Publications - Heinrich Böll Foundation

Perspectives - Political Analysis and Commentary from the Middle East

Perspectives #4 November 2012

Qatar: Aspirations and Realties

November 25, 2012 - In the newest issue of Perspectives: Political Analysis and Commentary from the Middle East & North Africa, the authors explore a political actor in the Gulf region who is becoming more visible, seemingly more engaged in navigating these uncertainties, and in filling the gaps in the political scene: The state of Qatar. Perspectives is a quarterly journal dedicated to highlighting research and debate from authors who live and work in the region. It is now jointly edited and published by the three HBS offices located in Tunis, Beirut and Ramallah. more»

Print and Online Publication

Perspectives #3 February 2012 - Syria's Revolution: Society, Power, Ideology

- It is almost a year ago that Syrian citizens, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, courageously took to the streets in protest against the decades-long denial of their basic rights by the Assad regime..more

Print and Online Publication

Perspectives #2 May 2011, Special Issue: People's Power - The Arab World in Revolt

- Perspectives - Political Analysis and Commentary from the Middle East is a publication series of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s offices in Beirut and Ramallah provides a platform for analysis and viewpoints of experts from the region. The self-immolation of young and jobless Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi in the provincial town of Sidi Bouzid, being deprived of his vegetable stand and humiliated by the authorities, triggered popular movements and historic events in the Arab World completely unexpected in their magnitude…
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Print and Online Publication

Perspectives #1 April 2011: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World - Ambition and Peril

- Perspectives - Political Analysis and Commentary from the Middle East is a publication series of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s offices in Beirut and Ramallah. The first edition focus on the use of Nuclear Energy in the Arab World. With contributions from Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Hamed Beheshti, Ali Darwish, Leila Ghanem, Dennis Kumentat und Nikolaus Supersberger, Najib Saab, Larbi Sadiki, und Jürgen Trittin

PUBLICATION

Marginal Oil: What is driving oil companies dirtier and deeper?

February 12, 2013 - With conventional oil production in decline, the global oil industry is investing heavily in dirtier and riskier forms of unconventional oil such as heavy crude, tar sands, and oil shale. These investments pose a challenge to the climate, the environment, and local communities. This report is a document that describes the drivers behind marginal oil investments and gives an overview of existing and potential projects across the globe.. Sarah Wykes and Lorne Stockman more»

POLICY PAPER

The Green Economy – The New Magic Bullet? by Barbara Unmüßig, co-president of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung

- In view of the upcoming Rio+20 conference in Brazil, Barbara Unmüßig, co-president of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, published a policy paper focusing on the term “Green Economy”. First published in German in the magazine of the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN), the article discusses the definitions of “Green Economy” and “Green Growth” put forward by UNEP and OECD in 2011 and places them into the context of previous concepts like sustainable development. more»

Translation of "The Economics of Nuclear Power: An Update"

- Translation of "The Economics of Nuclear Power: An Update" by Steve Thomas who aims to identify the key economic parameters of nuclear power commenting on their determining factors and to review the assumptions of main forecasts from the past five years to identify how and why these forecasts differ. The paper also identifies what guarantees and subsidies the government might have to take to allow nuclear plants to be ordered. (Arabic)/ (English)

Arabic Translation of "The Myths about Nuclear Energy" 2nd Edition

- Arabic Translation of “The Myths about Nuclear Energy – How the Energy Lobby is Pulling the Wool over our Eyes” by Gerd Rosenkranz. 25 years after Chernobyl, the worst nuclear accident until now, history is repeating itself. Last year’s events in Japan highlighted once again the destructive potential of nuclear energy. (Arabic)/(English)

Presentation on Nuclear Power in a Post-Fukushima World

- As one of the panelists of the public debate on nuclear energy that was organized by Heinrich Boll Foundation, EDAMA and IUCN in 2011, Mycle Schneider, independent nuclear and energy policy analyst, aimed at providing the audience with some background information and data on the state of the nuclear industry. His presentation “Nuclear Power in a Post-Fukushima World” can be downloaded here. (English / Arabic)

International Politics - Publications/ Articles

Dr. René Wildangel in conversation with Sandra Schulz/ Deutschlandfunk

Representative of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in the West Bank Worried About Further Escalation in the Middle East

November 20, 2012 - 17 November 2012. Dr. René Wildangel, head of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s office in Ramallah, warns of an Israeli ground invasion in Gaza and a repetition of the "absolutely disastrous war" of 2008. Instead, an immediate cease fire and new policy options to include Gaza in regional negotiations are needed. more»

Article by Nadia Al - Sakkaf/ Chief Editor of the Yemen Times

Yemen’s revolution: The lack of public reasoning

- The sound of heart beats was deafening in Sanaa’s 20th street when protestors moved in the demonstration’s forefront. Around 15 snipers were positioned on rooftops on two sides of Dairi street intersection with 20th street. Protestors planned on Friday, March 18th, to expand the sit-in area and to erect new tents at the intersection.

An account of the people’s revolt in Yemen prior to the departure of Ali Saleh by Nadia Al-Sakkaf/ Chief Editor of the Yemen Times......

Egypt: The End of a Dynastic Republic? By Joachim Paul
Democracy protests in Egypt:EU has to decide whether it will continue with its support for authoritarian Arab regimes and their security apparatuses that, for decades, have prevented democractic change? or whether they are willing back a difficult, possibly chaotic process of democratic change.

Voices from insight: Dr. George Giacaman, Co-Founder and General Director of The Palestinian Institute for the Study of Democracy (Muwatin) in Ramallah, writes about the political implications of the event with the aid flotilla for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its political aftermath and the consequences for the international community. This article is also available on the hbs main website www.boell.de (in German).