You are here: Homepage Print issues Issue I/2024 Broader horizons Dry, empty and hostile to life: the desert is etched in our collective imagination. But this unique landscape is often not what we expect Order copy (in German) On Lake Baikal in Siberia: The “Winteriade” takes place here at the beginning of March. Every five kilometers, an improvised food station provides tea and snacks Photo: Emile Ducke Day trip | Russia Icy marathon on Lake Baikal Every year at the beginning of March, extreme sports enthusiasts gather on Lake Baikal to take part in the “Winteriade”. Here, the athletes can also try their hand at disciplines such as ice fishing or ice golf By Kai Schnier 01/10/2024 Photo: Ole Witt Personal history | Myanmar “I always knew what I wanted” Doctor and author, Ma Thida, spent a long time in prison as a result of fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Regardless, she hopes to return to her country soon By Ma Thida 02/26/2024 Saïd Khatibi contemplates the empty space in the Algerian desert Photo: private Travel diary | Algeria A journey into the endless expanse From the airport to the Sahara: author Saïd Khatibi travelled to the Algerian oasis town of Timimoun. A text about the lure of the desert and the inspiration of emptiness By Saïd Khatibi 01/06/2024 Photo: Graham Denholm Desert trip | Australia “Not a sound, except for the wind” As a young woman, Robyn Davidson travelled alone through the Australian desert. Over the decades, she's returned again and again. A conversation about the fascination of extreme places Interview with Robyn Davidson 01/06/2024 To prevent the slope on which the houses stand from slipping under the weight of the lorries, they only stop at the foot of the hill Photo: Marco Garro Climate | Peru The thirsty metropolis: Lima Lima is one of the largest desert cities in the world. Of its inhabitants, 635,000 have no access to water. Climate change may make the situation in the Peruvian capital even worse By Elizabeth Salazar Vega 01/26/2024 Source: Ole Witt Playlist | Mongolia The sound of the Gobi Desert Songs about camels, sandstorms and minerals: The Gobi Desert is a rich source of inspiration for the Mongolian music scene. A playlist By Pau Szczap 01/06/2024 Rocky hills in the Negev Desert in Israel Photo: Getty Images Desert | Israel As fleeting as shifting dunes With their sweeping horizons and emptiness, deserts have inspired religions, myths and inner-reflection. But ever since last year’s violence, Israel’s Negev desert has been linked to new and devastating images By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen 02/05/2024 Using satellite images like this one, the NGO Border Forensics investigated how migration routes have changed in the Agadez region in northern Niger Source: Border Forensics Migration | Niger Deadly routes in the Sahara For people who cross Africa from south to north, the Sahara is often unavoidable. A look at Niger, where the desert becomes a grave for many By Ahmet Tchilouta Rhoumour 01/06/2024 Young men take a dive at the Oued Sayad dam near the Taghjijt oasis in southern Morocco Photo: M’hammed Kilito Environment | Morocco Desert oases under threat Oasis ecosystems are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Today, many are threatened by drought and mismanagement. Photographer M’hammed Kilito zooms in on the people working to save them Interview with M’hammed Kilito 01/25/2024 Children play on the beach in Iqaluit, Nunavut on wrapped canoes from the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest incorporated company in Canada, founded in 1670 Photo: Rosemary Gilliat Eaton / Library and Archives Canada Inuit | Canada Nunavik, my icy homeland In northern Canada, the indigenous population has always lived in balance with nature - but then Europeans found their way to the icy desert. The newcomers harvested its raw materials. A personal story about life on the periphery of North America By Sheila Watt-Cloutier 02/16/2024 Literature | Libya Messenger from the Sahara Born into a Tuareg family, Ibrahim al-Koni has written about his birthplace for half a century. On why the desert won't let him go and why words can never do it justice By Ibrahim al-Koni 01/26/2024 Desertification | Rumania “We are losing fertile land every year” Why are deserts increasing worldwide? An interview with the Romanian meteorologist Roxana Bojariu Interview with Roxana Bojariu 01/26/2024 Photo: Ziyi Le How we live now | China China’s youth opts out Working long hours and being part of the rat race are part