All publications - Security – Innovation – Democracy
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IMAGO / Xinhua
Consensus amid Chaos
Korean Parliament passes pension reform
On 20 March 2025 the Korean National Assembly passed a pension reform. This historic decision, which was passed by both major parties despite fierce political debate, ushers in a new chapter for the pension system after 18 years. Despite ongoing challenges, the course for solutions in the face of serious demographic developments is set. Above all, it provides a striking contrast to the enormous polarization that otherwise characterizes Korean politics and has led to the current crisis.
Thomas Yoshimura, Yu-Jin Song
March 25, 2025
Country reports
Nipu / Adobe Stock
Perspective Trump 2.0
A New Era of Transatlantic Relations
Trump's current second term in office is fundamentally reshaping transatlantic relations. This anthology examines the geopolitical, economic, and security implications for Europe and Germany. It focuses on the realignment of U.S. foreign policy, the increased emphasis on the Indo-Pacific, and the consequences for trade, defense, and technology. What challenges arise, and how should Germany respond?
Dr. Peter Fischer-Bollin, Caroline Kanter, Evelyn Gaiser, Ferdinand Alexander Gehringer
March 21, 2025
Single title
Voter Fluidity in the 2024 National Elections
Prof Carin Runciman and Prof Marcel Paret
The report focuses on two key dynamics that were influential in the 2024 elections, voter fluidity and voter abstention. The report provides a brief methodological note and examines voter trajectories and voter abstention.
March 20, 2025
Single title
A Front Line with Jihadism Drawn in the Sand of the Sahel
Jihadist expansion in northern Benin and Togo threatens stability, as armed groups exploit local conflicts and socio-economic struggles to weaken state authority
This study examines the slow but steady expansion of jihadist groups into northern Benin and Togo, analyzing their tactics, the socio-economic impact, and the effectiveness of government responses.
March 19, 2025
Single title
Privatfoto / Vasilis Kougionis
Forest and vegetation fires in Greece 2024
Challenges, Impact & International aid
The year 2024 in Greece was marked by numerous and devastating forest fires. This season once again represented a considerable burden for the Greek civil protection and civil protection as well as the fire brigades. The damage to the environment was high, although it should be noted that significantly less area was burned than in the previous year. The government's measures for early detection
fires, the equipment of fire brigades, the reduction of fire loads and the harsh penalties for arsonists seem to be having an effect.
This report analyses the main causes and effects of the fires in Greece, compares the figures with 2023, identifies the structures of civil protection and presents international aid and its possibilities for improvement.
Marian Wendt
March 18, 2025
Country reports
Julian Tucker (KAS Regionalprojekt Nordische Länder)
Elections in Greenland
A Clear Signal Towards Independence
Greenlanders have elected a new parliament. The clear winner of the election is the liberal Demokraatit party (Democrats) with its leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen. They won by a surprisingly clear margin against the current left-wing coalition government of Siumut ( Forwards) and Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the Inuit). Nielsen's party pursues a conservative tax policy, is considered economically liberal and wants to achieve independence from Denmark in a step-by-step fashion. The second strongest party is the nationalist protest party Naleraq (Point of orientation). It was the only party to call for a swift exit from the Danish kingdom and rapprochement with the USA during the election campaign. The upcoming coalition negotiations could prove difficult in view of foreign policy upheavals. Nielson, former Minister for Industry and Minerals, announced his intention to talk to all parties. A broad-based alliance between Inuit Ataqatigiit, the party of previous Prime Minister Múte B. Egede and possibly with the Siumut party could form a stable government.
Larissa Stünkel, Christine Leuchtenmüller
March 18, 2025
Country reports
KI-geniert mit Adobe Firefly, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.
AI Robotics as a Competitive Advantage
Reaching the Top with Intelligent Machines
AI-driven robots are a key competitive factor in the global economy. Germany is well-positioned in this field but must significantly expand its capabilities to play a leading role in the geoeconomic race. This requires simplified regulations, standardized frameworks, expanded sandboxes, a strong EU internal market, access to data, energy security, increased knowledge transfer from research to market, investment-stimulating incentives, and public acceptance.
Dr. Christian Hübner
March 18, 2025
Facts and Findings
IMAGO / Scanpix
Broken alliance in Estonia
The collapse of the coalition government
On 10 March 2025, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced the reshuffle of the Estonian coalition by dismissing the Social Democratic Party (SDE) from the coalition government. After this decision, the "Reform Party" and "Estonia200" have only a narrow majority with 52 out of 101 seats in the Riigikogu (parliament).
Oliver Morwinsky, Nikoloz Rogava
March 14, 2025
Country reports
Adobe Stock / carolina; generiert mit KI
Break-up of the traffic light coalition without consequences for political opinions
Results from representative trend surveys on political attitudes
Since December 2022, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has conducted short surveys on the political attitudes of Germans twice a year. The most recent survey was launched shortly after the break-up of the traffic light coalition on 6 November 2024. This study uses survey data from 2022 to 2024 to show how the political attitudes of the German population have changed following the end of the traffic light coalition. What is the situation at the end of 2024 in terms of satisfaction with democracy or confidence in the future? Has there been a shift to the right in terms of self-positioning on the left-right scale? What about populism and conspiracy theories?
Dr. Sabine Pokorny
March 11, 2025
Monitor Election and Social Research
IMAGO / MediaPunch
Showdown in the Oval Office
US Opinions on the Future of Trump's Ukraine Policy
Relations between the USA and Ukraine hit a low point last week: In front of live television cameras, there was a confrontation in the Oval Office of the White House between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky. The result was a breakdown in talks and a pause in American aid to Ukraine.
