Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen

ifa blog

Interviews, essays, reports and videos

The ifa blog takes a lively look at the many different areas of ifa's work and international cultural relations.

The blog articles can be filtered by topic, such as human rights, civil society, media, and (post-)colonialism, as well as by contributions from ifa's individual projects, such as exhibition funding, the Martin Roth Initiative's protection programme or the CrossCulture programme.

Blog

Impossible Odds: the brave lawyer standing up for Russia’s political dissidents

By K. L.

In Russia today, defending those charged with anti-government crimes has almost no chance of success, but one brave lawyer believes it’s his duty to try.
Video Videostill of the interview with David Ownby

On the Pulse of a Vibrant and Complex China

Interview with David Ownby

David Ownby, translator and author of the blog "Reading the China Dream", talks about Sino-American relations, the state of public intellectual debate in China, censorship, soft power and the impact of the Xi Jinping era on these issues.
Video Artistic illustration of artificial intelligence with YouTube logo in the centre

AI and International Cultural Relations: Blessing or Curse?

The new ifa study “Artificial Intelligence and International Cultural Relations: Challenges and Opportunities for Cross-Sector Collaboration” by Octavio Kulesz analyses the impact of AI on the cultural sector and vice versa. Summary and online discussion on 9th July 2024.
Blog You can see a photo of an apartment building block in Ukraine. The sky is clear, and there’s some grass in the foreground. The buildings, however, are destroyed. The armed aggression of Russia destroyed them.

It's crucial for victims to be heard: Bringing perpetrators of war crimes to justice

Interview with Daria Svyrydova & Aliona Luniova

As part of the ifa-award, Emiliia Dieniezhna, CCP alumna and journalist interviewed two members of the Ukraine 5 AM Coalition. The alliance consists of around 40 Ukrainian NGOs and experts, that collect and document war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian armed forces during the ongoing war of aggression. For their important work they are honoured with this year’s ifa-award.
Video Globe with chess pieces as a symbol of geopolitics.

New Geopolitics, Soft Power and International Cultural Relations

At this event held on 14 December 2023, the soft power strategies and activities of eight leading world powers were compared and discussed in the context of changing economic and security policy considerations.
Video Abstract pattern in yellow and green

A ‚New Silk Road‘ of Culture? China’s Cultural Policy Engagement in Latin America and Africa

Two ifa studies analyse China's foreign cultural policy in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. The country has been investing in infrastructure projects on both continents for years and uses culture as an instrument for its claim to global hegemony. Panel discussion on 24 October 2023.
Video [Translate to english:] Foto des Amazonas und darüber liegt der Schriftzug: "Is A Decolonial Climate Foreign Policy Even Possible?"

Is A Decolonial Climate Foreign Policy Even Possible?

Climate change is not fairly addressed when topics such as culture, education, including the colonial past that resulted in the current relations between countries, are not considered as part of the debate. This is one of the premises of the study "Analysing Decolonial Climate Perspectives: The Case of the Brazilian Legal Amazon".
Report Illustrationen: Game console with key

For Artists and Activists, a Crucial Moment in AI and Video Games

By Jeremy Fugleberg

Artists, civil society and policymakers must engage in what is becoming a decisive moment in technology, as AI and video games take on global significance for art, activism, and cultural diplomacy.
Interview A large hand threatens to crush a small person, illustration: CDD20 via pixabay

"The ultimate goal is always to renounce violence"

Interview with Asiem El Difraoui

It is estimated that there are more than 50 extremist groups worldwide. What role can cultural relations and education policy play in preventing violent extremism? Asiem El Difraoui talks about the potential of the AKBP in this field.