Germany: At a Glance

Germany’s external cultural policy (ECP) aims to promote liberal democratic values, cross-cultural dialogue, and “pre-political” spaces. Known as Auswärtige Kultur- und Bildungspolitik (AKBP), German ECP is delivered via several prestigious and prominent “arm’s length” institutions. These include the Goethe-Institut, DAAD, Deutsche Welle, and ifa. With activities in roughly 150 countries, over 10,000 staff, and approximately €2.1 billion in government support, Germany ranks among the top global ECP actors. However, the post-2022 geopolitical upheaval—including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, and an increasingly unreliable transatlantic partnership—have endangered this approach. Combined with an economic slowdown and more emphasis on “hard power,” these developments raise questions on independence and funding stability in the future.