The public debates, reflect the Institute’s political and practical interests, i.e., to discuss openly the self-understanding of the society we are living in. Many of these debates are conceived as long-term series.
Debates
October 2016
10
Oct
2016
Oct
2016
Poland, Ukraine, Russia: Difficult Past, Uncertain Future
In December 2015 Adam D. Rotfeld resigned as co-chairman of the Polish-Russian Group on Difficult Matters, a position which he held for 8 years. What were the achievements and the failures of the Group? Is there a return to an open discussion between Poland and Russia about their difficult past and uncertain future? Can and should …
Read more
Read more
June 2016
07
Jun
2016
Jun
2016
Is Europe Taking a Right Turn?
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis Europe seemed to be moving to the left. The old continent was marked by anti-austerity protests with inequality in the center of the political debate. Syriza and Podemos captured the imagination of the young far beyond Greece and Spain. But then came the refugee »crisis« and Europe …
Read more
Read more
May 2016
31
May
2016
May
2016
Against Silence: Freedom of Expression in Europe
Freedom of expression is under siege all over the world today. New democracies in eastern and central Europe, which only three decades ago waged a struggle against the totalitarian policing of thought are today attacking freedom of speech and of media. But oppressive governments are not the only ones keen to keep us silent. Censorship …
Read more
Read more
April 2016
18
Apr
2016
Apr
2016
Energiewende – warum und für wen?
Die Energiewende darf nicht auf die Abkehr von fossiler Energie und den dafür notwendigen Technologien hin zu einem anderen Energiesystem reduziert werden. Sie erfordert mehr als technologische Innovation und neue Finanzierungsformen. Es geht um soziale Innovation und eine grundlegende Neuorientierung: Geht es bei der Klimakrise vorwiegend um die Frage nach „Energie“? Oder geht es vielleicht doch eher um die Frage, wie wir zu …
Read more
Read more
18
Apr
2016
Apr
2016
Global Responsibility: Europe, the US and the Refugee Crisis
Madeleine Albright was born in 1937 in Prague. As a child, she moved with her family to the United States. After studying at Wellesley College and Columbia University, Albright entered politics at the urging of a former professor. In 1993, Albright became the American ambassador to the United Nations, and three years later she …
Read more
Read more
March 2016
13
Mar
2016
Mar
2016
Flüchtlinge in Europa: Wie schaffen wir das?
Auch im Jahr 2016 hat die Europäische Union noch immer keine überzeugende Antwort auf die Herausforderungen gefunden, die die Ankunft und die Integration von hunderttausenden Flüchtlingen stellen. Wie könnte eine gesamteuropäische Flüchtlingspolitik aussehen, und was steht ihrer Realisierung entgegen? Werden 1,2 Mio. Flüchtlinge eine Gesellschaft von 500 Mio. Menschen in der EU verändern? Es diskutierten: …
Read more
Read more
08
Mar
2016
Mar
2016
The Backlash Against Women’s Rights
“Two decades after the adoption of a landmark global agreement on gender equality, a vicious backlash is threatening to strip women and girls of their rights”, said Amnesty International ahead of a major UN meeting in New York. Women throughout the world continue to face discrimination, are denied equal access to participation in public and …
Read more
Read more
February 2016
22
Feb
2016
Feb
2016
Beyond the ‘Refugee Crisis’
The current mass influx in Europe of people fleeing violence and poverty is framed in public discourses in terms of ‘crisis’, with the figure of the ‘migrant other’ portrayed as a challenge to Europe’s security, identity and values. This narrative tends to obscure the longer social, political and economic dynamics that have led to such …
Read more
Read more
14
Feb
2016
Feb
2016
Zukunft der Demokratien
Die politische Beteiligung an Wahlen ist seit Jahren rückläufig, das System der repräsentativen Demokratie wird dadurch unterhöhlt. In Europa entstehen autoritärere Strukturen, aber auch neue Protestkulturen: von Syriza über Podemos bis zu Pegida. Nach Ansicht des Politologen Colin Crouch sind wir bereits im Zeitalter der Postdemokratie, dazu tragen auch soziale Medien bei. Über die …
Read more
Read more
January 2016
19
Jan
2016
Jan
2016
New Russian Nationalism
Throughout his time in power, Putin has been committed to (re-)inventing a Russian national idea. In the end, he opted for the worst possible version – revival of imperial glory. It proved to be the easiest method of securing his power, as imperial sentiments are still widespread. As a result, Russian society is now seen …
Read more
Read more
17
Jan
2016
Jan
2016
Wozu brauchen wir TTIP?
Seit mehr als zwei Jahren verhandeln EU und USA unter Ausschluss der Öffentlichkeit über ein transatlantisches Freihandelsabkommen (TTIP). Dieses soll – durch den Abbau von Handelshemmnissen und die Angleichung gesetzlicher Regelungen – die Wirtschaft auf beiden Seiten des Atlantiks ankurbeln und zusätzliche Arbeitsplätze schaffen. Kritiker befürchten jedoch, dass damit eine Erosion von Sozial-, Umwelt- und …
Read more
Read more
