Publications

Nowadays, the profession of executioner is still relevant. Concerning Algeria and Tunisia, once they gained independence the new rulers kept their own executioners on duty. They simply replaced French executioners with “local” ones. Today the abolition of the death penalty is not in prospect.

In diesem Spotlight werden Einstellungen der deutschen Bevölkerung zum Konflikt im Nahen Osten betrachtet. Es wird untersucht, in welchem Maße eine gesellschaftliche Polarisierung erkennbar ist, inwiefern Israelkritik mit Antisemitismus zusammenhängt, und wie verbreitet der Wunsch nach Frieden ist.

Why do Members of Parliament (MPs) in Africa’s emerging democracies focus so heavily on constituency work at the expense of parliament? This paper argues that traditional authority and patron-clientelism shape how legislators represent their constituencies.

How do chief executives personalize power? In this paper we conceptualize the personalization of executive power based on observable processes initiated by the chief executive looking at personnel management, institutional engineering, and coercion.

In this book, Prof. Sandra Destradi and GIGA-researcher Johannes Plagemann develop a novel theory of populism and foreign policy. The use of foreign policy for domestic mobilization and the personalization of decision making are key to explain different intensities of foreign policy change.

The GIGA and the EULAC Foundation co-organised, with the support of the City of Hamburg, the two-day workshop ‘Port Cities Fighting Transatlantic Drug Trafficking’ in early April 2025. This policy brief present the core themes and insights emerging from the workshop, highlighting key takeaways.

A new study maps cascading climate risks to the European Union using stakeholder-driven impact chains and network analysis. It offers country-specific profiles and highlights key intervention areas—like water, livelihoods or violent conflict—to guide coherent, targeted adaptation policies.

Fifty years after the Third Wave of democratization, this systematic review revisits the debate on democracy and internal conflict. Analyzing 66 studies, it finds a modest peace effect: stable liberal democracies are more peaceful, while hybrids face more conflict—offering a nuanced optimism.

Escalating trade costs, driven by new tariff regimes, COVID-19, wars, and sustainability laws disrupt global supply chains and trade-led development. The 2025 US tariffs hit industrializing nations unevenly. Case studies show that export diversity boosts resilience and trade diversion gains.

Basierend auf einer repräsentativen Studie vom Juli 2025 können wir zeigen, dass eine hinreichende Aufstockung der Bundeswehr über ein Freiwilligenmodell erreicht werden kann. Die Erforderlichkeit der Einführung einer Wehrpflicht aufgrund eines unzu­reichend hohen Potenzials an Freiwilligen besteht demnach nicht.

Many analyses emphasize the repressive effects of autocratic rule, such as shrinking civil society and limiting collective action. However, this article argues that autocratic overreach can unintentionally trigger mass mobilization, posing serious risks to such regimes.

In Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, observed disparities in Influence Operation campaigns’ aims, organization, and funding are tied to the distinct nature of elite competition, the degree to which ruling elites harness state institutions to suppress opposition and election campaigns

This policy paper redefines hybrid threats stemming from authoritarian uses of technology that cause everyday harm. It introduces ‘integrated and collective resilience’ as a multidimensional response, drawing lessons from South and Southeast Asia and fostering EU–Asia cooperation.

Nowadays, the profession of executioner is still relevant. Concerning Algeria and Tunisia, once they gained independence the new rulers kept their own executioners on duty. They simply replaced French executioners with “local” ones. Today the abolition of the death penalty is not in prospect.

In diesem Spotlight werden Einstellungen der deutschen Bevölkerung zum Konflikt im Nahen Osten betrachtet. Es wird untersucht, in welchem Maße eine gesellschaftliche Polarisierung erkennbar ist, inwiefern Israelkritik mit Antisemitismus zusammenhängt, und wie verbreitet der Wunsch nach Frieden ist.

Why do Members of Parliament (MPs) in Africa’s emerging democracies focus so heavily on constituency work at the expense of parliament? This paper argues that traditional authority and patron-clientelism shape how legislators represent their constituencies.

How do chief executives personalize power? In this paper we conceptualize the personalization of executive power based on observable processes initiated by the chief executive looking at personnel management, institutional engineering, and coercion.