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In a historic verdict on 11 September, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, sentencing him to more than 27 years in prison. GIGA expert Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos explains in an interview why this trial is so important and to what extent it could serve as a model for protecting democracy worldwide. 

Indonesia has recently seen intense nationwide protests, with a number of people dying and thousands more arrested. What is happening in the country? Who is protesting, and why? GIGA researcher Adhiraaj Anand puts these events in context. 

What went wrong with two decades of EU aid in Afghanistan and what must change? The Study Commission and Committee of Inquiry highlighted key failures. Drawing on interviews and multilayered Afghan perspectives, new insights and concrete policy recommendations for future aid intervention are given.

Das GIGA sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine*n Studentische*n Mitarbeiter*in (m/w/d) für den Bereich Wissenschaftskommunikation/Öffentlichkeitsarbeit. Die wöchentliche Arbeitszeit beträgt bis zu 20 Stunden, Vertragslaufzeit ist zunächst ein Jahr. Die Vergütung erfolgt in Anlehnung an den Stundensatz für studentische Hilfskräfte der Universität Hamburg und beträgt derzeit brutto € 13,98 (Bachelor-Student*in) / € 16,05 (Master-Student*in) pro Stunde.

Germany is facing important foreign policy decisions: How can the new government best interact with the Global South between democratic crisis, power competition, and ongoing economic interests? In this GIGA Forum, experts analyse challenges, opportunities, and possible strategies here. 

The recent diversification of external actors present in Africa has served to increase the agency of its governments but may also bolster poor governance and fuel conflict in the long run. Western powers must clarify their priorities regarding goals and partners, as well as examine own biases here.

Julia Gurol-Haller joined the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies as a Research Fellow in February 2025. She holds a PhD from Freiburg University, where she was most recently a post-doc and lecturer at the Chair of International Relations. Get to know more about Julia in this interview.

Frauke Steglich joined the GIGA as Research Fellow in November 2024. She has a PhD in Economics from Kiel University. Prior to joining the GIGA, she has worked as a researcher at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Get to know more about Frauke in this interview:

Jonas von Hoffmann joined the GIGA as Research Fellow in November 2024. Prior to joining the GIGA, he received a DPhil in Politics at the University of Oxford in the UK and worked for three years at the CIDE in Mexico. Get to know more about Jonas in this interview:

India is an active BRICS member also deepening its ties with the West. With its strategy of “multi-alignment,” India claims to be a leader of the Global South. The GIGA’s team of India experts, Sharinee Jagtiani (German Marshall Fund), and Germany’s ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, debate the country’s geopolitical sweet spot.

A collection of animated and interactive visualizations of the International Sanctions Termination Dataset.

Vera Woldt joined the GIGA as Secretary/Assistant to the director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs in December 2024. She holds a Bachelor Professional of Business (CCI) and has previously been employed as an Office Manager with a Hamburg startup rug company called “On The Rugs”. Learn more about Vera in this interview.

Discover how China draws on shared histories, emotional resonance, and nostalgia to shape its influence in the Global South. In this talk, Lina Benabdallah explores how Silk Road memories and anti-colonial affinities are reimagined to frame the Belt and Road as a revival of past prosperity.

Delegations from Israel and Palestine met experts from politics and academia to explore actionable pathways to peace and stability. The conference was hosted by GIGA experts Dr. Christiane Fröhlich and Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz, and took place at the GIGA in Hamburg from 7–9 July 2025.

The GIGA Executive Board has (re)appointed, commencing 1 July 2025, the Heads of the four Research Programmes  as well as filled the new positions of “Head of Policy Exchange” and “Head of Doctoral Programme and Talent Management.”

Ten months since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh’s interim government is racing against time to deliver key institutional reforms ahead of elections to be held by June 2026. Intense political competition between new and old actors risks hindering the changes required for democratic transition.

The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a test of Germany’s oft-stated commitment to global rules and norms. Berlin should uphold the rule of law by choosing principles over politics.

This GIGA Forum brings together four experts to dissect the highlights and outcomes of the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil. With perspectives spanning longstanding and newer BRICS members, the panel explores in depth the group’s evolving role in addressing global challenges.

The conflict between Israel and Iran reached a new peak with the recent war, and the United States has actively entered the picture with the shelling of nuclear facilities. The following provides an overview, background information, and the assessments of the GIGA’s Middle East scholars vis-à-vis both the current situation in the region and the Iranian nuclear programme.

How can we balance economic development opportunities with fair labour conditions and environmental responsibility in global supply chains? Join us and our international guests on the occasion of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference to explore the key dilemmas and solutions for more sustainable trade. 

Why are democracies under pressure worldwide? How does the Chinese scientific community view international relations? How do sanctions work? Ask our experts your questions at “Book a Scientist” on 3 June.

Across the Americas, child labour policies vary. Business interest groups push for legalisation; working children’s organisations seek regulation to secure worker protections; the ILO calls for prohibition. Social policy strategy and children’s participation are essential to addressing the issue.

Does the fall of Assad in Syria mean the end of the drug known as Captagon? No. While the Islamist interim government has destroyed drug laboratories and pills, demand for cheap drugs remains strong in Syria and in its neighbouring countries. Captagon production and smuggling are transnationalising.

South Korea’s 2024 self-coup attempt marked its gravest democratic crisis in decades. The brief imposition of martial law exposed deep flaws in civil–military relations and elite polarisation – yet also revealed the surprising resilience of Korea’s democratic institutions.

Samuel Siewers joined the GIGA as Research Fellow in December 2024. He is in the final stages of his PhD studies at the Chair of Development Economics at the University of Göttingen and will continue his work as a Postdoc at the GIGA. Learn more about Samuel in this interview.

The Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Göttingen and the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) invite applications for a temporary professorship with civil servant status (three years initilly) effective at the earliest possible date. The Professorship (f/m/d) will be in Development Economics with a focus on Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia. The post holder will actively participate in knowledge transfer activities at the GIGA.