Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation” - Security – Innovation – Democracy
Asset Publisher
Publications on the topic of “Democracy needs Participation”
Asset Publisher
CANVA Ai Image Generator / Elias Marini-Schäfer
End of Hindu nationalism or return of caste politics?
Lessons from the Indian parliamentary elections
In the wake of the Indian parliamentary elections, a number of German media outlets saw the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) loss of its parliamentary majority as a victory for democracy and a sign of the Indian population's resistance to Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalism. Headlines included slogans such as: "India decides against Hindu nationalism and authoritarian tendencies” and “Democracy won instead of Modi”. But did the voters really turn against the Hindutva ideology of the BJP? Has the BJP overplayed its Hindu nationalist card? This article attempts to find answers to these questions and explain why the general election result was much more than a vote against Hindutva and perceived authoritarian tendencies.
Elias Marini Schäfer
July 9, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Cover-Images
The start of a Labour era?
Dramatic defeat of the Tories in parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom
The Conservative Party under the previous Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was the big loser of the election. They lost 251 parliamentary seats, and with a vote share of 24.7%, they will only be represented by 121 seats in the British House of Commons in the future. On the winning side, a clear picture emerged: the Labour Party gained 211 seats and, with a vote share of 33.7%, will form the government with a total of 412 seats. Other winners included the Liberal Democrats, who, with 72 seats and 12.2%, achieved their best result in over 100 years. The right-wing populist Reform UK also made a statement with 14.3% of the vote, although they received only five mandates due to the British first-past-the-post system. The new government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces enormous challenges in domestic and foreign policy. The British Conservatives must first deal with a personnel and strategic party reboot in the opposition.
Matthias Barner, Lukas Wick
July 8, 2024
Country Reports
Adobe Stock/ Iryna/ Generiert mit KI
2nd round of elections in France
Republican Front halts shift to the right at the last second
The second round of voting in France ended with a surprise. The right-wing alliance of Rassemblement National (RN) and Les Républicains led by Eric Ciotti (LR) did not achieve an absolute or relative majority, as was expected based on the results of the first round of voting, but only came third. The electoral alliance New Popular Front (Nouveau Front Populaire) won over 180 seats. The second force in the National Assembly will be the presidential alliance of Ensemble. Although this electoral alliance led by Gabriel Attal lost almost 100 MPs, it managed to retain more than 160 MPs thanks to tactical voting by the so-called Republican Front. The Rassemblement National party, which was hoping for an absolute majority and the office of prime minister after the second round of voting, gained 50 seats but ended up with fewer than 150 MPs.
President Macron's surprise dissolution of parliament was intended to force a clear majority, but it did not work. No political party has an absolute majority. The next few days will be characterised by negotiations on the appointment of the prime minister and the distribution of key posts in the National Assembly. The euphoria over the less successful performance of the Rassemblement National could soon be followed by disillusionment and could bring unstable times to France
Anja Czymmeck, Nele Katharina Wissmann
July 8, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
Presidential Elections 2024 in Mauritania
A pillar of hope in the Sahel region
Presidential elections are due to be held in Mauritania on June 29, 2024. Despite general expecta-tions that the incumbent President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani will be re-elected, political tension remains, including for partners in Europe. This is because Mauritania has gained in importance for the EU in recent years in the Sahel region, which is experiencing coups. The European Union has concluded security and migration cooperation agreements with the only democratically elected government in the Sahel region. The desert state therefore plays an important role as a connecting country between the countries of the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa.
Steven Höfner, Denis Hoffmann
June 24, 2024
Country Reports
Adobe Stock / Elle Arden / Generiert mit KI
A qualitative analysis of the political mood in Germany
Disappointment, frustration and resignation
The political climate in autumn 2023 is characterized by profound uncertainty and dissatisfaction. This study paints a picture of the mood in German society. It analyzes the political climate, attitudes to key political issues, the image of the parties, voting motives, the role of the AfD and draws conclusions for the future. In particular, it examines the question of what this mood means for democracy in Germany and to what extent it is linked to the rise of the AfD.
Caroline Werkmann, Dr. Hans-Jürgen Frieß
June 21, 2024
Monitor Election and Social Research
KAS / Guiseppe Moro
Tagesspiegel gewinnt für seine „Interaktive Schulserie“ den Deutschen Lokaljournalistenpreis 2023
Redaktion verbindet Daten und Fakten mit den Erfahrungen der Betroffenen
Der „Oscar“ für Lokaljournalistinnen und -journalisten
June 10, 2024
Press Releases
Adobe Stock / Imagecreator / Generiert mit KI
More people, more power?
Why human capital counts when it comes to climbing the global power ladder
The size of a population has always played a major role in helping countries rise to the status of great powers. Now the populations of more and more countries around the world are shrinking and ageing. Does this herald a loss of power on the global stage, and does population growth go hand in hand with an increase in a country's importance? The analysis of economic, security policy and social factors in middle and great powers sheds light on the connections between demographic change, national strategies and the global power structure.
Natalie Klauser, Magdalena Jetschgo-Morcillo
June 3, 2024
Monitor
IMAGO / SNA
“Georgian Dream” turns into a nightmare
The Georgian government is rapidly turning away from the Euro-Atlantic course. But civil society and the opposition are not giving up.
“Foreign Agents Law”, “Offshore Law” and intensified cooperation with China - fundamental political changes are emerging in Georgia. The ruling party “Georgian Dream” has taken the West by surprise with its rapid autocratization. The overwhelmingly pro-European population has been taking to the streets on a historic scale for weeks to protest against these developments. However, the government remains unimpressed and continues the confrontation. The developments are not just about the much-cited “Foreign Agents Law”, but about larger geopolitical shifts in the region. The stakes are high for the West.
Matthias Hespe, Stephan Malerius
June 3, 2024
Country Reports
Nuevo podcast Panel Constitucional
En ocho capítulos, especialistas dialogan sobre el futuro constitucional de Chile y qué reformas requiere el país para fortalecer la democracia.
Este podcast es un nuevo trabajo conjunto de radio Cooperativa y la Fundación Konrad Adenauer.
May 15, 2024
Single title
Impact of AI on Local News Models
Will AI Unlock Growth or be an Existential Threat?
Artificial Intelligence is disrupting the Local News industry. This new report by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung USA and Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, is looking at the role AI can play in the way customers will consume news in the future. How are local media already using artificial intelligence in the newsroom and on the business side?
