Countering Populism via Media Literacy? Eastern European Approaches

sef: session at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum

17 June 2024, 15:30 hrs, Bonn

Weak media literacy fuels disinformation and populism worldwide, yet discourse on the topic usually centers on Western democracies. The sef: session “Countering populism via media literacy? Eastern European approaches” broadens the scope of the discourse by exploring both Eastern Europe's challenges and media literacy solutions.

Featuring insights from Lithuania and Ukraine, we showcase two exceptional projects working to promote media literacy to dismantle populism, reinforce journalism, and enhance civic participation. Attendees will explore actionable, innovative strategies and best practices, offering insights and inspiration for more media literacy worldwide.

The Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum will take place on 17-18 June 2024 at the World Conference Centre in Bonn under the theme ‘Sharing Solutions’. You can register for the Global Media Forum here.

Ambitious Goals, Sober Reality? Feminist Foreign and Development Policy Put to the Test

25 June 2024, 16:00 hrs, Essen

In recent years, numerous governments have adopted a “feminist foreign policy”, a contested effort to bring about a paradigm shift in how their country engages with the rest of the world. In this public panel discussion, experts from government and academia will address various facets of feminist foreign and development policy, drawing on the experiences of Germany and other countries.

You will find further information here.

Sunny Side Up? The Energy Crisis as an Opportunity for a Just Transition in Africa

Potsdam Africa Dialogues 2024

24 – 25 October 2024, NH Hotel Potsdam, German/English (simultaneous interpretation)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has propelled the issue of energy security to the top of the international political agenda and drastically increased the pressure for a global energy transformation.

Given its unparalleled potential for renewable energy, Africa could become a game changer on the road to a global transformation. The continent boasts the most favourable solar energy locations in the world and could be able to cover the entire global energy demand with green hydrogen. Despite such sunny prospects, millions of people in Africa are affected by acute energy poverty. Out of the 840 million people with no access to electricity worldwide, 600 million reside in Africa. Many African countries are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, an issue compounded by insufficient investments. Over the last two decades, the continent received less than 2 percent of global investments in renewable energy.

At this year’s Potsdam Africa Dialogues, we will be discussing with international experts how a just energy transformation can succeed in Africa and what hurdles need to be overcome. Join the discussion: Register here!

A Rudderless World

Peace Report 2024

The international community is facing multiple crises. In the Peace Report 2024, Germany’s leading peace research institutes argue strongly in favour of a reconsideration of the core principles of multilateralism in view of this dramatic situation. According to the peace researchers, this includes a consistent focus on international law and international jurisdiction, which is necessary not least in the German government's handling of the Israel-Gaza war.

A chapter on “Sustainable Peace”, coordinated by INEF, further emphasizes that the promotion of peace and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals can be advanced by taking greater account of local knowledge and approaches to conflict resolution.

School Feeding in Benin: Actors, Progress and Challenges

AVE Study 34c

School feeding as a measure of social security is a priority for the government in Benin. A new publication by INEF researchers examines the different actors, challenges and solutions in the mainly rural primary schools. Challenges are identified in providing the ingredients for the daily sauces and in finding solutions for the constant provision of energy, mainly firewood, and for the very low pay of the (mostly female) cooks.

The publication is part of the INEF project “Ways out of Poverty, Vulnerability and Food Insecurity“ (AVE), which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Between Fake News and Informing – Social Media in War Reporting

18 April 2024, Frauenkirche Dresden (Church of our Lady)

At the evening event of the Dresden Forum for International Politics in Dresden’s Frauenkirche State Minister Oliver Schenk engaged in a stimulating discussion with Michael Bewerunge, studio head in Tel Aviv for the German broadcaster ZDF, Prof. Zowislo Grünewald (Universität der Bundeswehr) and Nico Lange (Munich Security Conference) about  appropriate storytelling and information strategies for disseminating news and objective truths in the age of social media.

For further information and pictures, please click here.

Inclusive Peace Processes? Options and Opportunities of State and Civil Society Actors

At the Dresden Forum for International Politics, experts from politics, academia, and civil society discussed a subject as timely and pertinent as ever: inclusive peace processes. While the conference focussed on options and opportunities of both governmental and civil society actors, one overarching finding emerged from the discussions: Only inclusive peace can be enduring peace.

The conference report is now available on our website.

The Development and Peace Foundation (sef:) was founded in 1986 on the initiative of Willy Brandt. It is a cross-party and non-profitmaking organisation. sef: provides an international high-level forum for shared thinking on the complex challenges of globalisation. It is linked to the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) by a cooperation agreement. The aim of INEF’s application-oriented research is to build bridges between theory and practice.