The Current Column

Jump to:

Search for publication

Every Monday, researchers from the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) comment on the latest issues and trends of global sustainable development by its ‘Current Column’. The column is aimed at politically interested readers who would like to get a brief assessment of a topic or want to read different positions on a respective topic. The views expressed in these columns are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).

Search for publication

799 results Displaying results 1 to 20 of 799.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
....
»

Why democracy needs a narrative on political liberalism

Nowack, Daniel (2025)
The Current Column, 05. May 2025

“For the protection and continued existence of democracy in general and throughout the world, it is important to revive a narrative on what constitutes a liberal democracy.

Last chance for a fundamental reform of German development policy?

Janus, Heiner / Armin von Schiller (2025)
The Current Column, 28. April 2025

A long-term viable development cooperation therefore requires a change in the BMZ towards greater tolerance of mistakes, a willingness to learn and a long-term focus.

A strong science-policy interface now for climate and biodiversity

Faus Onbargi, Alexia / Alicia Perez-Porro / Anna de las Heras Carles (2025)
The Current Column, 22. April 2025

Addressing these interconnected crises requires evidence-informed policymaking at all levels, which demands strengthening the science-policy interface for climate and biodiversity.

Social media and democracy: Reflections from South Korea’s impeachment

Yi, HyunAh / Dennis Schüpf (2025)
The Current Column, 14. April 2025

It shows us that democracy today is not just practised in parliaments or courtrooms, but also in digital plazas where hashtags replace headlines and solidarity is forged through shared playlists and viral posts.

Securing Germany’s Leadership in Global Health

Strupat, Christoph / Srinivasa Srigiri (2025)
The Current Column, 07. April 2025

Those who cut funding to global health effectively score an own goal, creating risks worldwide—including at home—since viruses recognise no borders in our interconnected world.

Trump’s tariffs as a risk for the Global South and possible options

Kornher, Lukas / Clara Brandi (2025)
The Current Column, 24. March 2025

It is ultimately the economically weaker states that will pay the price in a large-scale trade war.

Why we need to fight right-wing populism to save our glaciers!

Rodríguez de Francisco, Jean Carlo (2025)
The Current Column, 19. March 2025

Sustainable water management must be central to climate strategies, not just as an environmental necessity but as a safeguard for communities, jobs, and economic stability—issues that resonate across political divides.

Cash-for-work as an instrument of reconstruction in Syria

Zintl, Tina / Markus Loewe (2025)
The Current Column, 17. March 2025

It is equally important to restore the social fabric and re-establish trust – a country’s ‘software’ – as it is to rebuild the physical infrastructure – its ‘hardware’ – during the reconstruction of war-torn countries.

Beware the backlash: Feminist development policy at the crossroads

Götze, Jacqueline / Maryam Khalid / Tina Zintl (2025)
The Current Column, 06. March 2025

Gender issues need to be integrated into different policy fields and shielded from populist discussions

The social contract: a lens to design socially just climate policies in Germany

Böhl Gutierrez, Mauricio / Daniele Malerba / Markus Loewe (2025)
The Current Column, 04. March 2025

Ending harmful subsidies could free billions to cut emissions, improve public health, and strengthen social services. To ensure fair compensation for all affected groups by subsidy cuts, the new government should approach the reform as a renegotiation of the existing social contract.

Policy for a rules-based multipolar world

Hornidge, Anna-Katharina / Axel Berger (2025)
The Current Column, 24. February 2025

Over the next four years, the new German government, as a driving force in Europe, must throw its full weight behind securing the rules-based order.

The heat is on: climate policy must not simmer on the back burner

Brandi, Clara / Steffen Bauer / Mariya Aleksandrova (2025)
The Current Column, 19. February 2025

The incoming government will be well advised to reboot and even reframe the debate over Germany’s climate policy.

The heat is on: climate policy must not simmer on the back burner

Brandi, Clara / Steffen Bauer / Mariya Aleksandrova (2025)
The Current Column, 19. February 2025

The incoming government will be well advised to reboot and even reframe the debate over Germany’s climate policy.

Who cares about aid? Voters do!

Leininger, Julia / Martin-Shields, Charles (2025)
The Current Column, 18. February 2025

Right now, voters’ positive feelings about aid are abstract. However, when voters understand that an investment in development cooperation is an investment in their community as well, they will continue to support it.

Middle East and North Africa: the importance of long-term effects

Loewe, Markus (2025)
The Current Column, 17. February 2025

The next German Federal Government should aim to achieve lasting impacts rather than seeking quick advantages in terms of trade, the stabilisation of authoritarian regimes or migration management, as the latter often have disastrous side effects in the long term.

Sustainable financial market policy against the headwinds

Hilbrich, Sören (2025)
The Current Column, 12. February 2025

Regulations aimed at channelling capital into sustainable economic investment should therefore be progressively developed rather than them being weakened or even abolished.

Outlook for the new legislature: Energy transition at sea

Ittner, Irit (2025)
The Current Column, 10. February 2025

Continuity is required in order to secure previous successes and to achieve sustainable development goals.

Rebuilding Syria: A Win-Win for German-Trained Refugees and their Hosts

Abedtalas, Musallam / Tina Zintl (2025)
The Current Column, 06. February 2025

It is imperative that the German government considers a sustainable strategy for cooperation with Syria that takes into account demographic changes in Germany and benefits from the expertise gained by refugees in various fields.

Attention all democratic parties - the EU redefines its global role!

Koch, Svea / Niels Keijzer / Christine Hackenesch (2025)
The Current Column, 03. February 2025

With the contours and exact focus of the EU’s economic foreign policy still to be determined, democratic parties in Germany need to think ahead already now to have ideas ready for common positions in Brussels in a new government.