Democracy
We perceive of democracy as a socio-political process driven by citizens' active participation and democratic institutions. "It is apt to say that the term 'democratisation' epitomises the most universal socio-political imperative of our age" (Hennis 1970).
Democratisation is a chief tenet of green politics and a central issue in political education. Still it is often far from clear how to translate the general notion of democratisation into concrete projects, campaigns, or educational programmes. "Civil society" is one such concept which, while widely embraced, is very contentious when it comes to questions of implementation. Other such issues are the crisis of party democracy, the media and democracy, as well as numerous fundamental questions surrounding the relationship between politics and science. All of these are part of the foundation's activities. A further focus of our work are programmes that tackle far-right politics and racism. For us political education means getting people involved, empowering people to participate in political processes, and advising political activists.
Concerning the EU and European policy, our focus is mainly on the following areas: Democracy and participation in the European Union; ecology and sustainable development; EU enlargement; a common European foreign and security policy; and the future of labour and social policy.
South Caucasus Region
Podcast: Analyse der Präsidentschaftswahlen in Georgien
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Die Qual der Wahl im Südkaukasus
- - Am 9. und 27. Oktober stehen im Südkaukasus Präsidentschaftswahlen an. Während in Georgien ein Gerangel vieler verschiedener Kandidat/innen zu beobachten ist, bleibt die Opposition in Aserbaidschan weiterhin fast unsichtbar.
mehr
audio
Nino Lejava about events of International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) in Tbilisi on May 17
- in German/Deutsch more»
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Quo vadis Armenia: North or West?
- In a year which has seen positive developments for Armenia, namely an improved media landscape, fairer elections, and lasting economic growth, last week the government of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan returned to its long tradition of blundering. At least that's what Brussels thinks. more»
Armenien: Außenpolitik zwischen Nord und West
- Am 3. September hat der armenische Präsident bekannt gegeben, sein Land werde der russischen Zollunion beitreten. Armenien versperrt sich damit den Weg zu besseren Beziehungen mit der EU. Ein Blick auf die Interessenlagen aus unserem Regionalbüro Südkaukasus. more»
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung – 10 Jahre im Südlichen Kaukasus
- Netgazeti vom 5.06.2013
Das Regionalbüro der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung im Südlichen Kaukasus, das sich in Tbilissi befindet, ist 10 Jahre alt geworden. Anlässlich des Jubiläums fand am 5. und 6. Juni eine Konferenz mit dem Titel „Südlicher Kaukasus am Kreuzweg“ statt, an der Vertreter aus Armenien, Aserbaidschan und Georgien teilnahmen. mehr»
South Caucasus on the Crossroads: 10 Years of Heinrich Boell Foundation in the Region
- On 5-6 June, Heinrich Boell Foundation dedicated a two-day conference to celebrate the date together with its partners from all three South Caucasian countries, as well as the representatives of Academic sphere. more»
Интернет-трансляция
И все-таки она движется? Армения после президентских выборов
- - Дискуссия в Фонде им. Генриха Бёлля в Берлине Среда, 27-го февраля, 19 ч.
Выступающие:
Гаяне Шагоян (Национальная Академия Наук, Ереван)
Александр Искандарян (Институт Кавказа, Ереван)
Микаэль Золян (Университет им. В. Брюсова, Ереван)
Ведущая:
Нино Лежава (Южнокавказский Фонд им. Генриха Бёлля) для прямой передачи»
Audio
Georgien wählt: "Starker Andrang an den Wahllokalen im ganzen Land"
- - Die Parlamentswahl in Georgien hat mit großem Andrang an den Wahllokalen begonnen. Die Bewegung "Georgischer Traum" um den Milliardär Bidsina Iwanischwili fordert die Partei des Präsidenten Sakaschwili heraus. Unsere Büroleiterin Nino Lejava berichtet über den Wahlkampf der vergangenen Monate, den heutigen Wahltag und die Aussichten für stärkere Demokratisierung Georgiens.
- "Steiniger Weg in Richtung Westen" - Interview mit Walter Kaufmann (MP3-Direktlink)
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Playing with Statues: Stalin Here and Now
- Historical memory is the retrospective form of collective memory, which determines the nation’s collective identity. more»
Web dossier
Rethinking Soviet Past
- Debating the totalitarian part of a country’s history is a precondition to shape the transition process dedicated to democratic values. Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office presents a web-dossier with initiatives, events and publications aimed to rethink Georgia’s Soviet past. more»
Presentation of the project
"Publishing of the Collection of Archival Documents, related to 5-9 March, 1956"
- On 9 March 1956 Soviet Army tanks entered Tbilisi and put down the uprising. The exact number of casualties remains unknown. Nor is it known who gave the order to use force against peaceful protesters. These important events in Soviet history remain virtually unstudied to this day. more»
Red Terror Topography
- In the small hours of the morning on June 25, 2010, the Georgian government removed a statue of the Joseph Stalin from the central square of his hometown of Gori. Georgian media and civil society were instantly abuzz with talk about dismantling the dictator’s statue and the ambivalent views many Georgian still hold about Stalin and his era. The Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF), in cooperation with DVV International and the new non-governmental organization “The Soviet Past Research Laboratory,” has been developing an innovative project about the Stalin era to provide a new means for Georgians to address their past. Official action to move the Stalin statue from the central square to a nearby museum shows that the time is right for looking back at Georgia’s history.
“The Topography of Red Terror” will develop routes and tours showing buildings and places associated with Soviet terror and repression. Guides will be trained to explain and interpret the sites for Georgians and international visitors. By directly encountering the locations where people in Georgia experienced injustice at the hands of the state, citizens and visitors can have a more vital understanding of the shape.