Other such issues are the crisis of party democracy, the media and democracy, as well as numerous fundamental questions surrounding the relationship between politics and science. All of these are part of the foundation's activities. A further focus of our work are programmes that tackle far-right extremism and racism.
- After 1989 in Eastern and Southeastern Europe and the Caucasus, two aspects played and still play a key role in determining whether a political system exhibits merely a democratic façade or a truly democratic constitution: civil society and political culture, on the one hand, and the influence of ethnic conflicts, on the other. This publication illuminates the successes and failures, the instruments and institutions, and the concepts behind two decades of external democracy promotion. more»
Actors without Society - The Role of Civil Actors in the Postcommunist Transformation – - Twenty years after the epoch-making change in 1989, which affected the post-Yugoslavian space in a way entirely different from other former “real-socialist” European countries, this study is an effort toward an analytical view on the past two decades of development of civil society in the western Balkans. The study shows: Without civic engagement, there will be no changes. more»
Afghanistan – - This first issue of the publication series on “Promoting Democracy under Conditions of State Fragility” examines critically the current political and social situation in Afghanistan, as well as the project activities of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in the country. more»
International Assistance and Governance in Afghanistan – - Afghanistan in 2006 faced an acute crisis, which can only be solved by a long-term commitment to improved governance. An assistance framework presents opportunities, but requires further elaboration. more»
The Federal Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010 – - In May, President Obama submitted to Congress the full details of his first budget request, for Fiscal Year 2010. The President’s first annual budget demonstrates that the Obama administration does take seriously the role of the U.S. in supporting democracy, governance, and human rights in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA). more»
- Politics can only succeed when it is inclusive of all genders. Gender justice is an ambitious goal, one that the Heinrich Böll Foundation is pursuing together with many different allies worldwide. This publication gives an overview of their work. more»
Roadmap to 1325 – - The UN resolution 1325 It could be a milestone for gender-equitable security policy. This volume contributes to filling the gap in knowledge about approaches both to gender-sensitive peace and security policy. Edited by the Gunda-Werner-Institut. more»
Pakistan: “The Gender Discourse Needs to Be Linked to Local Realities” – - Recently, the power of the Taliban in connection with the attitude of the society was widely discussed, but once again gender and women issues were not highlighted. Durre Ahmed, chairperson and senior research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Gender and Culture in Lahore, about the current situation and development of the gender discourse in Pakistan. more»
Bringing Gender Equality to Adaptation Financing I: Special Climate Change Fund – - This brief provides an analysis of the status of gender considerations at the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), an adaptation financing instrument under the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It gives some recommendations for incorporating gender equality in SCCF funded projects in order to improve their adaptation outcomes. more»
Open Letter of Afghan Women to the Parlamentarians of Germany – - A group of Afghan women activists from politics, media and civil society in Afghanistan met in the office of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation in Kabul. Now they adress an open letter to the Members of Parliament. more»
- She was one of the best known personalities of the 1980s - an icon of the global peace movements and a pioneer for ecology and human rights. Extracts from original texts, six essays on her life and work and many photographs trace the most important stations in Petra Kelly's life. more»
Actors without Society - The Role of Civil Actors in the Postcommunist Transformation – - Twenty years after the epoch-making change in 1989, which affected the post-Yugoslavian space in a way entirely different from other former “real-socialist” European countries, this study is an effort toward an analytical view on the past two decades of development of civil society in the western Balkans. The study shows: Without civic engagement, there will be no changes. more»
1989–2009 Years Of Upheaval: Beginning Of Inclusion Or Exclusion? – - On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Bosnia-Herzegovina organized an international conference "1989-2009 Years of Upheaval: Beginning of Inclusion or Exclusion?". It dealt with the transition process from an authoritarian to a democratic state model, with the changes in society and politics. more»
Twenty Years After - Post-communist Countries and European Integration – - In the words of the Polish journalist and dissident, Adam Michnik, 1989 was Europe's annus mirabilis. The peaceful revolution of that year was a miracle effected by the people in central and eastern Europe. more»
Instant History: The Berlin Wall Falls Again (and Again…) – - "Oh I think it is a great day for freedom … you can see the joy on people’s faces and you see what freedom means to them, it makes you realise that you can’t stifle or suppress people’s desire for liberty." (Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister) A article by more»
- Those who think that the events in the wake of Iran's 2009 presidential election will lead to radical change will be disappointed. The movement that led to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 was powerful and had a clear focus; today's protests are heterogenous and lack leadership. more»
- To the surprise of many opinion pollsters and political commentators it became clear late in the evening of 7 June 2009 that the real winners in the European elections were the Greens. They were the only political group in the European Parliament that had managed to increase their number of seats. Few would have forecast this even a few days before. The European Union office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has invited eleven new Green Members of the European Parliament from five different countries to write about their ambitions for Europe. What are the goals of the new Greens and how do they want to achieve them? more»
Hungarian Elections: New Green Party Achieves Unexpected Success, But so Does The Radical Right – - The international relations coordinator of the new Hungarian Greens analyzes the countries results of the European Party Elections. The radical right Jobbik has risen, while the left is in disarray. The new green party surprisingly also won a seat. more»
- The particular danger of islamophobia is its potential to forge a broad alliance of otherwise opposed political forces: Muslims serve as the embodiment of the ultimate enemy for conservatives striving for Western hegemony – and for progressives standing up for freedom of expression, rationality, human rights, and the rights of women. more»
