Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

This article discusses the complexities of Shona kinship structure and how it positions women through relationships that are based on consanguinity and affinity. The article, which is an auto-ethnographic discussion emanating from my insider status as a participant observer in Shona kinship structure, addresses women’s fluctuation between being women and “social men” in their patrilineages. Shona patriarchy involves the positioning of women in a kinship structure in which social hierarchy, status and gender are fluid and not necessarily aligned with biology. Women’s status in Shona kinship structure is not homogeneous and fixed, but contingent upon a flexible interpretation of gender. Este artigo discute a complexidades da estrutura de parentesco Shona e como ela posiciona as mulheres por meio da relacionamentos que são baseados na consanguinidade e na afinidade. O artigo, que é uma discussão autoetnográfica que emana do meu status de insider como uma observadora-participante na estrutura de parentesco Shona, aborda a flutuação das mulheres entre mulheres e “homens sociais” em suas patrilinhagens. O patriarcado Shona envolve o posicionamento das mulheres em uma estrutura de parentesco na qual a hierarquia social, o status e o gênero são fluidos e não necessariamente alinhados com a biologia. O status das mulheres na estrutura de parentesco Shona não é homogêneo e fixo, mas contingente a uma interpretação flexível do gênero.

This article discusses the complexities of Shona kinship structure and how it positions women through relationships that are based on consanguinity and affinity. The article, which is an auto-ethnographic discussion emanating from my insider status as a participant observer in Shona kinship structure, addresses women’s fluctuation between being women and “social men” in their patrilineages. Shona patriarchy involves the positioning of women in a kinship structure in which social hierarchy, status and gender are fluid and not necessarily aligned with biology. Women’s status in Shona kinship structure is not homogeneous and fixed, but contingent upon a flexible interpretation of gender. Este artigo discute a complexidades da estrutura de parentesco Shona e como ela posiciona as mulheres por meio da relacionamentos que são baseados na consanguinidade e na afinidade. O artigo, que é uma discussão autoetnográfica que emana do meu status de insider como uma observadora-participante na estrutura de parentesco Shona, aborda a flutuação das mulheres entre mulheres e “homens sociais” em suas patrilinhagens. O patriarcado Shona envolve o posicionamento das mulheres em uma estrutura de parentesco na qual a hierarquia social, o status e o gênero são fluidos e não necessariamente alinhados com a biologia. O status das mulheres na estrutura de parentesco Shona não é homogêneo e fixo, mas contingente a uma interpretação flexível do gênero.

This article discusses the complexities of Shona kinship structure and how it positions women through relationships that are based on consanguinity and affinity. The article, which is an auto-ethnographic discussion emanating from my insider status as a participant observer in Shona kinship structure, addresses women’s fluctuation between being women and “social men” in their patrilineages. Shona patriarchy involves the positioning of women in a kinship structure in which social hierarchy, status and gender are fluid and not necessarily aligned with biology. Women’s status in Shona kinship structure is not homogeneous and fixed, but contingent upon a flexible interpretation of gender. Este artigo discute a complexidades da estrutura de parentesco Shona e como ela posiciona as mulheres por meio da relacionamentos que são baseados na consanguinidade e na afinidade. O artigo, que é uma discussão autoetnográfica que emana do meu status de insider como uma observadora-participante na estrutura de parentesco Shona, aborda a flutuação das mulheres entre mulheres e “homens sociais” em suas patrilinhagens. O patriarcado Shona envolve o posicionamento das mulheres em uma estrutura de parentesco na qual a hierarquia social, o status e o gênero são fluidos e não necessariamente alinhados com a biologia. O status das mulheres na estrutura de parentesco Shona não é homogêneo e fixo, mas contingente a uma interpretação flexível do gênero.

Spyros Blavoukos and Panos Politis-Lamprou give a brief overview of the new financial instrument for joint procurement of defence equipment in the field of European defence.

Read the ELIAMEP Explainer here.

