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Dear reader, |
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At a time when countries are increasingly acting in their own interests rather than according to international rules, and new technologies are changing the rules of the game for the public, one thing remains clear: there is a great need for discussion. That is why we are inviting you to several events in the coming months that will address current issues in international politics from different perspectives.
The Dresden Forum for International Politics, with the participation of former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, offers a high-profile discussion in the special setting of Dresden's Frauenkirche.
At the Berlin Summer Dialogue, we will focus on the implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and examine how political commitments can be translated into concrete action. At the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, we will then discuss how press freedom can be defended in the age of AI and increasing authoritarianism.
We would be delighted if you could join us on one or more occasions – to listen, contribute your thoughts and perhaps even disagree. After all, good debates with different points of view remain a central resource of democracy.
Kind regards, Carolin Rosenberg,
Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) |
| Ingo Nordmann-Mohn,
Development and Peace Foundation (sef:) | | | | |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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 © iStock/aletheia97 |
Dresden Forum for International Politics 2026
5 May 2026, 19:15 hrs, Frauenkirche Dresden (in German)
The Dresden Forum will now take place on 5 May 2026 (previously 29 April). Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed his participation and will discuss with Minister President Michael Kretschmer what international cooperation can look like in times of increasing conflict.
Admission to the event is free, no registration is required. |
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 © iStock/melitas |
Berliner Summer Dialogue 2026
27 May 2026, 17:00 hrs, Berlin Global Village
This Berlin Summer Dialogue is a direct continuation of 2025's Berlin Summer Dialogue. After Part I reflected on the progress and current challenges of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, Part II aims to take stock: Roughly one year after the end of the current National Action Plan, we will assess how far has Germany come in turning its WPS commitments - including the emerging next Action Plan - into practice.
Register now! |
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 © iStock/charles taylor |
sef: Session at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2026
23. or 24. June 2026, World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB)
AI-supported tools are rapidly transforming how news is produced, distributed, and consumed – while also creating serious new threats to press freedom. Journalists, especially in authoritarian, developing contexts are often left to confront these challenges without the necessary resources and protection. The session will highlight practical strategies and tools they can use to defend press freedom and uphold journalistic integrity in the age of AI.
Registration will be open soon via Deutsche Welle. |
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PUBLICATIONS
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 © Verlag Barbara Budrich |
First Issue of the New Booklet Series “Global Trends“
How can international cooperation succeed amid shifting global power structures? The new booklet series “Global Trends: Prospects for Development and Peace”, launched by the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) in cooperation with the Development and Peace Foundation (sef:), demonstrates: Rules-based multilateral cooperation remains necessary – and possible.
The first issue, titled “Multilateral Cooperation for People and Planet”, is now available in printed form.
Additionally, the issue is also available open-access as e-book in both English and German. |
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 © Government and Opposition |
New Article in “Government and Opposition“
How does the politicization of identities like race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation shape populist activism on the left? The article demonstrates that left-wing populists engaged in identity politics resort to two contrasting types of activism: identity-based advocacy and identity-based threat construction. INEF researcher Jannis Saalfeld examines these types of activism by studying how four major European and African populist leaders have positioned themselves vis-à-vis specific identity groups. |
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RESULTS AND REPORTS
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 © VeSPoTec |
VeSPoTeC Workshop
As geopolitical tensions rise and international treaties face unprecedented strain, the future of nuclear verification is uncertain. Against this backdrop, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the research consortium “VeSPoTec – Verification in a complex and unpredictable world: social, political and technical processes”, convened an expert-level workshop titled “Prospects for Nuclear Verification in Times of Uncertainty and Crisis.” Leading experts in nuclear verification contributed to the workshop, including INEF staff members Carmen Wunderlich and Leonardo Bandarra.
A report on the workshop with an outlook on the upcoming second research phase can be found here. |
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SEF:/INEF INSIDE
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 © sef: |  Change in Management
Dr Marcus Kaplan left sef: on 28 February 2026. The Executive Board and the sef: team would like to thank him warmly for his many years of support and his great commitment to the foundation.
We are delighted that Nora Witt, an experienced colleague from the sef: team, is taking over the foundation’s management. |
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 © INEF |
New INEF Research Programme
In view of the eroding international order, the new INEF research programme entitled "Enabling political spaces in a multiplex world", wants to emphasise that focusing on stabilising a multipolar balance of power is neither analytically nor politically sufficient for peacemaking and global development. In fact, global dynamics continue to be shaped by a multitude of politically, ideologically and culturally diverse actors, institutions and practices, and should be empirically studied in all their diversity.
You can find details here. |
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 © Tom Wißel | New Intern at the sef:
Tom Wißel joined the sef: team as an intern on 1 March. He is studying politics and economics with a minor in history at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he will soon complete his bachelor's degree. His focus is on political and economic relationships and historical contexts. Previously, he worked at the Gasometer Oberhausen and as a working student in the energy industry, and he is now looking forward to combining this practical experience with his academic focus at sef:.
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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.
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