Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation”

“The All-New Kazakhstan”: Reforming the Reform

Constitutional and Parliamentary Reforms in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is facing its second major reform package of this decade. Reactions have been mixed.

General Election in Nepal

How GenZ changes the country’s political landscape

Nepal’s early general election on March 5, 2026, marked one of the most significant shifts in the country’s political landscape since the adoption of the 2015 Constitution.[1] The election followed a period of intense political instability triggered by the youth-led GenZ protests of September 2025, which ultimately led to the resignation of the government of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.[2]

Congo-Brazzaville: Before the election remains after the election

The 2026 presidential elections in the Republic of Congo under the shadow of systemic competition

The Republic of Congo is exploiting the systemic competition between the EU, China and Russia to maximise its scope for action in terms of financing, infrastructure and security. While the EU remains a natural partner on environmental and transformation issues, deficits in the rule of law, accountability and electoral integrity limit the depth of cooperation. China is rapidly delivering large-scale infrastructure in exchange for resource commitments; Russia fills normative gaps with a discourse of sovereignty and non-interference and anchors energy and security policy agreements. No politically transformative results are to be expected from the 2026 presidential elections; rather, the strategic relevance lies in the continuation of an authoritarian-stabilised order that presents itself as a guarantor of peace and development. In this constellation, the focus for European actors is shifting from short-term election observation to medium- and long-term levers: green industrialisation, critical raw materials and logistics corridors, governance safeguards, youth-centred employment and a realistically calibrated mix of principledness and pragmatism.

Handbook on the 2025 Local Elections in the Republic of North Macedonia

Second updated edition

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje have prepared the second updated edition of the Handbook on the 2025 Local Elections in the Republic of North Macedonia.

The Hidden Costs of Exclusion: Gender Inequality in ASEAN Policymaking and Its Economic Implications

ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, yet persistent gender inequality continues to limit its economic potential. Women play a vital role in powering ASEAN’s economies, but they remain systematically underrepresented in leadership, policymaking, and high-value sectors. This report demonstrates that gender inequality is not only a matter of fairness but also a profound economic inefficiency, costing the region trillions in lost GDP and undermining sustainable development.

Thailand vor den Wahlen

Richtungswechsel oder Status Quo?

Am 8. Februar 2026 wird in Thailand eine neue Regierung gewählt, weniger als drei Jahre seit dem letzten regulären Urnengang. Notwendig wurden die vorgezogenen Neuwahlen durch die Amtsenthebung von Premierministerin Paetongtarn Shinawatra im August 2025, in deren Folge eine Minderheitsregierung unter Anutin Charnvirakul, dem dritten Premierminister seit 2023, geschäftsführend und befristet die Geschicke übernahm. Diese Zeit geht nun zu Ende – am 12. Dezember 2025 wurde das Parlament aufgelöst, im Januar der Wahltermin bekannt gegeben. Zudem findet am selben Tag ein Referendum zum Für und Wider einer Verfassungsreform statt, die über die grundsätzliche politische Architektur des Landes langfristig entscheidet. Was steht auf dem Spiel, welche Szenarien zeichnen sich ab und was bedeutet das für die Zukunft des Landes? Ein Überblick.

Mexico Outlook 2026

Mexico under stress: threat of US intervention, erosion of democracy and fragile security

ince the US military intervention in Venezuela, possible US operations in Mexico are no longer considered mere threats. Announcements from Washington are now also perceived in Mexico as a real political risk scenario, presenting President Sheinbaum with a foreign and domestic policy test. At the same time, the country is undergoing a period of profound institutional upheaval. Following the far-reaching weakening of constitutional structures in 2025, the announced electoral reform could also bring the legislature under the de facto control of the ruling party in 2026. If this plan is implemented, it would further substantially damage the already fragile democratic balance. At the same time, the security situation presents a mixed picture. While the number of registered homicides is declining, the number of disappearances continues to rise. At the same time, the population's sense of insecurity remains high.

Local elections in France in 2026

A barometer for the presidential elections

In March 2026, six years after the last election, local representatives will be re-elected in France. As the last nationwide direct elections before the 2027 presidential election, the parties attach particular importance to this vote, even though local election results traditionally only reflect national sentiment to a limited extent. However, given the unstable national political situation in which this year's local elections will take place, this trend could change. Since the dissolution of the National Assembly in 2024, political control at the state level has been weakened, parliamentary majorities remain unstable and confidence in national institutions is under great pressure. It therefore seems that the political significance of the local elections could have a greater impact at the national level this time or be influenced by it. Accordingly, the focus is shifting to the local authorities: in 2026, they will become key touchstones of political credibility, capacity to act and organisation.

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.

Poster, Online, Doorstep – Who was Reached by in the Bundestag Election Campaign 2025?

Representative survey on party advertisement in the general election campaign 2025: The perception of posters, flyers, social media ads, canvassing and other ways of campaigning

Parties put a lot of effort into presenting their issues and leaders during the election campaign. They use every means at their disposal: posters, flyers and information brochures, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, advertising on social media, street stands, and even personal contact at the doorstep. But what reaches the voters? Which form of election advertising do they remember? The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung conducted a representative survey on this question. The result in a nutshell: election advertising makes a difference.