On the EDP wire, we post and discuss a range of issues that emanate from our research and that are important to us. Here you will find – in English or German – opinion pieces, book reviews, conference reports, and important announcements. Are you interested in becoming a guest contributor? Get in contact with us!

Most Recent EDP WIRE Posts

September 6, 2022 | EDP Wire | Pascal Abb, Hanna Pfeifer, Jonas Wolff

Together Against Evil Autocracies? On The Pitfalls Of Basing Germany’s Security Strategy On Democratic Alliance-Building

Owing to China’s rise and the increasingly assertive behaviour of authoritarian states, the theme of a new “systemic competition” has become prominent in German foreign policy discourse. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has further boosted the idea that the world’s democracies must join forces in the face of menacing autocracies. Jonas Wolff, Pascal Abb, and Hanna Pfeifer analyze the pitfalls of such a dichotomy.

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August 6, 2022 | EDP Wire | Jonas Wolff, Pascal Abb, Hanna Pfeifer

Gemeinsam gegen die bösen Autokratien? Zu den Fallstricken demokratischer Allianzbildung als Pfeiler einer zukünftigen deutschen Sicherheitsstrategie

In Reaktion auf das zunehmend selbstbewusste Auftreten autoritär verfasster Staaten hat sich auch im deutschen außenpolitischen Diskurs das Bild eines neuen „Systemwettbewerbs“ verfestigt. Die Vorstellung, dass sich die Demokratien dieser Welt im Angesicht bedrohlicher Autokratien zusammenschließen müssen, hat durch den russischen Angriffskrieg auf die Ukraine weiter Nahrung erhalten. Jonas Wolff, Pascal Abb und Hanna Pfeifer analysieren die Problematik einer solchen Dichotomie.

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May 11, 2022 | EDP Wire | Benjamin Schütze

Why “Democracy Promotion” should play no role in a values-based German foreign policy in the MENA region

Despite considerable efforts and financial investments in the MENA region by Germany and other European states, as well as high support for democracy in Arab states, political systems in the MENA region remain authoritarian. Benjamin Schuetze discusses the connection of these phenomena and suggests how meaningful German support in the MENA region could look like.

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March 26, 2022 | EDP Wire | Jonas Wolff

German Democracy Promotion: Change of Course under the Traffic Light Coalition?

A few months after the so-called traffic light coalition has taken office, Jonas Wolff discusses the apparent reorientation of German international democracy promotion by presenting different approaches to democracy promotion and comparing the previous developmental approach to the new political approach, as outlined in the coalition agreement.

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January 24, 2022 | EDP Wire | Julia Leininger, Daniel Nowack

Protecting Democracy: The Relevance of International Democracy Promotion for Term Limits

The question of whether and how democracy can be promoted and protected through international support has recently gained relevance. On the one hand, the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan has reignited a public debate on the limits of democracy promotion. On the other hand, the need for international democracy protection is growing due to an increase in autocratisation trends worldwide. DIE research shows that it is possible to effectively support and protect democracy.

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April 27, 2021 | EDP Wire | Rebecca Wagner, Mikhail Polianskii

Breaking the vicious circle: Can the new Moldovan president Sandu succeed in balancing relations with the EU and Russia?

For the first time in its history, the Republic of Moldova has voted for an openly pro-Western president. De­spite facing domestic and international difficulties, the newly elected Moldovan head of state Maia Sandu could manage to solve dire economic problems at home, while securing the support of both Russia and the European Union. This could have longstanding consequences for both the country itself and for all the other states of the common EU-Russian neighborhood.

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