of everyday life in China. But lots of young people are opting out - and talking about it on social media. Photographer Ziyi Le takes portraits of a disillusioned generation By Tami Xiang, Darren Jorgensen, Ziyi Le 01/25/2024 Young people in Kenya admire the starry sky through the “SkyWatcher Flextube”, a mobile telescope Photo: Daniel Chu Owen Education | Kenya Kenya’s travelling telescope How Susan Murabana inspires Kenya’s children with astrophysics and the wonders of the starry sky By Sharon Machira 01/26/2024 Technology | Diversity “Indigenous languages don’t make it easy for AI” Michael Running Wolf worked as a software engineer on the virtual voice assistant Alexa. Now he is revitalising indigenous languages with AI Interview with Michael Running Wolf 01/26/2024 Media | Iran Iranians do not trust state television By Omid Rezaee 01/26/2024 Looking back: Finnish writer Pirkko Saisio (center) in Helsinki Foto: privat Fiction | Finland “We constantly rewrite history” “The Red Book of Farewells” by Pirkko Saisio is a creative big bang. It explores love and loss in Finland in the seventies Interview with Pirkko Saisio 01/06/2024 Nigerian rapper Aunty Rayzor has released her latest album “Viral Wreckage” on the Ugandan label Hakuna Kulala Photo: Michelle Isinbaeva Pop culture | Uganda Get up and dance! In Uganda, even the dancefloor is politically contentious. The Nyege Nyege Festival and the Hakuna Kulala label provide the soundtrack for cosmopolitan Africa By Andrew Kaggwa 02/05/2024 Screenshot of the online archive „Black Med“ by artist duo Invernomuto Source: Invernomuto / Courtesy of the artists A sound archive Europe’s immigrant roots The web project “Black Med” is a diverse sound archive of the Mediterranean region. It shows how European culture has been influenced by Africa and Asia for thousands of years Interview with Invernomuto 01/06/2024 More print issues Issue II/ 2026 Defence Defence now dominates conversations around strategy, law and political influence. But beyond the rhetoric are individuals and communities whose lives are shaped by violence—both those who suffer it and those forced to enact it. In such circumstances, how do people retain dignity and a sense of hope? Issue I/ 2026 AI and culture Artificial intelligence promises progress and new possibilities - while at the same time raising questions about who we, as humans, will become in the future. As tech giants vie for global dominance, we are searching for answers to the loss of control, shifts in power, and the question of a more just future. Issue III+IV/2025 What will become of Syria? The Assad regime has fallen: this news moved millions of people in December 2024. Since then, a new government has come to power in Syria and many sanctions have been lifted. However, the new leadership's terrorist past has aroused mistrust. After the brutal massacres of minority groups, the initial euphoria has evaporated— yet hope for a new beginning remains. Issue II/2025 The End of the West The end of the West is currently being conjured up everywhere, whether as a feeling of collective exhaustion or as a sign of a shifting world order. Is this justified? In this issue, we look at the crisis of the West from a global perspective and question our self-image Magazine I/2025 Informal living Around one billion people live in informal settlements worldwide. Stereotypes of these dwellings often reduce them to poverty and deprivation. How are the people living in these places really doing? Issue III+IV/2024 Mexico Between resilience and a fresh start: Mexico is beloved by tourists but also struggles with inequality and rising violence. Will the new President Claudia Sheinbaum be able to usher in change? Issue IV/2023 Inner circle Unconditional love and huge conflicts: few relationships are as emotional as those of parents and children. What connects us - and what have we always wanted to say to our parents? Issue II+III/2023 Precious freedom Taiwan is a key democratic ally in Asia for the West. But, looking beyond the looming threat from China, what makes this place unique and what do people in Taiwan dream of? Issue I/2023 Living on less The limits of growth have been reached, the climate crisis is real, the war in Ukraine is shaking up global politics. With the world in crisis mode, it’s time to consume less! Issue IV/2022 Fear of women Since the withdrawal of NATO troops in August 2021, women in Afghanistan have been increasingly stripped of their rights, freedom and dignity by the Taliban. In this issue, they raise their