Ahead of the elections on November 3^rd, Americans are losing faith in their democracy. This gets illustrated in the new documentary film from the Bertelsmann Foundation in Washington, DC, which we will premiere to the European audience on Thursday. You are kindly invited to the virtual premiere!

What the Selection of a New Director General Means for Global Trade Governance

After years of bitter division on how to deal with migrants, the European Union has finally unveiled a new plan. But it is unlikely to gain widespread traction, not least as attitudes towards refugees have hardened amid the corona crisis.

The United Nations (UN) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Two-thirds of Germans have a positive view of the UN. But the overwhelming majority also see an urgent need for action. They demand international cooperation in solving global problems.

Taiwan’s first Digital Minister Audrey Tang has made Taiwan—with the help of the tech community and civil society—a world leader in innovative citizen participation. Europe can certainly learn a lot from Taiwan and Audrey Tang. We spoke to her.

In the year before the 2021 federal elections in Germany, fewer and fewer people are populist, especially in the political center. The decline of populism is putting populists on the defensive. At the same time, the dangers of further radicalization on the right are increasing.

Technologies such as contact-tracing apps and facial recognition software are raising hopes for improved containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, several algorithmic decision-making systems (ADM) have been rapidly implemented throughout Europe. In this special issue of the Automating Society Report, the Bertelsmann Stiftung and AlgorithmWatch provide an overview of European ADM systems designed to combat the pandemic as well as a classification of the various digital tools in use and the consequences they have for society.

Especially in times of a global recession, the EU should prioritize spending where it provides the most benefit to citizens and Member States in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. In their paper, Michael Thöne and Helena Kreuter show how the concept of European public goods allows such a prioritization of EU politics and provides a compelling narrative for a reorganization of EU politics towards more sovereign decision-making – but only where it is truly needed.

Join our live web discussion on September 7 with Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s renowned Digital Minister. Together with the tech community and civil society she made Taiwan a world leader in innovative citizen participation. Audrey Tang has a fascinating story to tell.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, most of the 17 follow-up projects from 2GETHERLAND 2019 are continuing. The participants of the camp are looking for solutions for fair opportunities for young people in various creative ways.