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.

Interview Abdalla and, in the background, other artists and audience members at the performance of his project.

"Theatre is a playground for practicing dialogue"

Interview with Abdalla Daif

In the face of political polarisation, Egyptian artist Abdalla Daif creates spaces for empathetic and respectful dialogue. In May 2005, he became the very first participant of the CrossCulture Programme to arrive in Germany. To celebrate the programme's 20th anniversary, we share his inspiring story.
Portrait

From Prisoner to Historian: a Life Dedicated to Remembrance

By Juliane Pfordte

Peter Keup was once imprisoned for attempting to flee from the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Today, as a historian and contemporary witness, he speaks about the SED dictatorship at schools and events throughout the world. In the year celebrating the 35th anniversary of the reunification, he travelled to Georgia for the German government’s lecture programme.
Blog

The violin maker of Tehran

By Mohammad Nikafrooz

Iran's clerical leaders have long been opposed to women making music. Nahid Namikhah has gone a step further and become a master at constructing the instruments themselves.
Essay

Riad’s Role in Africa: Soft Power and New Investments

By Ronak Gopaldas

Saudi Arabia is realigning its strategy in Africa. With investments in minerals, agriculture, renewable energies and soft power, Riyadh is seeking new partnerships beyond the oil sector. What opportunities and risks does this geopolitical and economic engagement present?
Blog

IRAQI KURDISTAN’S QUEST TO SAVE THE ELUSIVE PERSIAN LEOPARD

By Ako Ramyar
Blog

The Dying Legacy of the “Bride of the Spring”.

By Ramyar Ako

After surviving for millions of years, a prized newt traditionally used to detect fresh water in remote areas of Iraqi Kurdistan is under threat of extinction.
Specialist article The illustration shows the Chinese flag on an outline of the country, with individual building blocks in different colours underneath.

Understanding China: Society and Politics Beyond the Clichés

By Kristin Shi-Kupfer

China is not a monolithic entity; it is full of contradictions and debates. Anyone who wants to truly understand the country must also consider the views of society and the diaspora to gain a more nuanced understanding that goes beyond clichés and ideologies.
Essay The illustration shows a globe with a paragraph symbol held by two hands. Around it are plants, beetles and a butterfly.

A New Weapon for Climate Justice

By Bridget Lewis

Just how robust is the right to a healthy environment, and does it have the power to hold governments worldwide accountable for climate protection? A historic court case and courageous initiatives from the Global South are finally sparking debate on this long-overdue issue.
Blog

A pandemic of violence: Mexico's fight against femicide

By Mohammad Nikagrooz

Amid a surge of hate-based killings, Mexico recognized “femicide” as a distinct crime. But the crisis persists. Lawyer Verónica Garzón Bonetti, who represents victims’ families, describes how a culture of machismo allows women’s murderers to escape justice – and what can be done