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Leipzig’s Transformation Since 1945: War Damage and Reconstruction in Pictures
The destruction wrought by World War II marked—as in many other German cities—a profound turning point in Leipzig’s architectural development. Urban planning policies during the GDR era also contributed significantly to a lasting change in the historic cityscape. Due to the interplay of severe wartime destruction on the one hand and ideologically driven urban redevelopment […]
Saudi Arabia in Transition: Between Reform and Control
Comedy and film festivals, rock concerts, and resorts on the Red Sea—these are not the kinds of things one would have associated with Saudi Arabia until recently. For eleven years now, a dramatic social transformation has been taking place in the vast Gulf state: Until then, the feared religious police enforced strict gender segregation in […]
The status quo in transition: East Jerusalem during Ramadan 2026
The German version can be found here, During Ramadan, East Jerusalem regularly makes headlines. These reports focus less on the city’s colorful Ramadan traditions or the general religious significance of the Temple Mount (Arabic: Haram al-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary / Hebrew: Har ha-Bayit, Mount of the House or Temple), which is considered a particularly holy […]
Emerging Adulthood: Why Your Life Is Changing So Much Right Now—and Why That’s Normal
Click here for the German version. The transition to adulthood is a special time. Between the ages of about 18 and 25, a lot often changes: school or college ends, the first job begins, you might move out on your own, and relationships change or become more serious. Many young people find these years exciting—but […]
Greek strawberries “made in Bangladesh”
Strawberries are now also available to buy in winter. They thrive in Nea Manolada, Greece, but there are downsides to growing them. Scientist Johannes Jungfleisch has investigated the conditions of South Asian workers.
Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz: From a Propaganda Site to a Modern Space Museum
Click here for the German version. In the late 1970s, the small mountain village of Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz in the Vogtland region suddenly became a state-sponsored pilgrimage site. The reason for this was the so-called “space-first” achievement of the “Workers’ and Peasants’ State”: “The first German in space—a citizen of the GDR,” East German media proudly reported […]
Unmet expectations
Click here for the German version. A Mid-Term Assessment of the First Twenty-Five Years of the 21st Century Years, decades, and centuries are constructs that historical change does not adhere to. Nevertheless, anniversaries invite us to take stock. After 25, 50, or 75 years, we look back, before the grand celebrations begin after 100 years. […]
“Trump first” – How experts assess the new US National Security Strategy
The new Trump NSS breaks away from traditional American strategic goals and interests and crystallizes the policies and actions taken by the second Trump administration in its first year. In this extended PRIF blog post, we provide an overview of the strategy and contextualize it, shedding light on notable aspects in short commentaries.
The New US National Security Strategy: A Blog Analysis
On December 4th the White House published its 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS). The document is mandated by law for every incoming administration and serves as a compass for US foreign and security policy during its term. The new Trump NSS breaks away from traditional American strategic goals and interests and crystallizes the policies and actions taken by the second Trump administration in its first year. In this extended PRIF blog post, we provide an overview of the strategy and contextualize it.
Imperialist violence in the “backyard”: Background and implications of the US military intervention in Venezuela
The military strikes against Venezuela on January 3, 2026, which culminated in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, mark the culmination of the US’s confrontational policy toward the South American country (see below for background information on Venezuela). The attack on Venezuela was – and here there is agreement among […]
Photographs by the artist Rita Ostrovska: A Reflection of (Post-)Soviet Jewish Experience
Click here for the German version. “Basically, our journey to Germany began as early as December 1997. In the bitter cold, I stood in long lines outside the German Embassy in Kyiv to get an appointment and the necessary forms for a visa application,” Rita Ostrovska recalls more than two decades later. Born in Kyiv […]
On the Run – The Story of Mouhamed
The German version is here. On a typical weekday, life in the city is bustling. Many different people are busy going about their daily routines. Some would like to find work, but they can’t—they are forced to wait. Mouhamed is one of them. He was born in Cameroon in 1994 and studied political science. After […]
40 years Schengen agreement
With an area of over four million square kilometers, a population of nearly 420 million, and 3.5 million border crossings each day, the Schengen Area is the world’s largest area of free movement across borders (European Council 2025). The Schengen Agreement is considered a milestone in European integration. It realizes one of the four fundamental […]
In the engine room of East Germany’s transformation
The Treuhandanstalt was an agency under the Federal Ministry of Finance responsible for the privatization of the East German economy, and its activities in reunified Germany remain highly controversial to this day. In East Germany in particular, the Treuhandanstalt has left a deep imprint on the collective memory. There is no doubt that the agency’s […]
How Georgia’s population is fighting back against new hydroelectric power plants
