ifa Podcast

Auf dem Weltwirtschaftsforum in Davos 2026 wurde vor dem Eintritt in eine neue geopolitische Phase gewarnt: einer Epoche dominanter Hard Power, in der militärische Stärke an Bedeutung gewinnt und multilaterale Zusammenarbeit unter Druck gerät. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird ein tiefgreifender Epochenbruch in der internationalen Ordnung sichtbar: Der Westen verliert seine Hegemonie im Bereich der Soft...

For decades, the United States stood as the world's dominant cultural power, shaping global life through Hollywood, Pop Culture, and Silicon Valley. Today, that influence is shifting. Since Donald Trump's second presidential term began in 2025, Washington has pursued a course that not only reduces cultural outreach – such as cutting exchange programmes like Fulbright – but also signals a substanti...

Nach dem Mauerfall 1989 folgte vor 35 Jahren die Wiedervereinigung, die vor allem das Leben im Osten Deutschlands veränderte und alle Lebensbereiche umfasste: Gesellschaft, Politik, Wirtschaft, alltägliches Leben und nicht zuletzt auch die Kunst. In dieser Episode von „Die Kulturmittler:innen“ diskutieren Amira El-Ahl, Sarah Alberti und Susanne Weiß über die Bedeutung der Kunst in der Erinnerungsk...

Als Wolodymyr Selenskyj im Februar 2025 das Weiße Haus betrat, wählte er bewusst keinen Anzug, sondern einen militärischen Look als Zeichen der Solidarität. Diese Geste wurde von vielen als politisches Signal gedeutet und wirft wichtige Fragen auf: Wie entschlüsselt man solche Zeichen richtig? Was verraten sie über Macht und Diplomatie? Um solche Missverständnisse zu vermeiden, brauchen wir fundie...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a daily companion for many—summarizing texts, providing quick answers, or finding the right image for a presentation. What often goes unnoticed, however, is that AI systems are far from neutral. Distortions in training data, the concentration of AI development in the Global North, dominant cultural perspectives, and the lack of material in less widely used l...

54 Jahre herrschte die Familie al-Assad über Syrien. Ende 2024 ging diese Diktatur zu Ende. Seitdem ist Syrien im Umbruch. Welche Rolle spielen Kulturtätige dabei? Und wie gestaltet die Zivilgesellschaft diesen kulturellen Transformationsprozess? Über diese Fragen und mehr spricht Moderatorin Amira El Ahl mit zwei Gästen in dieser Episode von Die Kulturmittler:innen. Clara Taxis ist Fachredakteuri...

Zwischen Marschflugkörpern und Museen: Sicherheitspolitik und Soft Power. Mit Carlo Masala Wie wehrhaft unsere Demokratie angesichts hybrider Kriegsführung, Desinformationskampagnen und weltweit erstarkenden Autokratien ist, diskutiert Carlo Masala mit Host Amira El Ahl. Seit dem russischen Angriffskrieg auf die Ukraine 2022 wird die Frage nach der demokratischen Wehrhaftigkeit Deutschlands und Eu...

Was bedeutet künstlerische Freiheit, wenn Kulturtätige zwar physisch in Sicherheit sind, sie aber weiterhin unter Druck stehen? Wie können verschiedene Positionen aus diversen künstlerischen Disziplinen, aus unterschiedlichen Herkunftsländern und auch Konfliktregionen in einer gemeinsamen Ausstellung gezeigt werden? In dieser Folge von Die Kulturmittler:innen spricht Host Amira El Ahl darüber mit...

What happens when artists censor themselves? How do social norms, financial constraints and political tensions influence artistic freedom? And what does it mean for artistic freedom when invisible barriers inhibit creative development? This episode features Sverre Pedersen, the managing director of Freemuse, an independent non-governmental organization advocating for freedom of artistic expression...

Seit mehr als zehn Jahren versucht Russland die ukrainische Kultur zu bekämpfen. In dieser Zeit sind nicht nur unzählige Menschenleben bedroht und ausgelöscht worden, sondern auch kulturelle Denkmäler, Museen und Theater der Ukraine zerstört oder ausgeraubt worden. Noch bestehende Kultureinrichtungen in der Ukraine können wegen des Krieges nur eingeschränkt oder gar nicht öffnen. Kurz: Kunst, Kult...

On 30 August 2021, US troops and their allies withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving the country under Taliban rule. In this episode of Die Kulturmittler:innen – Deep Dive we’re joined by Emran Feroz to explore the human rights situation in Afghanistan which is marked by a complex interplay of political instability, cultural practices, and restrictive policies. Women's rights in particular have been m...

