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.

5. června 2013 - In few weeks Croatia will join European Union as 28th member state. For some, it will resonate as ''boarding on Titanic'', for some as final comeback to the civilisation Croatia traditionally belongs. With fresh war trauma, recent socialist history, strong historic ties to ex-Austro-Hungarian empire, experience of Otoman times and vibrant Mediterannean life, country is home to different particles of diverse European identity.

 

Vedran Horvat more»

February 14, 2013 -

In January 2013, the Czech president was directly elected for the first time. The winner of the run-off election on 25 and 26 January was former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman. His opponent was Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. What does the election mean for Czech Politics?

Eva van de Rakt more»

What the Czech Presidential Election Tells Us

- February 22, 2013 - In its own way, the first direct presidential election in history confirmed experts’ expectations as well as their warnings. First and foremost, the view was reaffirmed that a direct presidential election would lead to a polarisation of society and that the election campaign would divide it.  Vladimíra Dvořáková more»

Václav Havel and the presidential election

- January 21, 2013 -

The Czech Republic has now gone through the first round of a direct presidential election. Of the nine contenders, two advanced to the finale – former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. In recent days, the media have also analysed the approaching second round from various angles. One important viewpoint must be especially accentuated, however.

Petr Janoušek more»

March 11, 2013 -

Due to the lack of equal political participation of women quotas were implemented over the last years – by developed and developing countries in order to improve women’s political participation. Empirical evidence shows that it is a powerful and successful tool.

 

Barbara Unmüßig more»

March 11, 2013 - The debates surrounding the far-reaching political reforms introduced by Hungary’s right-wing government (the citizenship and media laws, as well as its new constitution) have opened a space for critical reflection – not only on the current government’s policies, but also on the two decades of democratic construction that preceded them. Védegylet (Protect the Future), the One Million for the Freedom of the Hungarian Press Movement and the Heinrich Böll Foundation would like to seize the opportunity to reflect on the state of democracy in the region and on the prospects for democratic development in Hungary.  more»

January 24, 2012 - SurVivArt has been inspired by the German Kulturstiftung’s initiative Über Lebenskunst and developed by the Heinrich Böll Foundation HQ with support from its offices around the world. By joining the “SurVivArt” initiative the Heinrich Böll Foundation Prague would like to contribute to the international mosaic with a rather different perspective. The Prague office has not approached any artists to elaborate a specific art project. The aim of the Prague project in its first phase is to provide a broader insight into contemporary artists’ practices, issues and projects in the Czech Republic and to outline whether and how they respond to current social and environmental challenges. more»

April 10, 2012 - Slovakia has become the second Central European country after Hungary with a one-party government in power. And although – unlike Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in Hungary – Robert Fico’s Smer-SD party in Slovakia lacks a constitutional majority in parliament which would allow them to make fundamental changes to the political system, the strongest politicians in the two neighbouring countries are in a comparable position today. After election victories, they have both assumed exclusive responsibility for conditions in all areas of life in society under the government’s purview, especially in the area of social and economic policy. Grigorij Mesežnikov more»

Slovakia’s 2012 Election – Stakes, Results and Consequences

- March 22, 2012 -

Well – we shall see – but disaster looks very different from the results of Slovakia’s 2012 election and there appears to actually be some room for moderate optimism. The composition of the new government, the government’s program and the continuation – or not – of the Gorilla investigation by police will shed more light on these questions within few weeks.

Juraj Mesík more»

The public-private road to bankruptcy?

- December 22, 2011 - A failure to book public-private partnerships on balance-sheets allows governments to drive a hole through plans to cap deficits in current fiscal and financial crisis, Juraj Mesík writes in his commentary. more»

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