voices! Issue III/2022 Are we running out of water? Without water, life on our planet would be impossible, but we are too careless with it. An issue on the complicated relationship between humans and the big blue Issue II/2022 Black and white thinking How fairly do we all live together? Who has power, who is left on the sidelines? How do we deal with other people’s opinions? Our issue on culture clashes Issue I/2022 Under the Earth We plunder raw materials, build secret escape tunnels and dig up remnants of prehistoric times: There is much more happening under our feet than we realise. A journey into the underground Issue IV/2021 Make it yourself Around the world, people design and create things by hand. A magazine exploring why we make things ourselves – with instructions for making ten objects from across the globe Issue III/2021 The new Poland Judicial reform, freedom of expression, women's rights: Poland is rife with dispute and the issues strike the heart of democrcacy. A deep dive into a divided nation Issue II/2021 The hunters and the hunted Many animals are loved and worshipped by humans. Many more are cramped in factory farms. A magazine about the ambivalent relationship between people and animals Issue II/2019 Issue II/2019 When do people feel guilty? And who gets to define what that is? A magazine with tales of perpetrators, victims and witnesses, about how we deal with injustice and the role of forgiveness Heroes Issue II/2018 The end of heroism has often been declared, but we are still in thrall to the notion of heroes. Who are our role models, what idols are adored around the world and why do we need them? Earth, how are you doing? Issue I/2018 People spend a lot of time mulling over how nature will look tomorrow. But the future of our planet is one thing above all others: Uncertain. But one certainty is how our world looks today. A snapshot. High. About elites Issue I/2015 Exquisite taste and good manners, influence, power and top positions: A themed issue about people who know more, achieve more, or simply have more, than others Latest The scam factories Cambodia has become a hub for online fraud — often run by trafficked foreign workers forced into the trade By Danielle Keeton-Olsen07/08/2026 Ramon Espinosa/AP Humanitarian crisis | Cuba“Cubans are being pushed to the limit” Playwright Yunior García Aguilera sounds a warning about Cuba’s humanitarian crisis — and explains what it would take to finally spark political change Interview with Yunior García Aguilera05/20/2026Photography | UkraineWar and a bit of peace The Kyiv photographer Vic Bakin portrays Ukrainian soldiers at home, far from the front line, in his photographic work “Hell Was Full” By Ole Witt05/07/2026 Foto: Ole Witt für KULTURAUSTAUSCH In exile | Hong Kong“I was threatened with ten years in prison” The activist Ray Wong is fighting for democracy in his homeland Hong Kong from Germany. Interview with Ray Wong Toi-yeung05/03/2026 Photo: Gundula Haage Hunting with drones In northern Georgia, Russian soldiers are pushing back the border. A few brave individuals are documenting the land grab on social media By Gundula Haage04/29/2026 Photo: Koshkin Serhii Culture wars | UkraineA question of guilt The Ukrainian soldier and writer Artur Dron calls on Europe to stop publishing Russian authors during the war. By Artur Dron04/29/2026 Photo: Amr Attamimi Sunny to partly cloudy The photo book “Photography from Yemen” changes the way we see a country torn apart by civil war. A conversation with editor Ibi Ibrahim By Ibi Ibrahim04/08/2026 Foto: Hannah Yoon Society | IndiaHome alone More and more people around the world are living alone. Have they embraced the ‘dolce vita’ – or merely succumbed to the dreary routines of late capitalism? By Suraj Yengde04/07/2026 Visual: Julia Neller Feminism | WarWho's afraid of Penthesilea? The notion of women going off to war still strikes people as unnatural. But the truth is, women have been fighting since the dawn of our species. By Morgane Llanque04/02/2026 Foto: Dieuveil Malonga Food culture | AfricaAfrica's culinary heritage Raised in the Republic of the Congo, trained in Germany, and shaped by travels across the African continent, Michelin-starred chef Dieuveil Malonga draws on an eclectic biography to enrich his cuisine By Dieuveil Malonga03/24/2026 Photo: B'Tselem Human Rights | Israel“The system is based on violence” Yuli Novak heads the Israeli NGO B’Tselem, which campaigns for the rights of Palestinians. As a result, she is under increasing pressure in her home country. By Judith Poppe03/24/2026Roma art | Poland“Art and activism belong together“ Textile artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas made art history in 2022 as the first Romani woman to exhibit at the Venice Biennale. How can Roma narratives be kept alive through art? Interview with Małgorzata Mirga-Tas03/17/2026
