The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) is committed to fostering impactful foreign and security policy on a German and European level that promotes democracy, peace, and the rule of law. Since its founding in 1955, the nonpartisan organization’s members and research have continued to shape the debate on foreign policy issues in Germany.
DGAP’s experts provide decision-makers in politics, business, and civil society with strategic advice based on their foreign policy research and train young professionals in international leadership programs.
Through its work, DGAP aims to:
- facilitate well-grounded foreign policy decisions
- promote informed debate on foreign policy issues in Germany
- further develop German expertise in foreign policy
DGAP’s Research Institute
conducts action-oriented, practical research. Its more than 40 experts develop concrete solutions for pressing foreign policy concerns and contribute expertise to strategically address the challenges of an increasingly unstable world. DGAP’s Research Institute sees itself as a consultant, mediator, and driver of operative foreign policy.
DGAP’s core themes are:
- International order and democracy
- Security and defense
- Geo-economics
- Technology and digitization
- Migration
- Climate
At DGAP, foreign policy is discussed by the decision-makers who shape it. Government officials from Germany and other countries, members of parliament and their staff, and ambassadors and diplomats regularly come together at DGAP’s events, more than 150 of which are held at its offices in Berlin-Tiergarten each year.
Join the Debate on Foreign Policy – as a DGAP Member
DGAP, a non-profit association, has around 2,800 members who are committed to its goals. Those who are interested in foreign policy and under the age of 35 can join Young DGAP. Its more than 900 members value the unique opportunities for knowledge-sharing and networking that it provides.
Seven regional forums actively facilitate debate on current foreign policy topics throughout Germany – from Hamburg to Munich, Düsseldorf to Dresden – and on to Brussels.
Germany’s Leading Foreign Policy Journal
The German-language journal Internationale Politik (IP), which is published by DGAP, starts off where the news stops. Through its content, look, and structure – which were completely redesigned in late 2019 – the magazine provides clear analysis and detailed background on the complex issues of foreign policy. Published every two months, IP is available by subscription and sold at bookstores found in railway stations and airports throughout Germany.
Since 2015, IP has had a digital, English-language counterpart, the Internationale Politik Quarterly (formerly Berlin Policy Journal). Through it, DGAP offers German perspectives to an international audience, contributing to the global debate on issues of European foreign policy.
DGAP Foreign Policy Library
With more than 85,000 books and over 200 specialist journals, DGAP is home to one of Germany’s largest publicly accessible specialist libraries on foreign policy. The library team can also provide customized searches for literature on specific topics in this area.
