Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) is a political foundation. In Germany, 16 regional offices and two conference centers offer a wide variety of civic education conferences and events. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The foundation’s headquarters are situated in Sankt Augustin near Bonn, and also in Berlin. There, an additional conference center, named “The Academy”, was opened in 1998.

We are proud to bear the name of Konrad Adenauer. The first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany’s name and principles are our guidelines, duty, and obligation. Established in 1955 as “Society for Christian-Democratic Civic Education”, the Foundation took on the name of the first Federal Chancellor in 1964.

At home as well as abroad, our civic education programs aim at promoting freedom and liberty, peace, and justice. We focus on consolidating democracy, the unification of Europe and the strengthening of transatlantic relations, as well as on development cooperation.

As a think-tank and consulting agency, our soundly researched scientific fundamental concepts and current analyses are meant to offer a basis for possible political action. The Berlin Academy is the national forum of dialogue between the spheres of politics, economy, science, and society.

Our conferences and events attract people who 'have something to say'. In Germany, we offer more than 2,500 events per year which attract 145,000 participants. We provide moral and material support to intellectually gifted young people, not only from Germany, but also from Central and Eastern Europe and developing countries. We stay in close contact with our more than 10.000 alumni.

Exhibitions, readings, and awards are also distinctive elements of our work. We promote young artists, and annually award our prestigious Literary Prize. Our scholarship programs help young journalists by offering them projects specifically geared to their needs. Since 1980, we have annually awarded a prize for excellent local journalism. Since 2002, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has awarded its “Prize Social Market Economy” to personalities of exceptional merit in safeguarding and developing the social market economy.

The Archive for Christian Democratic Politics researches and studies the history of Christian Democracy in Germany and Europe. Interested readers profit from an enormous number of documents, modern media, and a library containing more than 157,000 publications on politics and contemporary history.