On Lake Baikal in Siberia: The “Winteriade” takes place here at the beginning of March. Every five kilometers, an improvised food station provides tea and snacks Photo: Emile Ducke Day trip | Russia Icy marathon on Lake Baikal Every year at the beginning of March, extreme sports enthusiasts gather on Lake Baikal to take part in the “Winteriade”. Here, the athletes can also try their hand at disciplines such as ice fishing or ice golf By Kai Schnier 01/10/2024
Photo: Ole Witt Personal history | Myanmar “I always knew what I wanted” Doctor and author, Ma Thida, spent a long time in prison as a result of fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Regardless, she hopes to return to her country soon By Ma Thida 02/26/2024
Saïd Khatibi contemplates the empty space in the Algerian desert Photo: private Travel diary | Algeria A journey into the endless expanse From the airport to the Sahara: author Saïd Khatibi travelled to the Algerian oasis town of Timimoun. A text about the lure of the desert and the inspiration of emptiness By Saïd Khatibi 01/06/2024
Photo: Graham Denholm Desert trip | Australia “Not a sound, except for the wind” As a young woman, Robyn Davidson travelled alone through the Australian desert. Over the decades, she's returned again and again. A conversation about the fascination of extreme places Interview with Robyn Davidson 01/06/2024
To prevent the slope on which the houses stand from slipping under the weight of the lorries, they only stop at the foot of the hill Photo: Marco Garro Climate | Peru The thirsty metropolis: Lima Lima is one of the largest desert cities in the world. Of its inhabitants, 635,000 have no access to water. Climate change may make the situation in the Peruvian capital even worse By Elizabeth Salazar Vega 01/26/2024
Source: Ole Witt Playlist | Mongolia The sound of the Gobi Desert Songs about camels, sandstorms and minerals: The Gobi Desert is a rich source of inspiration for the Mongolian music scene. A playlist By Pau Szczap 01/06/2024
Rocky hills in the Negev Desert in Israel Photo: Getty Images Desert | Israel As fleeting as shifting dunes With their sweeping horizons and emptiness, deserts have inspired religions, myths and inner-reflection. But ever since last year’s violence, Israel’s Negev desert has been linked to new and devastating images By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen 02/05/2024
Using satellite images like this one, the NGO Border Forensics investigated how migration routes have changed in the Agadez region in northern Niger Source: Border Forensics Migration | Niger Deadly routes in the Sahara For people who cross Africa from south to north, the Sahara is often unavoidable. A look at Niger, where the desert becomes a grave for many By Ahmet Tchilouta Rhoumour 01/06/2024
Young men take a dive at the Oued Sayad dam near the Taghjijt oasis in southern Morocco Photo: M’hammed Kilito Environment | Morocco Desert oases under threat Oasis ecosystems are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Today, many are threatened by drought and mismanagement. Photographer M’hammed Kilito zooms in on the people working to save them Interview with M’hammed Kilito 01/25/2024
Children play on the beach in Iqaluit, Nunavut on wrapped canoes from the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest incorporated company in Canada, founded in 1670 Photo: Rosemary Gilliat Eaton / Library and Archives Canada Inuit | Canada Nunavik, my icy homeland In northern Canada, the indigenous population has always lived in balance with nature - but then Europeans found their way to the icy desert. The newcomers harvested its raw materials. A personal story about life on the periphery of North America By Sheila Watt-Cloutier 02/16/2024
Literature | Libya Messenger from the Sahara Born into a Tuareg family, Ibrahim al-Koni has written about his birthplace for half a century. On why the desert won't let him go and why words can never do it justice By Ibrahim al-Koni 01/26/2024
Desertification | Rumania “We are losing fertile land every year” Why are deserts increasing worldwide? An interview with the Romanian meteorologist Roxana Bojariu Interview with Roxana Bojariu 01/26/2024