As powerful nations turn inwards and multilateral institutions falter, alternative coalitions need to step into the breach to push for global progress. Such flexible and diverse groupings will be most effective if they are based around issues and deploy new tactics to seize every chance to shape international norms. Len Ishmael, Stephan Klingebiel and Andy Sumner explain the concept of ‘like-minded internationalism’.

As powerful nations turn inwards and multilateral institutions falter, alternative coalitions need to step into the breach to push for global progress. Such flexible and diverse groupings will be most effective if they are based around issues and deploy new tactics to seize every chance to shape international norms. Len Ishmael, Stephan Klingebiel and Andy Sumner explain the concept of ‘like-minded internationalism’.

As powerful nations turn inwards and multilateral institutions falter, alternative coalitions need to step into the breach to push for global progress. Such flexible and diverse groupings will be most effective if they are based around issues and deploy new tactics to seize every chance to shape international norms. Len Ishmael, Stephan Klingebiel and Andy Sumner explain the concept of ‘like-minded internationalism’.

This study examines the effects of a nationwide shock-responsive social cash transfer scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on highly risk susceptible informal economy households in Kenya. Leveraging primary in-person survey data in a doubly robust difference-in-differences framework, we find that households receiving shock-responsive cash transfers were less likely to encounter income loss, poverty, and food scarcity compared to households not receiving them. The scheme also reduced the likelihood of engaging in costly risk coping such as selling productive assets. When comparing different pillars of the scheme with varying degrees of shock-responsiveness, we observe that the impacts were statistically significant only when payment cycles were pooled and the transfers were vertically scaled. The study adds to the global policy discussion on developing effective shock-responsive interventions, underscoring the merits of shock-responsive social cash transfers during crises.

This study examines the effects of a nationwide shock-responsive social cash transfer scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on highly risk susceptible informal economy households in Kenya. Leveraging primary in-person survey data in a doubly robust difference-in-differences framework, we find that households receiving shock-responsive cash transfers were less likely to encounter income loss, poverty, and food scarcity compared to households not receiving them. The scheme also reduced the likelihood of engaging in costly risk coping such as selling productive assets. When comparing different pillars of the scheme with varying degrees of shock-responsiveness, we observe that the impacts were statistically significant only when payment cycles were pooled and the transfers were vertically scaled. The study adds to the global policy discussion on developing effective shock-responsive interventions, underscoring the merits of shock-responsive social cash transfers during crises.

This study examines the effects of a nationwide shock-responsive social cash transfer scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on highly risk susceptible informal economy households in Kenya. Leveraging primary in-person survey data in a doubly robust difference-in-differences framework, we find that households receiving shock-responsive cash transfers were less likely to encounter income loss, poverty, and food scarcity compared to households not receiving them. The scheme also reduced the likelihood of engaging in costly risk coping such as selling productive assets. When comparing different pillars of the scheme with varying degrees of shock-responsiveness, we observe that the impacts were statistically significant only when payment cycles were pooled and the transfers were vertically scaled. The study adds to the global policy discussion on developing effective shock-responsive interventions, underscoring the merits of shock-responsive social cash transfers during crises.

Das Konjunkturbarometer des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) macht im Mai einen Sprung und erholt sich von dem Einbruch im April. Mit nun 90,1 Punkten liegt der Barometerwert gut sieben Punkte höher als im Vormonat und damit wieder auf dem Niveau von Februar und März. Die ...

Studie wertet erstmals Statistiken über seit 2017 an Steuerbehörden gemeldete Auslandskonten aus – Steuerverwaltungen und Finanzbehörden zögern bei Veröffentlichung und Bereitstellung der Daten – Die Zuordnung von über Firmenkonstrukte gehaltenen Konten zu ihren eigentlichen Eigentümer*innen scheint ...

This short commentary offers insights into different aspects of legitimacy building using the example of German polar research contributions to the International Polar Years (IPYs). The piece focuses on three aspects of legitimacy building, with polar science 1) being framed as research concerning the climate crisis, 2) as a subject of science communication, and 3) informing policy.

