Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation” - Security – Innovation – Democracy
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Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation”
Asset Publisher
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency
Morocco's Youth Before the 2026 Election
Between Lack of Political Participation and New Forms of Engagement
Elections will be held in Morocco in September 2026. The political activities are gradually geared towards the elections. Protests by young adults a year before the elections have once again increased the nervousness of the established parties. Frustration and a lack of development opportunities are repeatedly mentioned, although the country is facing positive economic development. But success seems to be insufficiently received by the young population. The result seems to be frustration and mistrust of parliamentary structures. By 31 December 2025, first-time voters must have registered on the electoral lists to participate in the elections. The four million first-time voters make up about 15 percent of the population eligible to vote and could thus become an important factor.
Steven Höfner, Matilda Giaccone, Ilias Bennoune
December 18, 2025
Country reports
Collected Essays on the Development of Subdistrict Administrative Organizations
Decentralization and Policy Recommendations from the academic forum
Subdistrict Administrative Organizations (SAOs) are key grassroots local governments improving rural quality of life in Thailand through public services, infrastructure, health, environmental management, and local economic development. As SAO executives and councils complete their terms and approach new elections in January 2026, this transition offers a timely opportunity to reassess their roles amid changing political, economic, and social conditions, especially regarding decentralisation, central–local relations, and citizen participation.
December 18, 2025
Single title
smarterpix / artofphoto
What are the issues affecting young people in Germany?
High expectations often clash with a disappointing reality – Life aspirations and dreams are overshadowed by crises and concerns about the future
The living conditions of young people are discussed on the basis of official statistics and surveys: in contrast to the baby boomer generation, young people today are confronted with a host of existential uncertainties. These range from the fragility of social advancement through education to rising youth delinquency, the victims of which are usually also young people.
Elisabeth Hoffmann
December 16, 2025
Single title
alphaspirit / smarterpix
Voting motives in the 2025 federal election
Results from representative surveys on reasons for voting and important influencing factors among voters
The results of the federal election merely reflect the actual voting decisions. What remains invisible, however, is the motivation behind voters' decisions to support certain parties. What were the decisive factors? Was it an easy decision for voters, or were there alternative parties? In which political camps did voters switch allegiances, and what factors played a decisive role in the election campaign? The answers are provided by the evaluation of representative data collected before the federal election campaign and after the federal election.
Dominik Hirndorf
December 4, 2025
Monitor
smarterpix / digitalgenetics
Better performance – Less static: Why Germany’s federal administration needs reform
More pooling of resources – fewer federal agencies – and a “Whole-of-Government” ap-proach
Germany’s federal administration employs over 500,000 people in 946 agencies – yet efficiency declines, costs soar, and trust erodes. Root cause: outdated ministerial structures and duplication of tasks. This paper advocates a paradigm shift: pooling HR, IT, and procurement in specialized agencies, consolidating oversight, and reducing redundant authorities. Guided by the coalition agreement and modernization agenda, the proposal champions a “Whole-of-Government” approach to break silos, accelerate decisions, and enable digital transformation – for more efficiency and effectiveness.
Gesprächskreis Staatsmodernisierung der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
December 1, 2025
Monitor
The 2025 Chiang Mai Mayoral Election
Case Studies on Candidates, Campaigning, and Changes in Thailand’s Local Elections and Decentralisation
One key aspect of political decentralisation in Thailand is through local elections. Municipal elections, particularly at the level of city municipalities, are significant and highly competitive. Chiang Mai Municipality holds historical significance as it was the first city municipality in Thailand, established in 1935. Regarding budget, the projected revenue for Chiang Mai Municipality from fiscal years 2023 to 2025 is 1.6 billion, 1.8 billion, and 1.9 billion Baht, respectively. When compared to the provincial budget, in fiscal year 2023, Lamphun Provincial Administrative Organisation had a total revenue of 394 million baht, which is approximately four times less than that of Chiang Mai Municipality (Lamphun Provincial Administrative Organisation, 2022). Given this budgetary significance of Chiang Mai Municipality and the involvement of national politics in local elections, this research implemented by research team at the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration of Chiang Mai University with the support of KAS seeks to examine candidate selection processes, election campaigns, political family influence in Chiang Mai, and voter decision-making factors in the 2025 Chiang Mai mayoral election. This study aims to contribute to the broader understanding of decentralisation in Thailand with Chiang Mai as a case study.
November 27, 2025
Single title
"Christian Democracy - The Third Way"
English Addendum to "Kristillisdemokratia – kolmas tie" (Eds. A. Lyytikäinen & T. Terä; 2025)
This addendum gives an overview and summary of the book Kristillisdemokratia – kolmas tie (2025). The book consists of an introductory chapter followed by three sections dealing with the history, principles, and role of Christian democracy in contemporary Europe, respectively.
Ms. Annika Lyytikäinen, Mr. Tommi Terä
November 21, 2025
Single title
IMAGO / Mike Schmidt
No Alternative: The AfD and Israel
Manifestations, functions, and perceptions of Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s “Israel solidarity” policy
Representatives of Jewish organisations describe the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a ‘party for anti-Semites’. Nevertheless, the AfD has succeeded, especially internationally, in positioning itself as a champion of Israeli interests and a protector of Jewish life in Germany. This positioning contradicts a number of other positions represented in the party and serves several political functions. These include, above all, the legitimization of Islamophobia, attacks on political opponents and the distraction from extremism and antisemitism within its own ranks.
Dr. Andreas Jacobs, Felix Bäuml
November 7, 2025
Facts and Findings
IMAGO / Xinhua
Change in Angola?
Between opening and keeping control
50 years after independence and 23 years after the end of a devastating civil war, Angola is faced with a double challenge. A rapidly growing young population is demanding substantial reforms with increasing impatience. Reforms that will improve political and economic ownership. At the same time, the country is at the center of the global competition for raw materials, trade routes and political partnerships.
Anna Hoffmann-Kwanga
November 5, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu
Presidential election in Ireland continues political tradition
Clear election victory for Catherine Connolly
Left-wing politician Catherine Connolly becomes the tenth president of the Republic of Ireland. In the 2025 Presidential Election, the independent Member of Parliament, whose candidacy was supported by a broad coalition of left-wing parties and movements, won a clear victory with 63.4 percent of the vote against Heather Humphreys, former minister and candidate of the liberal-conservative Fine Gael (FG/EPP) party. She received only 29.5 percent of the vote on a disappointing election day. Jim Gavin, candidate of the right-wing liberal party Fianna Fáil (FF/ALDE), who had already dropped out of the race as the third candidate several weeks before the election, received 7.2 percent of the vote. The high number of invalid votes was striking, having increased tenfold compared to the last Presidential Election, and can be seen as an expression of dissatisfaction with the electoral system and the two remaining candidates.
