History & Challenges | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Warszawa

The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not be indifferent!

On April 19, 1943, Jews condemned to death in the Warsaw Ghetto rose up in an unprecedented heroic struggle against the German occupation. The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the ghetto uprising is approaching. Joanna Maria Stolarek, director of the Warsaw office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation spoke with Zygmunt Stępiński, director of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN in Warsaw about the commemoration, the nature of remembrance, and the universal message that the uprising and its commemoration bring.

By Joanna Maria Stolarek

A Slippery Slope: The USA after the Presidential elections

Donald Trump Pinatas in a shop in the USA

Ralf Fücks visited the United States in the week after the elections for talks and events in New York and Washington DC. Reflections and highlights from a nation in shock.

By Ralf Fücks

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14 minutes

Liberal Democracies in Crisis

Dzieło Karinny Johnston, 2016 Army Arts and Crafts Contest

The world has grown more complex. We must take people’s insecurities seriously and rebuild their trust in the ability of politics to provide solutions. Openness, patience and firmness of purpose: in the fight for modern liberal democracy, this triad is our only hope. Article by Marieluise Beck, German green politician.

By Marieluise Beck

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6 minutes

The Battle for Modernity

Today’s central line of conflict runs between open societies and various forms of Identitarian radicalism. The challenge we face is to reconcile rapid changes in a globalized modern age with our need to belong and our need for security.

By Ralf Fücks

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10 minutes

Dossier: For democracy

Democracy must be fought for, revitalized, and renewed. Institutions, like the Heinrich Böll Foundation, have been struggling against a significant headwind. With the publication “For democracy” and this online-dossier, we analyze the state of democracy worldwide as well as the possibilities of democracy assistance.

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4 minutes

Dealing with Authoritarian Regimes: Challenges for a Value-based Foreign Policy

From China to Russia to Iran, voices questioning the universality of liberal democracy are growing louder. How confidently can and should the West stand up for democracy and human rights in the world?

By Ralf Fücks

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11 minutes

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Publications

We barely have time to celebrate our wins … or to process what we’ve lost

The Ukrainian House report, issued in cooperation with the Open Space Works Ukraine and the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw highlights how Ukrainian Women-led Organisations (WLOSs) have played a key role in responding to the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Drawing on research in Ukraine and Poland, it explores their grassroots efforts in providing emergency aid, psychosocial support, and long-term solutions.

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EU defence industrial policy in a new era

E-paper

The 2024 re-election of Donald Trump as US president, and the realignment of US security strategy that is expected to follow fundamentally changes Europe’s security outlook. The EU cannot become Europe’s security provider, but it can, through its defence industrial policy, support the funding and organization of the rearmament effort.

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Böll.Thema 2/24: Democracy

Worldwide, democracy is under pressure. In this edition of the magazine Böll.Thema we introduce people who inspire us with their commitment to democratic values. Because without dedication and action, there can be no democracy. And without democracy, everything is for naught.

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From democratic resilience to democratic security

E-paper

Based on the 2024 political guidelines and mission letters to the new European Commissioners, the EU’s approach towards democracy seems to have shifted from a focus on democratic resilience towards democratic security. After a thorough examination of the EU’s 2019-2024 democracy agenda, this study presents recommendations for the next legislative cycle.

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Shaping the EU's Financial Architecture for the Future

Policy Paper

The European Union faces the enormous challenge of having to achieve the necessary climate targets it has set itself, while at the same time increasing industrial competitiveness and ensuring public services of general interest. A sustainable European financial architecture based on three pillars is needed to finance these green-social investments at EU level. It is presented in this policy paper.

Actually European!? 2024

Executive summary

The sixth edition of the long-term study Actually European!? examines how the German population views the European elections and what they expect from their government at the EU level, ahead of the 6-9 June 2024 European elections.

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Women CSO leaders for systemic change

Study

This study aims to take stock of the progress of the last decade, as well as identify remaining barriers and new opportunities for women CSO leaders in achieving systemic change in Europe. The key findings indicate a concerning trend of burnout among women leaders in the CSO sector, hindering their efforts to drive systemic change.

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