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Recent military coups underscore that democratisation is under pressure in Africa. While long-term trends paint a positive picture, current threats to democratisation beyond the coups include socio-economic challenges, violent conflict, power-hungry elites, and external support for autocrats.

The GIGA Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series brings leading minds in academia and policy from all over the world to the Institute to stimulate public exchange on key global developments. In 2023, we tackle the global digital transformation from diverse angles and offer innovative perspectives on this societal re-alignment.

Im Jahr 2024 feiern die Bundesrepublik Deutschland und die Mongolei das 50-jährige Jubiläum der Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen. Wir nehmen dies zum Anlass, hochrangige offizielle Vertreter:innen sowie ausgewiesene Expert:innen nach Stand und Perspektiven dieser Partnerschaft zu fragen.

Der Westen ist nicht mehr der Nabel der Welt. Stattdessen treten die Staaten des Globalen Südens mit neuem Selbstbewusstsein auf. Das Buch diskutiert, warum die Staaten des Globalen Südens so handeln, wie sie es tun, warum deren Skepsis gegenüber dem Westen so tief sitzt – und warum in der neuen Vielfalt auch Chancen liegen.

In Latin America, most violence is considered “criminal.” But a clear-cut distinction between political and criminal violence does not exist. Policies to reduce violence meander between repression and dialogue but lack comprehensiveness, and a focus on prevention, the rule of law, and human rights.

Growing geopolitical rivalries, military modernisation, and related developments could lead to the escalation of simmering conflicts in the Indo-Pacific. Regional powers and actors should enhance existing Confidence-Building Measures to increase stability. Europe should assist them.

GIGA Doctoral Researcher Alina Ripplinger attended the summer school of the European Consortium for Political Research in Research Methods and Techniques. Learn more about her experience in this interview.

This GIGA Forum investigates the newly launched German “Feminist Foreign Policy” guidelines and their implications for Germany’s foreign policy-making, with particular reference to developments in Afghanistan, Iran, and Ukraine. 

At “Book a Scientist” you will meet scientists in speed-dating style and talk to them about their research topics. In this round, four GIGA researchers offer discussions on current political and economic issues. Book your appointment for 12 September now!

An overview of interviews with Africa researchers Dr. Julia Grauvogel and Dr. Tim Glawion, who shed light on the background to the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit for various German-language media outlets.

Das GIGA bietet zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine Position als Direktionsassistent:in (m/w/d) in unserem GIGA Institut für Lateinamerika-Studien. Der oder die Kandidat:in ist gleichzeitig Mitglied im Konferenzmanagement-Team des GIGA. Es handelt sich um eine unbefristete Stelle, wahlweise in Teilzeit (mindestens 50 %) oder Vollzeit, Entgeltgruppe 8 TV-AVH / TVöD.

DP Alumnus Pau Palop-García is a postdoctoral researcher at Deutsches Zentrum für Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (DeZIM, German Centre for Integration and Migration Research). Learn more about Pau’s current position and his time at the GIGA in this interview.

After the Arab uprisings, Tunisia would emerge as the only Arab democracy. President Kais Saied’s July 2021 coup has, however, led to the autocratisation of the state. This GIGA Focus traces Saied’s base of support, his strategies, and rhetoric, as well as their implications for Tunisia’s future.

Recent polls suggest anti-Chinese sentiment is on the rise in South Korea. Statistical analyses show that such negative feeling is strongly correlated with growing support for alignment with the US. These findings carry key implications for the Yoon administration’s foreign policy orientation.

GIGA Doctoral Researcher Askan Weidemann is currently doing a Visiting Doctoral Fellowship in Beijing, China to do research on the Chinese Petitioning System. Learn more about his experience in this interview.

Digitalisation has a major impact on labour markets in developing countries. While Internet access expands, digital platforms proliferate and “gig-work” is performed in the Global South, access to and use of digital technologies remains far from universal.

Join the GIGA team! Here you can find our current vacancies in the academic and service departments as well as information on our Doctoral and Visiting Fellow Programme, career development, and training.

Expert discussion on India’s G20 Presidency showcasing the work of the T20 outreach progamme, specifically of its unique taskforce “LiFE, Resilience and Values for Wellbeing.” International scholars and think tankers share their insights on the G20 effort and German interests amid increasing geoeconomic competition. Video now online!

Doctoral Reseacher Laurita Hargreaves-Westenberger joined the GIGA Doctoral Programm in April 2023. Get to know Laurita in this interview.

In this GIGA Forum, experts on conflict-ridden countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East will discuss how and to what extent the pandemic has exacerbated conflict in the Global South.

Video now online!

The arrival of AI-powered chatbots has made many people think once again about the skills needed for the "digital future of work." Poorer countries in particular exhibit large “digital skills gaps.” This GIGA Focus looks at digital skills in the Global South.

The Focus examines the extent, contours, and impact of the foreign funding of mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the end of the Bosnian war of 1992–1995. It presents the different actors involved and highlights the implications of this funding in terms of architectural and religious practices.

How government policies on gender-based violence (GBV) are implemented in terms of services for victims varies considerably across countries. We examine policy infrastructures, including helplines, support centres, and shelters since the pandemic’s onset. Our project identifies progress and challenges around the provision of services for GBV survivors.

The Pacific Islands region is increasingly on Germany’s foreign policy radar. This Focus examines the challenges faced by this world region, takes stock of extant ties with Germany, and discusses possible future key areas of cooperation here.

This international and interdisciplinary workshop brings together scholars from Namibia, South Africa, and Germany with the aim to jointly discuss current approaches and attempts of decolonising select areas within academia. Joint workshop of the WONAGO Project and the Research Centre "Hamburg's (post)colonial Legacy".

GIGA researchers visited this year’s LASA International Congress in Vancouver, Canada, to shed light on pressing issues such as COVID-19 vaccination policies, government initiatives against gender-based violence, migrants’ political practices, and the role of judicial power in Latin America.

Pan-African cooperation faces stiff challenges but continues to hold great promise. “Agenda 2063,” the AU’s flagship programme, describes “the Africa we want.” It also details the Africa that Europe should support – but this requires a partnership of equals that respects and promotes African agency.