ASEAN Security Connectivity: Inaugural Workshop

"Defining Problem and Project"

“Due to the animosity of the past, regional integration is still at a stage of confidence building. This does not mean that ASEAN should remain stuck with process. On the contrary, tangible cooperation on the ground can and must be part of further confidence building. Limited security as well as societal cooperation within existing mechanisms is most appropriate to advance trust building and transparency, and ultimately regional integration.”

Hacked Elections

The importance of cybersecurity for democratic processes

With increasing connectivity through the digital transformation, democracies are operating in a complex cyber and information environment. Elections as well as public information flows can be subject to manipulation. The concern that voting machines can be hacked or that voter registration databases can be tampered has been around for years but after the latest elections in the U.S. and in France we must state that cyberattacks also play a major role in political influencing.

Digitalization Likely to Reshape the Cooperation between Asia and Europe

19th Asia-Europe Think Tank Dialogue in Myanmar

Is digitalization still the purely positive force it was long perceived as? In light of recent developments, this rather romanticizing concept has to be critically examined. Digitalization is already and will continue to impact key elements of politics and society. Developments in the digital space will increase the connectivity – with both positive and negative consequences. Since connectivity is the main theme of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the question of digitalization was at the heart of this year’s 19th Asia-Europe Think Tank Dialogue on 15 and 16 November 2017 in Yangon / Myanmar.

The World in 2030: Women, Development and Policy

AWPC Expert Meetings 2017

“Changing norms should be at the top of the 2030 Agenda. We all have a role to play in challenging these adverse social norms and reshaping stereotypes.” This was the conclusion from The UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Women´s Economic Empowerment, and one that was also reaffirmed during the Asian Women Parliamentarian Caucus (AWPC) meetings that took place in Singapore.

Germany has decided - What´s next?

Five weeks ago, Germany has decided. The CDU stayed the strongest party. But on 24 September 2017, the people´s parties had convinced less voters than expected, whereas the so called “race for the third place” was won by the AfD, a euro critical and right wing populist party, which has not even been in existence five years ago. It had gained more votes than the liberals, the greens and the leftist party, who all still made it into parliament.

7th NATO-Asia/Pacific Dialogue underlines benefits of regular exchange

"In today's world partnership is a necessity, not a luxury", this statement made by The Honorable Rose E. Gottemoeller, Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) at a roundtable discussion of the 7th NATO-Asia/Pacific Dialogue underlines the spirit of this year’s dialogue in Brussels. Over the course of two days, the high-ranking Asian delegation had bilateral briefings at the NATO Headquarters and engaged in a closed-door dialogue addressing questions of great power politics, projecting stability, cyber security, and NATO's perception in Asia-Pacific.

Final Workshop of the 7th Batch of the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians (KASYP) in Germany

Modern Election Campaigning in Times of Populism

“Even in the digital age, door-to-door campaigning and local canvassing remain as important as ever – perhaps more than ever.” Those remarks by Connect 17 representatives, a CDU election campaign project, were among the most important take-aways for the 7th batch of the Konrad-Adenauer-School of Politicians (KASYP) during their final workshop in Germany, bringing home the still important personal engagement and localism of national politics.

ASEAN Roundtable 2017

“ASEAN at 50: Charting the Future Together”

On October 2, KAS Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia’s long term partner, the ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute in Singapore, hosted this year’s ASEAN Roundtable. In the year 2017, the event was of course all about the ASEAN jubilee.

Election-Bridge Asia im deutschen Bundestagswahlkampf

37 Prozent - so lautete das Ergebnis der CDU bei der Bundestagswahl im internen Tippspiel einer Gruppe von asiatischen Kampagnen-Experten, welche die letzten Tage des Wahlkampfs auf Einladung der KAS in Hamburg und Berlin beobachteten.

Second Training Workshop for KASYP Batch 2017-2018

On Local Governance and Development

To think about sustainable development and good governance, it is paramount to highlight the initiatives of local institutions and politics. This was why the 8th KASYP Batch met in Penang from 23rd to 26th August to discuss further.