Sairan Gargoli is the commander of the armed women’s units of the Kurdish-Iranian opposition party. Photo: Afshin Ismaeli

Dossier

Defence

Defence takes many forms. Resistance in queer and migrant communities. Women on the frontlines. Clothing that defies surveillance. In a violent world, how to can we preserve humanity—and maintain our search for the beauty in life?

Order print issue

We live in an age of crises and wars. We debate compulsory military service, types of weapons and strategies. We question if its the end of the values-based order and the dwindling significance of international institutions. What is often overlooked in these discussions are the people all over the world who live in fear for their lives – whether in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip or Iran. In the new issue of KULTURAUSTAUSCH on the theme of ‘Defence’, we want to give them a voice.  Oxford professor Cécile Fabre defines what constitutes “just defence”, and US lawyer Vincent Warren discusses how the rule of law can resist authoritarian movements. Cameroonian author Max Lobe describes, with blunt honesty, the violence against queer people in Europe, while Yuli Novak, director of the non-governmental organisation B’Tselem, explains the immense pressure human rights activists face in Israel today. An essay by Morgane Llanque tells the long story of women at war and the art project KOVR designs clothing to shield us from digital surveillance. And in his impassioned essay, Ukrainian author and soldier Artur Dron makes a heartfelt plea: Cancel Russian culture in times of war! 

“A war must have a just cause, be fought with the right intentions, and be a last resort.”
Cécile Fabre
Academic

Discover the entire issue!

In addition to our dossier, our 2/2026 issue contains further reports, interviews, and stories from around the world:

The Loneliness Epidemic in the West: Indian intellectual Suraj Milind Yengde reflects on why more and more people worldwide are living alone

The Other Yemen: Publisher Ibi Ibrahim has released a book featuring contemporary photography from the civil war-torn country

Postcolonial Gambling: Ben Myres’ computer game Relooted lets players return colonial looted art from European museums back to Africa

Order issue now!

Haven’t found what you were looking for?

KULTURAUSTAUSCH is the magazine for international perspectives. It is published quarterly and presents international cultural relations from fresh perspectives. We focus on people and regions that rarely feature in the German debate.

Renowned authors such as Serhij Zhadan, Fatou Diome, Liao Yiwu, Ibram X. Kendi or Gioconda Belli have their say, as do other voices from around the globe from Afghan women doctors to mine workers in Congo to racing drivers from Qatar.

KULTURAUSTAUSCH stands for diversity and close-up journalism. Published by ifa – Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations in partnership with ConBrio Verlag.