International Politics

Global challenges can only be solved by global efforts. Many problems confronting industrialised countries and developing and transition countries alike do not stop at national borders. The demands arising from the need to protect the environment and natural resources, for example, could not be met without the support of international politics. A consensus must be reached regarding objectives and the best approach to an issue before a solution is possible. The topics of security and crisis prevention also need to be considered from a cross-national standpoint, for violent conflicts in one country generally influence the neighbouring countries in a region.

Additionally the concept of development cooperation has changed. Since 2005, when the Paris Declaration recognised the responsibility of developing countries for shaping their own futures, international cooperation has moved to the fore of development policy. Developing and transition countries must be able to assert themselves on the international scene. The network of national and international rules and regulations regarding the economy and politics continues to increase in complexity. Developing countries need to thoroughly understand these rules before they can actively participate in global solutions and advance their national and regional interests on the international stage.

Inwent supports its partner countries in getting the qualifications they need to meet the demands that individual responsibility and international politics bring. Our Development Diplomacy Programme (DDP) provides government executives with the know-how required to speak for the interests of their countries on equal terms in international discourse. The programme addresses cooperation in foreign trade and security, crisis prevention, and conflict management.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (BMZ) anchor country concept is fundamental to our programmes on international politics. The term “anchor country” refers to those countries that are key to the development of their respective regions. Due to their political or economical importance, they have considerable impact on stability, prosperity and poverty reduction in neighbouring countries. Together with the German Institute for Development Policy (DIE), Inwent offers a "Managing Global Governance" (MGG) course for young professionals active in politics in anchor countries. Participants from Egypt, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa have the opportunity to discuss sustainable options for cooperation both with each other and with experts from Germany over a six-month period.

International politics includes cooperation with countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The end of the Cold War era resulted in a number of new responsibilities for the countries in the European Union. Some of the countries of Eastern Europe have already joined the political union, and further candidates in Southeastern Europe are currently preparing for accession to the European Union (EU). Inwent provides the countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe with support on issues of democracy, rule of law, the free market economy, the environment, and conflict management. The "EU Introduction of Southeastern Europe" project, for example, includes components to strengthen decentralised structures and for professional training at the local and central administrative level.

Anchor country concept from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)