Foreign & Security Policy

Perspectives: Political Analysis and Commentary from Africa

Published: 31 December 2013
Perspectives is a publication series of the Africa offices of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung. With this series, we intend to let experts from Africa express their views about current political issues in their region. Perspectives focuses on Southern- , East- and West Africa where the foundation has established offices.

U.S. Says Nuclear Security Work Remains

Published: 29 October 2013
United States has decided to host a nuclear security summit in 2016, which would be the fourth such meeting to strengthen and deepen the "existing nuclear security architecture" before the summit process ends. Although a July 2013 ministerial-level conference on the topic played an important role in strengthening and institutionalizing nuclear security, the White House does not deem progress in this area to be sufficient for the summit process to end.

Bundestagswahl 2013: A Look at the Themes of the September Federal Elections

Published: 5 September 2013
Germany is in the midst of a unique campaign season, gearing up for the September 22 elections. Despite this wide gap between the two frontrunners, Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and current chancellor and Peer Steinbrück of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the final results are far from certain. Mattis Hennings reviews main campaign issues and the politics behind the elections.

The Federal Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014

Published: 31 August 2013
This report, authored by POMED's Executive Director Stephen McInerey and Advocacy Director Cole Bockenfeld, offers a detailed look at U.S. funding and assistance for democracy and governance in the Middle East, the congressional appropriations process, and implications for U.S. policy in the Middle East during a turbulent time.

Winning the Power of Information: How Assad Defines the Facts

Published: 21 August 2013
Bashar al-Assad’s regime depends on an extensive propaganda machine for its political survival. This has had a tremendous impact on the Syrian conflict, dividing the international community and helping to discredit the opposition. Despite there being hardly a place in Syria in which the regime rules unchallenged, Damascus has largely won the power of information: the ability to define facts in this war.