This short commentary offers insights into different aspects of legitimacy building using the example of German polar research contributions to the International Polar Years (IPYs). The piece focuses on three aspects of legitimacy building, with polar science 1) being framed as research concerning the climate crisis, 2) as a subject of science communication, and 3) informing policy.

This short commentary offers insights into different aspects of legitimacy building using the example of German polar research contributions to the International Polar Years (IPYs). The piece focuses on three aspects of legitimacy building, with polar science 1) being framed as research concerning the climate crisis, 2) as a subject of science communication, and 3) informing policy.

In October 2022, the EU established a military assistance mission in support to Ukrainian armed forces (EUMAM Ukraine). This article addresses two questions: First, how did the EU succeed in establishing EUMAM Ukraine, also in view of the fact that earlier attempts to establish an EU military training mission in Ukraine had failed? Second, what explains the mission’s unique design as compared with previously launched EU training missions? While a reformulation of EU member states’ security preferences driven by the heightened threat of an aggressive Russia is certainly necessary to explain the creation of EUMAM Ukraine, we argue that the launch and design of the mission can only be fully understood through a neofunctionalist approach, taking into account the effect of functional pressure and the activism of EU actors. The article shows how the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and the European External Action Service seized an initiative from member states and set the foundation for the mission of unprecedented scope and complexity. This finding illustrates the importance of Brussels-based actors in driving EU security and defence policy forward in times of existential security crisis in Europe.

In October 2022, the EU established a military assistance mission in support to Ukrainian armed forces (EUMAM Ukraine). This article addresses two questions: First, how did the EU succeed in establishing EUMAM Ukraine, also in view of the fact that earlier attempts to establish an EU military training mission in Ukraine had failed? Second, what explains the mission’s unique design as compared with previously launched EU training missions? While a reformulation of EU member states’ security preferences driven by the heightened threat of an aggressive Russia is certainly necessary to explain the creation of EUMAM Ukraine, we argue that the launch and design of the mission can only be fully understood through a neofunctionalist approach, taking into account the effect of functional pressure and the activism of EU actors. The article shows how the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and the European External Action Service seized an initiative from member states and set the foundation for the mission of unprecedented scope and complexity. This finding illustrates the importance of Brussels-based actors in driving EU security and defence policy forward in times of existential security crisis in Europe.

In October 2022, the EU established a military assistance mission in support to Ukrainian armed forces (EUMAM Ukraine). This article addresses two questions: First, how did the EU succeed in establishing EUMAM Ukraine, also in view of the fact that earlier attempts to establish an EU military training mission in Ukraine had failed? Second, what explains the mission’s unique design as compared with previously launched EU training missions? While a reformulation of EU member states’ security preferences driven by the heightened threat of an aggressive Russia is certainly necessary to explain the creation of EUMAM Ukraine, we argue that the launch and design of the mission can only be fully understood through a neofunctionalist approach, taking into account the effect of functional pressure and the activism of EU actors. The article shows how the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and the European External Action Service seized an initiative from member states and set the foundation for the mission of unprecedented scope and complexity. This finding illustrates the importance of Brussels-based actors in driving EU security and defence policy forward in times of existential security crisis in Europe.

Wirtschaftsforschung, die Geschichte schreibt: Seit einem Jahrhundert erforschen Menschen am Deutschen Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) die wirtschaftlichen und sozialwissenschaftlichen Grundlagen unserer Gesellschaft und liefern damit wichtige Impulse für aktuelle Debatten. Mit ...

Wirtschaftsforschung, die Geschichte schreibt: Seit einem Jahrhundert erforschen Menschen am Deutschen Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) die wirtschaftlichen und sozialwissenschaftlichen Grundlagen unserer Gesellschaft und liefern damit wichtige Impulse für aktuelle Debatten. Mit ...