International Reports

German development cooperation should be more closely aligned with economic priorities and take a more strategic approach to strengthen public support at home and to facilitate access for German companies to developing and emerging economies. Partner countries often view an open and transparent acknowledgement of Germany’s own interests as respectful and legitimate, while paternalistic approaches shaped by socio-political debate in Germany weaken support both domestically and in partner countries. We trace the contours of a more pragmatic and transparent development policy — in conversation with Dr. Olaf Wientzek, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundations Multinational Development Policy Dialogue in Brussels,...

Africa’s economy is changing. Trade with Europe and the US is no longer the main focus — today, countries like China play a leading role. The old idea that Africa is still dependent on the West doesn’t tell the full story.
With new trade deals and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), many nations are taking their future into their own hands.
This episode examines these developments and their global impact together with Anja Beretta and Gunter Rieck Moncayo from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Although Russia has pursued an imperial policy in its Eurasian neighbourhood since the early 19th century, the country is not perceived as a colonial power in much of postcolonial discourse - yet its impact is still deeply felt.
The Tsarist and later Soviet expansion into Central Asia and especially the South Caucasus continues to shape the region today. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain strategically contested spaces. This episode examines how Moscow’s colonial past drives current conflicts, with insights from Stephan Malerius and Florian Binder of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

As global tensions rise, the world’s oceans are becoming the new frontline of foreign policy. From undersea cables to critical pipelines, maritime infrastructure is increasingly under threat. In this episode, we speak with Ferdinand Gehringer, policy advisor on homeland and cybersecurity issues at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, about Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and the growing challenges in securing the seas. What risks are we facing, and how prepared is Germany to respond?