Democracy

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung President Barbara Unmüssig on the ever-shrinking spaces for civil society and what it means for democratic governance around the world.

From “dark money,” to Super Pacs to 501(c)(4)s: A beginners guide to campaign finance in the US. 

Hbs North America has selected three transatlantic expert advisors to join a commission developing new, progressive integration policies for Germany.  Leen Al Zaibak, Amy Casipullai and Audrey Singer will work alongside German commission members to provide insights into US and Canadian experience in immigration, refugee, and integration policy. 

After a recent visit to Washington, Sergey Lagodinsky, head of the EU/North America Department at the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Berlin, reflects on Americans’ understanding of the European refugee crisis and the failure to anticipate long-term repercussions for US foreign policy interests.

We asked Noel Quiñones, an AfroBoricua activist, writer, and poet from the Bronx, New York for his thoughts on the Puerto Rican debt crisis, independence, and the upcoming Presidential elections on the mainland. He responded with this poem and accompanying article. To read the original German-language version of this piece in our US-Elections blog, "Route 16," click here. 

Media Fellow Dawid Krawczyk reports on workers' self-organization in New York's Chinese community, showing that unions are not the only way to represent workers' interests. 

With thousands of refugees coming to Germany every week, local administrations are overstrained with the provision of basic needs. In many cities, civil society groups have stepped in to the fill the gaps.