Photo: Ziyi Le How we live now | China China’s youth opts out Working long hours and being part of the rat race are part of everyday life in China. But lots of young people are opting out - and talking about it on social media. Photographer Ziyi Le takes portraits of a disillusioned generation By Tami Xiang, Darren Jorgensen, Ziyi Le 01/25/2024
Young people in Kenya admire the starry sky through the “SkyWatcher Flextube”, a mobile telescope Photo: Daniel Chu Owen Education | Kenya Kenya’s travelling telescope How Susan Murabana inspires Kenya’s children with astrophysics and the wonders of the starry sky By Sharon Machira 01/26/2024
Technology | Diversity “Indigenous languages don’t make it easy for AI” Michael Running Wolf worked as a software engineer on the virtual voice assistant Alexa. Now he is revitalising indigenous languages with AI Interview with Michael Running Wolf 01/26/2024
Looking back: Finnish writer Pirkko Saisio (center) in Helsinki Foto: privat Fiction | Finland “We constantly rewrite history” “The Red Book of Farewells” by Pirkko Saisio is a creative big bang. It explores love and loss in Finland in the seventies Interview with Pirkko Saisio 01/06/2024
Nigerian rapper Aunty Rayzor has released her latest album “Viral Wreckage” on the Ugandan label Hakuna Kulala Photo: Michelle Isinbaeva Pop culture | Uganda Get up and dance! In Uganda, even the dancefloor is politically contentious. The Nyege Nyege Festival and the Hakuna Kulala label provide the soundtrack for cosmopolitan Africa By Andrew Kaggwa 02/05/2024
Screenshot of the online archive „Black Med“ by artist duo Invernomuto Source: Invernomuto / Courtesy of the artists A sound archive Europe’s immigrant roots The web project “Black Med” is a diverse sound archive of the Mediterranean region. It shows how European culture has been influenced by Africa and Asia for thousands of years Interview with Invernomuto 01/06/2024
Issue II/ 2026 Defence Defence now dominates conversations around strategy, law and political influence. But beyond the rhetoric are individuals and communities whose lives are shaped by violence—both those who suffer it and those forced to enact it. In such circumstances, how do people retain dignity and a sense of hope?
Issue I/ 2026 AI and culture Artificial intelligence promises progress and new possibilities - while at the same time raising questions about who we, as humans, will become in the future. As tech giants vie for global dominance, we are searching for answers to the loss of control, shifts in power, and the question of a more just future.
Issue III+IV/2025 What will become of Syria? The Assad regime has fallen: this news moved millions of people in December 2024. Since then, a new government has come to power in Syria and many sanctions have been lifted. However, the new leadership's terrorist past has aroused mistrust. After the brutal massacres of minority groups, the initial euphoria has evaporated— yet hope for a new beginning remains.
Issue II/2025 The End of the West The end of the West is currently being conjured up everywhere, whether as a feeling of collective exhaustion or as a sign of a shifting world order. Is this justified? In this issue, we look at the crisis of the West from a global perspective and question our self-image
Magazine I/2025 Informal living Around one billion people live in informal settlements worldwide. Stereotypes of these dwellings often reduce them to poverty and deprivation. How are the people living in these places really doing?
Issue III+IV/2024 Mexico Between resilience and a fresh start: Mexico is beloved by tourists but also struggles with inequality and rising violence. Will the new President Claudia Sheinbaum be able to usher in change?
Issue IV/2023 Inner circle Unconditional love and huge conflicts: few relationships are as emotional as those of parents and children. What connects us - and what have we always wanted to say to our parents?
Issue II+III/2023 Precious freedom Taiwan is a key democratic ally in Asia for the West. But, looking beyond the looming threat from China, what makes this place unique and what do people in Taiwan dream of?
Issue I/2023 Living on less The limits of growth have been reached, the climate crisis is real, the war in Ukraine is shaking up global politics. With the world in crisis mode, it’s time to consume less!
Issue IV/2022 Fear of women Since the withdrawal of NATO troops in August 2021, women in Afghanistan have been increasingly stripped of their rights, freedom and dignity by the Taliban. In this issue, they raise their voices!
