Friedrich Ebert Stiftung - World Wide
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany's first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert.
Ebert, a Social Democrat from a humble crafts background who had risen to hold the highest political office in his country, in response to his own painful experience in political confrontation had proposed the establishment of a foundation to serve the following aims:
- furthering political und social education of individuals from all walks of life in the spirit of democracy and pluralism
- facilitating access to university education and research for gifted young people by providing scholarships
- contributing to international understanding and cooperation.
The Foundation, which was banned by the Nazis in 1933 and not re-established until 1947, continues today to pursue these aims in all its extensive activities.
As a private cultural non-profit institution, it is committed to the ideas and basic values of social democracy.
Facts and Figures:
- Staff: a total of 560 (2002) in the offices in Bonn and Berlin, the four academies and thirteen State and regional offices and abroad.
- Budget: approx. 110 million Euro (2002); mainly public funding.
- Events: in Germany alone more than 150,000 persons took part in some 3,000 educational courses, discussion forums and special-subject conferences in 2002.
- International cooperation: activities in more than 100 countries.
- Scholarships: approx. 1750 students received a scholarship in 2002, 260 of them from abroad. Over 400 new scholarships were awarded that same year.
- Library: largest specialized library on the German and international labour movement with over 650,000 volumes.
- Archives: largest collection of documents on the history of the labour movement in Germany.
International Work
Development Cooperation
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung maintains its own representations in 70 countries of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. 70 German staff are posted in these countries at present and - with the assistance of numerous local staff - are engaged in projects in the fields of socio-political development and economic and social promotion.
The Foundation spends approximately half of its annual budget on international activities. Its partners come from politics, business, associations, trade unions, academia, and also from the communication sector and cultural institutions.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung sees its activities in the developing countries as a contribution to:
- promoting peace and understanding between peoples and inside the partner countries
- supporting the democratisation of the State and society and strengthening the civil society
- improving general political, economic and social conditions,
- reinforcing free trade unions,
- developing independent media structures,
- facilitating regional and worldwide cooperation between states and different interest groups
- gaining recognition for human rights.
International Dialogue
In addition, the Foundation maintains offices in 33 countries of Western Europe, Central and South-East Europe, the CIS-countries, and also the USA and Japan. In these countries it fosters the dialogue between democratic forces with the aim of bringing about a balance of interests, resolving conflicts and drawing up policy options. It coperates in this process with partners from various social groups and organisations, such as trade unions, political parties, educational and research institutions, public administrations, and also city and local governments.
In the reform states in the eastern part of Europe, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is involved in supporting the process of democratisation, the transition to a market economy and the establishment of a civil society, in particular in the fields of labour market, social, environmental and media policies. It supports these countries in the process of accession to the EU.
Furthermore, the Foundation contributes to both the internal German and international debates with its journal "International Politics and Society" (available in English) and series of publications in German such as "Eurokolleg" and "Politikinformation Osteuropa". The section "International Policy Analysis" studies questions related to foreign policy, European integration and international economic and social politics.
National Work
Political Education
It is the aim of political education by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung to assist the citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany in responding to the changes in politics and society and thus to enable them to take part in a critical and proactive manner.
The corresponding activities which focus, amongst other things, on creating a well-balanced relationship between east and west Germany, take place in two conference centres, its academies and 13 regional offices.
The wide range of subjects and questions includes all fundamental issues concerning democracy, international relations and day-to-day politics.
Research and Consulting
The practice-orientated research and consulting activities of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung take place at the locations in Bonn and Berlin. The Foundation's centralised discussion circles on economic, technological, labour and social policies, and also on social and contemporary history focus on topics which will be pivotal in shaping our society in future. The content and orientation for these activities are provided by the report of the Future Commission of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
At the same time, the political and academic dialogue on problems of foreign and security policies is promoted. Analyses and potential solutions drawn up at symposia, special-subject conferences and discussion forums are made available to a wider circle of experts from politics, business and academia and to the interested citizens by means of a large number of publications.
Research on social and contemporary history is dedicated to the historical context of social democracy and trade unions. The Archives of Social Democracy and the Foundation's library in Bonn preserve "both the unprinted and printed memory of the labour movement". The Karl-Marx-House and its study centre in Trier are also part of the historical research activities.
In its graduate and post-graduate programmes the Foundation supports students and academics with outstanding qualifications from Germany and abroad for whom an academic education is not only a first step in their career but expresses their commitment to democracy, the State and society.
In its supplementary seminar programme the Foundation aims at building bridges between science and ist practical application and at creating a better understanding about the purpose and the nature of democracy and political policy.
For information on scholarships contact Regina Capellmann
For further information:
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Press and Information Unit Hiroshimastraße 17
D-10785 Berlin
Phone ++49(0)30/2 69 35-924
Fax ++49(0)30/2 69 35-951
e-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Godesberger Allee 149
53170 Bonn
Phone ++49(0)228/883-666
Fax ++49(0)228/883-396
e-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