Today is International Human Rights Day! Human Rights are the fundamental freedoms and protections that belong to every person, ensuring dignity, equality, and safety. They include the right to life, freedom from torture, and protection against discrimination. Unfortunately, Human Rights cannot be taken for granted and are often violated, for instance through war crimes or crimes against humanity....

Even today, colonial structures are still firmly anchored in cultural institutions and international relations. A decolonising perspective and critical approaches can contribute to changing these structures. The North American Cultural Diplomacy Initiative (NACDI) advocates for equitable and inclusive cultural relations. The International Cultural Relations Research Alliance (ICRRA) is a network t...

The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are two of the world’s most significant regional entities. In today’s episode, we explore the cultural cooperation between the two. Why was it so modest in the past and why is it crucial to enhance their cultural ties at the multilateral level? Interdisciplinary cultural historian and anthropologist Dr. David Ocón and Prof. Lluís Bo...

In 2022, Jina Mahsa Amini died in police custody after having been arrested because her headscarf was too loose. A wave of protest began in Iran - the protest cry echoed through the cities: ‘Zan, zendegi, azadi.’ ‘Woman, life, freedom.’ Although the protests might have quieted down in the media, the precarious situation has not changed. What is the current situation in Iran, especially for women?...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a transformative impact on International Cultural Relations. On the other hand, International Cultural Relations affect AI development. Amidst growing geopolitical competition, AI presents both opportunities and challenges. How can we harness AI’s potential while mitigating its risks? In this episode we delve into ethical, linguistic, creative, informational, and g...

Time and again, artists are forced to leave their home countries. They are fleeing restrictions on freedom of expression, censorship and threats to their livelihoods. Many find protection in Germany, a country that offers support programmes for artists at risk. But what needs should these programmes meet? How can we support artists sustainably and how can diaspora communities contribute with their...

„Kunst gibt nicht das Sichtbare wieder, sondern Kunst macht sichtbar“ – Paul Klee Sichtbarkeit in der Kunst ist ein Thema, das in den letzten Jahren an Fahrt aufgenommen hat. Es bilden sich immer mehr globale Plattformen, um Kunst aus aller Welt kuratieren und repräsentieren zu können. Diese Plattformen – sogenannte Biennalen – müssen allerdings auch in einen politischen Rahmen eingebettet werden....

Unrecognised states and ethnic minorities are often overlooked, even though people in power repeatedly emphasize the importance of listening to unrepresented groups and indigenous people. In this episode of “Die Kulturmittler:innen,” our host Amira El Ahl talks to Mercè Monje Cano, Secretary General of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). She explains how important the voices...

In the wake of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, a multi-layered migration pattern has emerged. Armenia and Georgia, nestled in the heart of the South Caucasus, have become havens for Russian and Ukrainian migrants. The influx of these new players in the cultural scene has set off a seismic ripple across the region. Who are these cultural actors? What stories do they bring with them? How have their...

In dieser Folge richten wir unseren Blick auf die Situation der Medien und die Pressefreiheit im Nahen Osten. Mit Host Amira El Ahl blickt Christopher Resch, Pressereferent für Reporter ohne Grenzen und ehemaliger freier Journalist auf die Lage in Westasien und Nordafrika, die Presse- und Medienfreiheit in der Region und auf die Rolle, die Medienhäuser und soziale Netzwerke dort einnehmen. Diese F...

China's Rise as a global economic powerhouse is one of the most consequential events of our time. This meteoric ascent challenges the existing world order, and in response, China has strategically harnessed its cultural diplomacy to bolster its influence worldwide. In this episode of "Die Kulturmitter:innen – Deep Dive" we speak with Ximena Zapata, a specialist in China-Latin America relations and...

Myanmar seemed to be on a well-paved road to democracy, after political reforms had been initiated in 2011 and the first free elections had been held after 25 years in 2015. The military coup in 2021 ended it abruptly. Ever since, a civil war has been simmering, in which thousands have been arrested and killed. Among those arrested was the democratically elected leader of the country, Aung San Suu...

While the art of curating was once led by museums, its role has been transformed over the years. A curator nowadays wears many hats: They are curators, producers, mediators – working across fields and disciplines, across borders and mediums, and across physical and virtual spaces. The freelance curator and architect Paula Nascimento is part of this ever-changing process. Having participated in int...

Colonial legacies continue to shape international cooperation and climate policy. While actors in the climate debates seem to be aware of that, the question remains: what is specifically being done about it? In this episode researchers Marina Caetano and Pedro Affonso Ivo Franco talk about their study "Analysing Decolonial Climate Perspectives: The Case of the Brazilian Legal Amazon Region" and ex...