Article 09 September 2025

A Little Goes a Long Way: The Case for Saving German Humanitarian Aid

Evidence shows that a little humanitarian aid goes a long way. Now, amidst massive cuts in German humanitarian funding, communicating the impact of aid is crucial to ensure public backing.

Our Ideas of… Energy” Event Series Continues with Energy and Science

Join us for a conversation with with Doris Segets (University of Duisburg-Essen) about where we really stand with technological solutions for the energy transition, what it takes to scale them up, how these technologies embed Germany in the world, and what we can — and must — learn from the historical relationship between energy and science in Germany.

🗓️ 1 October, 2025 | 📍 Dezernat Zukunft, Chausseestraße 111, 10115 Berlin | ⏰ 7pm — 8.30pm (followed by 🥂 )

Register
Interview

Nationaler Sicherheitsrat – Symbolpolitik oder echte Chance?

Angesiedelt am Bundeskanzleramt soll der Nationale Sicherheitsrat Sicherheitspolitik bündeln und Deutschland handlungsfähiger machen. Kritisiert wird der Machtzuwachs der Exekutive und der Rückfall in ein überholtes Sicherheitsverständnis.

Article

Tracking Your Impact in the World “Out There”

The do’s and don’ts for (migration) experts wanting to track policy impact.

Report

Holding Ground in Preventing Violent Extremism

This report presents and analyzes current trends in violent extremism, as well as practices, innovations and challenges in the evaluation of activities to prevent and counter violent extremism (P/​CVE), and related fields, across 12 countries.

Online Event: Neurotechnology, Brain-Computer Interfaces and Implications for Germany’s and Europe’s Foreign & Security Policy

Neurotechnology could soon revolutionize how humans perceive the world, process information and interact with each other, AI or robots. Why and how does neurotechnology matter for Germany’s and Europe’s foreign and security policy? 

Join us in our online launch event.

📍Zoom 📅 October 13, 2025 🕧 16:0017:00 CET

REGISTER

Article

No Child’s Play: Why Our Adversaries Are So Often One Step Ahead

While Berlin still thinks in election cycles, Putin, the radical right, and the Islamic State are already planning for the coming decades — and have begun shaping the next generation according to their own intentions.

Interview

Is Germany Changing Its Strategic Thinking? New Security Council Explained

The German government, facing rising tensions from Russia, China, Iran, and other actors, has approved a National Security Council (NSC) under Chancellor Merz’s new strategy to streamline security policy and crisis decisions. Sarah Bressan discusses the NSC’s role in Deutsche Welle’s Berlin Briefing.”

Article

Kürzung der humanitären Hilfszahlungen

Die humanitäre Hilfe fällt jetzt auch in Deutschland massiven Kürzungen zum Opfer. Der Aufschrei sollte größter sein, wenn es um Menschenleben geht.

Commentary

How Germany’s New National Security Council Can Succeed

Germany’s new National Security Council can become a driving force for foreign and economic policy strength — if all ministries issue a decisive mandate to their officials.

Commentary

Sinnvoller neuer Rat?

Seit Jahren befürworten Sicherheitsexperten die Einrichtung eines Nationalen Sicherheitsrats. Die neue Bundesregierung hat einen solchen nun beschlossen. Wie dieser ausgestaltet werden sollte, damit er wirklich etwas bewirkt.

Report

Action Potentials

How do advances in neurotechnology matter for Germany’s and Europe’s foreign and security policy?

By Jakob Hensing, Peter Schlecht