The history of hydropower in Georgia dates back to the Soviet era. The snow- and glacier-covered Caucasus Mountains feed numerous rivers, whose water is ideal for electricity generation. In 2023, there were 119 active hydropower plants in Georgia, accounting for more than 70 percent of the country’s electricity. That is a considerable amount. According to […]
Georgia’s hydroelectric power plants: a controversial development project
In theory, the construction of hydroelectric power plants in Georgia should be a win-win situation. On one side, the European giant, which wants to use the seemingly green and sustainably produced electricity needed for the green transition. On the other side, the small Georgian state, which is already harmonizing its energy laws and practices with […]
Transformations through AI: The new era of human-machine communication
Artificial intelligence has now become an integral part of most people’s everyday lives. We use AI-powered toothbrushes, have our emails written automatically, and talk to our smartphones. It all seems so commonplace now that we may be forgetting to ask ourselves some very fundamental questions: Embracing the new era of human-machine communication: AI To explore […]
Traveling at 40,000 km/h towards Earth: Space debris is harming our environment
High above our heads, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits at an altitude of around 400 kilometers. Astronauts live and work there under extreme conditions. But they face a new and growing problem: space debris. This debris consists of old satellite parts, spent rocket stages, and broken equipment. Even pieces just millimeters in size hurtle […]
Turning Points – November 9th in German History
November 9th is considered a day of upheaval in Germany. Four significant turning points of the 20th century fell on this day. On November 9, 1918, the German Empire ended with the proclamation of the Republic. Exactly five years later, on November 9, 1923, Adolf Hitler and Erich Ludendorff attempted a coup in Munich to […]
Social-ecological transformation: Stuck between enthusiasm, resistance and unusual alliances
Between optimism and resistance: the socio-ecological transformation is dividing society. While some are calling for radical change, others want to prevent any environmental protection measures. Unusual alliances could help the transformation succeed.
How communities can improve the integration of migrants
Millions of people seek asylum in Europe every year. However, complex rules make it difficult for migrants to arrive and integrate successfully. Local authorities have opportunities to facilitate the integration process. We present a few examples.
Healthy in the city: these places change our way of living
A 15-minute walk to work, school or the park – sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? But for many city dwellers, the reality is quite different. Parents in particular sometimes commute for over half an hour to work, make detours to pick up their children from daycare and regularly get stuck in traffic jams. This daily routine […]
From street noise to equal opportunities: how cities can make us healthier
There are significant differences between cities in terms of how healthily people can live. Some cities set a good example and pay close attention to the health of their residents. Other neighbourhoods are very noisy, dangerous and have high levels of air pollution. There are fewer green spaces or suitable places to play and exercise. […]
How the wind shapes us
Is resilience innate or can it be learned? An interview with two resilience researchers.
Silent giants on their last journey
A half-disused ship’s hull rusts in the shallow water, where puddles of oil shimmer in every color of the rainbow. Furnishings, electronics and useful goods have already been sold – a huge sales market ensures that the livelihoods of many families depend on it. In front of the dead colossus, workers hammer away at the […]
How the withdrawal of military troops continues to shape a place
It looks like an enchanted place today – the former base of the Soviet army on the Oder Island in Küstrin-Kietz. The village is located in Brandenburg, directly on the Oder and the Polish border. More than almost any other place, it has been shaped by the Cold War, decades of military presence and the […]
Propaganda in der Pixel-Welt: Wie rechtsextreme Gruppen die Demokratie in Videospielen gefährden
In dem Online-Spiel Roblox können Nutzer:innen neue Welten erschaffen und gemeinsam erleben. Kinder und Jugendliche können dort kreativ sein und neue Kontakte knüpfen – doch anti-demokratische Kräfte nutzen das Spiel ebenfalls.
Green Energy from North Africa: On conflicts um Wasserstoffexporte aus Tunesien
In order to achieve its ambitious climate targets, the EU wants to import renewable energies in the form of green hydrogen. Tunisia shows how much criticism this strategy is attracting and what potential for conflict it harbours. Understanding this should make it possible to shape the energy transition in a way that is as conflict-sensitive as possible.
What are disruptions and transformations?
We all experience this directly in our everyday lives: food in the supermarket is becoming more expensive, an AI chatbot now suggests the first results when we search the internet, and peace in Europe can no longer be taken for granted. Our world is changing. Constantly and on several levels at once. Not all disruptions […]
Seeking a new narrative – How a small town is reinventing itself
The name Lauchhammer has little to do with the vegetable that adds flavour to stews and soups. Lauch means ‘moor’ in Lower Sorbian and refers to the landscape in southern Brandenburg where the small town is located. The word “hammer” in the town’s name alludes to its industrial tradition. Iron ore has been mined and […]
How much Ost-Berlin is in Berlin-Mitte?
German reunification significantly changed the cityscape of Berlin-Mitte. Central buildings such as the Palace of the Republic and the Maple Leaf, which shaped the everyday life and self-image of the GDR population, were demolished. The population has also changed to some extent. The people who live and lived in the neighborhoods were witnesses to socio-political, […]