Issue III/2022 Are we running out of water? Without water, life on our planet would be impossible, but we are too careless with it. An issue on the complicated relationship between humans and the big blue
Issue II/2022 Black and white thinking How fairly do we all live together? Who has power, who is left on the sidelines? How do we deal with other people’s opinions? Our issue on culture clashes
Issue I/2022 Under the Earth We plunder raw materials, build secret escape tunnels and dig up remnants of prehistoric times: There is much more happening under our feet than we realise. A journey into the underground
Issue IV/2021 Make it yourself Around the world, people design and create things by hand. A magazine exploring why we make things ourselves – with instructions for making ten objects from across the globe
Issue III/2021 The new Poland Judicial reform, freedom of expression, women's rights: Poland is rife with dispute and the issues strike the heart of democrcacy. A deep dive into a divided nation
Issue II/2021 The hunters and the hunted Many animals are loved and worshipped by humans. Many more are cramped in factory farms. A magazine about the ambivalent relationship between people and animals
Issue II/2019 Issue II/2019 When do people feel guilty? And who gets to define what that is? A magazine with tales of perpetrators, victims and witnesses, about how we deal with injustice and the role of forgiveness
Heroes Issue II/2018 The end of heroism has often been declared, but we are still in thrall to the notion of heroes. Who are our role models, what idols are adored around the world and why do we need them?
Earth, how are you doing? Issue I/2018 People spend a lot of time mulling over how nature will look tomorrow. But the future of our planet is one thing above all others: Uncertain. But one certainty is how our world looks today. A snapshot.
High. About elites Issue I/2015 Exquisite taste and good manners, influence, power and top positions: A themed issue about people who know more, achieve more, or simply have more, than others
The scam factories Cambodia has become a hub for online fraud — often run by trafficked foreign workers forced into the trade By Danielle Keeton-Olsen07/08/2026
Ramon Espinosa/AP Humanitarian crisis | Cuba“Cubans are being pushed to the limit” Playwright Yunior García Aguilera sounds a warning about Cuba’s humanitarian crisis — and explains what it would take to finally spark political change Interview with Yunior García Aguilera05/20/2026
Photography | UkraineWar and a bit of peace The Kyiv photographer Vic Bakin portrays Ukrainian soldiers at home, far from the front line, in his photographic work “Hell Was Full” By Ole Witt05/07/2026
Foto: Ole Witt für KULTURAUSTAUSCH In exile | Hong Kong“I was threatened with ten years in prison” The activist Ray Wong is fighting for democracy in his homeland Hong Kong from Germany. Interview with Ray Wong Toi-yeung05/03/2026
Photo: Gundula Haage Hunting with drones In northern Georgia, Russian soldiers are pushing back the border. A few brave individuals are documenting the land grab on social media By Gundula Haage04/29/2026
Photo: Koshkin Serhii Culture wars | UkraineA question of guilt The Ukrainian soldier and writer Artur Dron calls on Europe to stop publishing Russian authors during the war. By Artur Dron04/29/2026
Photo: Amr Attamimi Sunny to partly cloudy The photo book “Photography from Yemen” changes the way we see a country torn apart by civil war. A conversation with editor Ibi Ibrahim By Ibi Ibrahim04/08/2026
Foto: Hannah Yoon Society | IndiaHome alone More and more people around the world are living alone. Have they embraced the ‘dolce vita’ – or merely succumbed to the dreary routines of late capitalism? By Suraj Yengde04/07/2026
Visual: Julia Neller Feminism | WarWho's afraid of Penthesilea? The notion of women going off to war still strikes people as unnatural. But the truth is, women have been fighting since the dawn of our species. By Morgane Llanque04/02/2026
Foto: Dieuveil Malonga Food culture | AfricaAfrica's culinary heritage Raised in the Republic of the Congo, trained in Germany, and shaped by travels across the African continent, Michelin-starred chef Dieuveil Malonga draws on an eclectic biography to enrich his cuisine By Dieuveil Malonga03/24/2026
Photo: B'Tselem Human Rights | Israel“The system is based on violence” Yuli Novak heads the Israeli NGO B’Tselem, which campaigns for the rights of Palestinians. As a result, she is under increasing pressure in her home country. By Judith Poppe03/24/2026
Roma art | Poland“Art and activism belong together“ Textile artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas made art history in 2022 as the first Romani woman to exhibit at the Venice Biennale. How can Roma narratives be kept alive through art? Interview with Małgorzata Mirga-Tas03/17/2026
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/c/csm_DSC_0610_c98aae4cee.jpg)
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/c/csm_DSC_0610_db6e9b3aa9.jpg)
