“2015 must never be allowed to happen again”: that is the mantra Commentary This short sentence is all you need to understand why the German government committed an error of judgment concerning Afghanistan. An error of judgment that kills people every day – and democracy throughout the world as well, by the way. By Dr Ines Kappert
Ministerial diversity meets green core competencies: Green co-governance in the federal states Analysis Since the 2017 federal elections, Alliance 90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) have increased the number of their governmental participations in the Länder on a high level. In Hesse, Bremen, Thuringia and Hamburg they were able to continue four coalitions in identical or slightly adjusted constellations. By Arne Jungjohann
A federal climate force: How the German Greens shaped the climate package through the Länder Analysis Questions of environmental and climate policy remain relevant even during a pandemic, as the protests and debates about the stimulus package to fight the crisis show. The German states have taken on a deciding roll regarding questions of implementation – which started already during the negotiations for the climate package. The Greens contributed the most to the climate package's increased substance. By Arne Jungjohann
"It must be a plot!" – Coronavirus conspiracy theorists take to streets in Germany Commentary Conspiracy theories might seem funny in ordinary times. But against the backdrop of escalating far-right attacks worldwide in recent years and now the pandemic, these myths have spiraled into a dangerous pattern of radicalization. By Katharina Nocun
A growing affordable housing crisis—on both sides of the Atlantic Capstone In both the US and Germany, the growing shortage of affordable housing is increasingly reaching into the middle class and impacting broad swaths of society—increasing the pressure on policymakers to implement solutions. By Tarik Englmann
Appalachia is transitioning from coal. Here’s what it could learn from Germany. Transatlantic Media Fellowship Lessons from environmental and economic restoration efforts in the Ruhr Valley could help usher Appalachia into a new era. By Katherine Webb-Hehn
As German Forces Arrive in Jordan, Turko-German Tensions Simmer Transatlantic Media Fellowship Germany is moving air force units involved in the fight against ISIL to Jordan. What can they expect after the move? By Joseph Hammond
Germany and Appalachia: Perspectives on Economic Transition in Coal Communities Radio A discussion in Whitesburg, Kentucky featured a talk by Timon Wehnert of the Wuppertal Institute as part of a tour of US coal communities sponsored by the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America.
The Challenge of Right-Wing Extremism: Facts and Insights from Germany Are we witnessing a global shift to the right? A new study on German political attitudes by the University of Leipzig suggests a loud minority may be drowning out the moderate middle. By Johannes Kiess
"A Coalition is not a Love Match" - Interview with Ralf Fücks Are the German Greens compatible with Angela Merkel? How can we explain the success of the xenophobic ‘Alternative for Germany’ (AfD) party? And what awaits Europe in the year 2017? The Green European Journal sat down with Ralf Fücks, the outgoing President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, to talk about Christian Democrats, Trump, and the upcoming German election, as well as the foundation’s development over the past 20 years. By Ralf Fücks
