Forum for International Cultural Relations
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CULTURE REPORT PROGRESSE EUROPE

Essays, specialist articles, reports, interviews, ...

Businessman and businesswoman shaking hands with poles over a column.

South Caucasus: Struggle for Peace

By Ira Peter

For decades, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought over Nagorno-Karabakh. In September 2023, Azerbaijan conquered the region. Since then, the neighbours have been struggling to reach a peace treaty. What do the two countries need for lasting peace? And how can the EU support them?

Essay

On Reconciliation

By Dragan Velikić

At the beginning of this year, the Serbian opposition politician Nikola Sandulović was picked up by the Serbian secret service and severely mistreated. He had apologized for Serbian crimes in Kosovo. How can true peace and reconciliation be established in former Yugoslavia?

Essay

The EU Could Have Done More to Promote Recon­ciliation

By Augustin Palokaj

Nothing more than the real prospect for EU membership will help the West Balkan region to overcome atrocities and divisions from the past. Restoring trust on the EU enlargement process can also lead to greater confidence within the region.

Essay
Illustration of a running birdcage.

A Suitcase of Anxiety

By Slavenka Drakulić

Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, or former Yugoslavia: Every war kills civilians and produces refugees. “In that respect all wars are the same, wherever they happen,” says the Croatian writer Slavenka Drakulić.

Essay
Glass globe with the Himalayas and petroglyphs

In the Heights of the Himalayas

By Fidel Devkota

Melting glaciers, heavy rain, landslides on one side, drought on the other. In the heights of the Himalayas, climate change is particularly noticeable. And it is increasingly threatening newly discovered cultural monuments. What can be done?

Essay
Illustration: Hands pull apart a power cable with plug.

The Western Balkans: The Genesis of the Frozen Conflict Lines

By Beqë Cufaj

How can Europe learn from the experiences of recent decades in the Western Balkans? First of all, through an analysis of what happened, the genesis of the frozen lines of conflict in the former Yugoslavia. On this basis, the European Union and its Member States should develop a coherent foreign, development, security and migration policy.

Specialist Article
Illustration: The globe lies on the spine of a book and a spotlight shines on it.

Speechless into the Future

By Amitav Ghosh

Does Western literature steer clear of climate change? Indian writer Amitav Ghosh calls on authors in the West to take climate change more into account in novels. There is still no world novel on climate change.

Essay
Illustration: People form a network.

Togetherness In The Time Interplay

By Carlos Alvarado Quesada

Given the interconnectedness of our world today, as evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as other global conflicts, clinging to the "Us versus Them" perspective might offer temporary benefits for some. However, it fails to encompass the long-term consequences that cannot be contained to safeguard a select few, says our author and former president of Costa Rica.

Essay
Illustration: European flag as a puzzle with missing puzzle pieces and Balkan map.

Addressing the EU’s Credibility Gap in the Western Balkans

By Jasmin Mujanović

The EU’s standing in the Western Balkans has reached a low point: few and increasingly fewer citizens still trust in the bloc’s purported commitments to promoting peace, democracy, or the rule of law, and hardly anyone believes that membership is on the horizon for any of these states. What can be done to regain trust?

Specialist Article
Illustration: Hands hold a globe up in the air.

In the Floods of Lagos, in the Heat of Khartoum

By Gina Ziervogel

The majority of African cities are vulnerable to extreme weather hazards that impact the livelihoods of city-dwellers. Yet cities are rarely included in the main policy agenda for climate adaptation.

Specialist Article
Illustration: A person is looking through binoculars in which a person is reflected, in the background a fireball falls to earth.

Media in the Climate Crisis

By Sara Schurmann

For decades, there has been excellent reporting around climate change, but it is still not editorial standard. Consistent journalistic classification could contribute decisively to appropriate action.

Specialist Article
Illustration: the globe is divided into two by a red lightning bolt.

Cramming for Climate Protection

By Gudrun Spahn-Skrotzki

The car, the refrigerator, the television set – for decades, the Western lifestyle was desirable for most people on earth – and still is. But the more this way of life spreads, the closer the world is to climate collapse. How can education contribute to sustainability, societal transformation, and global justice?

Essay