German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

Context Matters – Country-Specific Politico-Economic Analyses, Conflict and Crisis Potentials, as well as Global and Regional Trends / Phase III

The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the strategic capability of German development cooperation in the context of the BMZ 2030 reform concept are based on in-depth knowledge of country-specific, regional and global developments. The GIGA provides annual information on actors and governance structures as well as on conflict potentials in countries of the Global South. Additionally, important regional and global trends are analysed with a comparative area perspective.
BMZ, 2023-2027

Team

Dr. Daniel Dückers

Associate

Dr. Sebastian Huhn

Former Associate

Désirée Reder

Doctoral Researcher

Monika Onken

Research Fellow

Head

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

President (ad interim)

Research Questions

· What country specific politico-economic trends impact the success of development cooperation? What actors promoting or inhibiting reforms can be identified?

· What potential do conflicts have to escalate violently? What peacebuilding strategies can be supported by external actors?

· What are important political, social, and economic regional trends influence development cooperation in the Global South?

Contribution to International Research

International development cooperation can only achieve the self-imposed goals and those of the sustainable development agenda (Agenda 2030, SDGs) if the possible effects of regional and global trends are recognized and incorporated at an early stage and the different measures are based on a solid knowledge of the country-specific developments based on the characteristics of the political system (including development orientation, legitimacy, social reform and blockade forces) as well as the existing conflict, crisis and escalation potential.

Research Design and Methods

The methodology of the country-specific analyses is based on a guideline and a catalogue of indicators that make a comparable assessment possible in the first place. These analyses are produced exclusively for the BMZ.

The methodology for the "trend analyses" was developed in the first project phase and has been applied since the second project phase. It is based on GIGA expertise in comparative area studies and aims to identify regional and global trends that are or could become significant for international cooperation and, in particular, for achieving the SDGs. The "trend analyses" are presented and made accessible to a broad public as a scientific product, available in different open access formats.

GIGA Focus Latin America | 2/2024

Conditions for Democratic Transitions: Venezuela’s 2024 Elections

The unification of the opposition under María Corina Machado is an unprecedented political challenge for the regime of Nicolás Maduro. To eliminate candidates and splinter the opposition, the regime weaponises the judiciary and persecutes political enemies, making free and fair elections unlikely.

Jesus Renzullo

Research Fellow

GIGA Focus Global | 1/2024

Repression by Legal Means: Governments’ Anti-Fake News Lawfare

Anti-fake news lawfare is deepening government control over civil society, undermining information integrity and civil society’s democratic rights. Patterns to this legal repression and related pushback strategies in South and Southeast Asia are examined, as the forerunners of global developments.

Dr. Sangeeta Mahapatra

Dr. Janjira Sombatpoonsiri

PD Dr. Andreas Ufen

GIGA Focus Latin America | 1/2024

Guatemala: A Vote for Turning the Tide

In Guatemala, President Bernardo Arévalo took office on 15 January 2024, raising hopes of democratic reform. Still, an entrenched elite has continuously distorted the independence of the judiciary. Not only are elections highly contested; democracy itself is on the line. Can Guatemala turn the tide?

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

Désirée Reder

Alina Ripplinger

Conference | 14/02/2024 - 16/02/2024

Violent Legacies, Social Movements, Uncertain Futures

Violent Legacies, Social Movements, Uncertain Futures, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José Désirée Reder (Organiser), Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Organiser), Alina Ripplinger (Panelist)

In Central America, democracy and peacebuilding processes are currently threatened. Researchers and civil society representatives discussed potential pathways out of the crisis in a three-day workshop at the University of Costa Rica in San José, organised by GIGA.

Désirée Reder

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

Alina Ripplinger