Politics

Eine Insel von oben

Pomp and parliamentary democracy

Work on Germany’s Basic Law began in a room of a royal palace fit for fairtytails. You’ll find it on an island in Lake Chiemsee,

xxxEine Frauenskulptur mit Augenbinde und einer Waage in der Hand

Constitutional law

Does Germany’s Basic Law need an update?

Almost 80 years old – and still in great shape? Or does the Federal Republic’s most important document need revising?

Ein Mann steht vor einer Schulklasse.

“I have rights – but so do others”

Why should I care about the Basic Law? A civil-society organisation informs pupils about fundamental rights in everyday life – and where the limits are.

Drei Frauen und ein Mann in roten Roben sitzen an einem Tisch.

Federal Constitutional Court

Guardian of the Basic Law

The Federal Constitutional Court will soon be 75 years old. It guards the foundations of German democracy unreservedly.

Bild

The mothers of the Basic Law

Only four women contributed to drafting the Basic Law - but they achieved a great deal in terms of equal rights

Das Grundgesetz ist Deutschlands wichtigstes Buch

Germany’s most important document

The German Basic Law came into effect in 1949. It was ment to be a provisional constitution. Five questions and answers.

Fregattenkapitän Inka von Puttkamer steht vor dem Minenjagdboot „Dillingen“

Strait of Hormuz

Germany’s minehunter

Sea mines threaten the vital shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Naval officer Inka von Puttkamer is preparing Germany’s mine countermeasures response.

Partner in schwierigen Zeiten: Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU, r.) und Vizekanzler Lars Klingbeil (SPD)

Interim assessment

One year in office: Germany’s government between crises and pressure to reform

In its first twelve months, the federal government has set foreign policy priorities and launched major reform projects in a difficult global environment.

Forschende trainieren im Cybersecurity-Zentrum ATHENE die Abwehr komplexer digitaler Angriffe.

Speed meets precision: this is the new German-Israeli cyber alliance

Cyberattacks on electricity grids, companies and government agencies are on the increase. A research project is developing strategies aimed at better protecting critical infrastructure.

Meinungsfreiheit ist in Deutschland ein hohes Gut.

Where do the limits on freedom of expression begin?

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Germany – but it still has its limits. Putting this much-debated issue into context.

Warnschild Radiokativität

40th anniversary

Chernobyl and Germany: a shock that continues to resonate

40 years ago, the reactor disaster in Chernobyl changed the German perspective on nuclear power – an issue that is now subject to renewed debate.

Maryam Mardani in Berlin. Die Journalistin lebt seit 2013 im Exil in Deutschland.

Journalist Mardani

“I couldn’t get rid of this feeling that I had to censor myself”

Censored in Iran, free in Germany: why it took the journalist Maryam Mardani some time before she could understand this freedom - and what she learnt about herself in the process.

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