand

New Elections in Spring

Thailand has a new government – at least an interim one: On September 5th, 2025, the Thai parliament elected Anutin Charnvirakul from the conservative Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) as the new Prime Minister. The new cabinet was appointed on September 19. Charnvirakul succeeds Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP), who – like her predecessor Stretta Thavisin – was removed from office by Thailand’s Constitutional Court after only one year in power. This makes him the third head of government since the last regular parliamentary elections in May 2023. The next change is already on the horizon: His election was tied to the condition that new elections and a referendum on constitutional reform must be initiated within four months. That means the clock is ticking until January 2026. What are the reasons behind these events? How will they affect the future government and the Thai party landscape? And most importantly: What’s next for this Southeast Asian country marked by political instability and uncertainty?

Department of War: Change of Name, Change of Mission?

The Trump Administration's Defense Strategy

This fall, the Trump administration is expected to release its National Defense Strategy. While few details have been disclosed, a strong indicator of its direction is the recent 200th executive order, which renames the Department of Defense to Department of War.

Editorial of the issue „Development Cooperation – Global Trends and Lessons for Germany"

Global power shifts require a clear course for a more strategic European development policy.

EU Project: “Strengthening of Independent Belarusian Social, Political and Economic Research”

From November 2024 the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) started to lead the EU-funded initiative supporting the Belarusian research sector in the social, political, and economic fields. This project is realized by five Belarusian Think tanks and responds to the difficult circumstances the sector faces following the 2020 crackdown and the ongoing political crisis in Belarus.

Will AI Pass the Bar? Mapping the Use of AI in the Judiciary in Singapore, India, and Taiwan

The comparative report maps the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Judiciary with insights from three jurisdictions; Singapore, India, and Taiwan.

The report highlights approaches to AI in the judiciary across Asia, profiling Singapore’s governance-first and human-centric strategy, India’s use of AI to reduce backlogs and bridge linguistic divides, and Taiwan’s careful balance between innovation, constitutional safeguards, and public trust. It is authored by Nydia Remolina, Jameela Sahiba, and Kuan-wei Chen, edited by Stefan Samse and Archana Atmakuri with an introduction by Mark Findlay, and designed by Justice Adda.

Meinungsaustausch

Dr. Horst Stüer (zweiter v.r.n.l.), Präsident der DBIHK, weilte am 25. September im Büro zu einem Meinungsaustausch mit dem Team der KAS Sofia.