HANNS SEIDEL STIFTUNG (HSS)
Mission/Mandate:
"Since its establishment on April 11, 1967, the Hanns Seidel Foundation has been practicing political education work with the aim of supporting "the democratic and civic education of the German people with a Christian basis" – as the foundation's statutes say. Hence, the political education work of the Hanns Seidel Foundation is based on a human ideal that includes both free personality development and autonomy as well as social responsibility and solidarity. Today, this mission is more important than ever, since requirements for more autonomy, a new "culture of independence" and an "active society of citizens" are increasingly evolving." (HSS Website, http://www.hss.de/homepage-e.shtml , accessed on 7 October 2008)
Target group:
Democratically minded citizens, German and international experts (political scientists, historians, economists, experts in law and education, communications specialists and psychologists), junior academics
Objective:
"The object of the association is ...
· to foster the democratic and civic education of the German people on the basis of Christianity,
· to promote education, popular and vocational training, including scholarships for students, in particular by opening up access to an academic training for gifted people with the appropriate character,
· to foster the academic sector, especially by means of conducting academic studies,
· to foster international attitudes and understanding between nationalities and to promote European unification, especially by inviting foreign groups and supporting journeys abroad,
· to sponsor cultural aims, especially to promote the preservation and maintenance of cultural works, and to promote the preservation of monuments,
· to promote development aid.
The association realizes the aims laid out in the statutes primarily by operating and maintaining an
· Academy for Politics and Current Affairs
· Institute for International Contact and Cooperation
· Institute for Adult Civic Education
· Institute for Foreign Relations."
Funding:
"The Hanns Seidel Foundation receives financial contributions from the federal government and from the state of Bavaria as well as from other benefactors. Participant fees and donations make up another small part of financing." (HSS Website, http://www.hss.de/4339.shtml , accessed on 7 October 2008)
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: "With employees in the Munich headquarters and 30 employees abroad, the Hanns Seidel Foundation manages 90 projects worldwide in 57 different countries (as per 2006). The majority of the projects are concentrated on Asia and the South Pacific (37%), followed by Africa, Muslim world and Israel (29%), Central Eastern and South-eastern Europe (19%), Latin America (11%), and Brussels/EU (4%)." (HSS Website, http://www.hss.de/4359.shtml , accessed on 7 October 2008)
Thematic focus: socio-political and job-oriented adult education (NEPAD); vocational and management training - special focus on women; support in establishing organizational structures: focus in particular on associations, federations, guilds, and cooperative; promotion of administrative activities and support in the establishment of state institutes - particular focus on the establishment of administrative systems oriented to the citizen and individual performance, and on advisory services on legal and administrative matters; consultation of governments and political parties - focus on political, economic and social reform; activities in rural development and the improvement of infrastructure (HSS Website, http://www.hss.de/4359.shtml , accessed on 7 October 2008)
Reporting methodology:
Documentation of selected expert conferences and symposia in various publication series (Berichte & Studien, Argumente und Materialien zum Zeitgeschehen, Studies & Comments)
Internal analysis and studies published in the publication series of the Archives for Christian-Social Politics (ASCP)
(HSS Website, http://www.hss.de/1537.shtml , accessed on 7 October 2008, translation ACCORD)
Monthly reports on international projects partly in cooperation with Liaison Bureaus in Moscow, Brussels and Washington (HSS Website, http://www.hss.de/1578.shtml , accessed on 7 October 2008, translation ACCORD)
Publication cycle:
Country reports monthly; Newsletter quarterly; journal "Politische Studien" bi-monthly
Publication cycle of other publications unclear
Languages:
Website and Annual reports in German, English, French and Spanish; other publications in German
Navigation of website:
Country reports only available on the German website; Annual report for download on any page of the site
Additional references:
