Editorial

We present you with a Focus Group that studies an extended West African family. Tapping into his knowledge of German federalism, a Peking expert in constitutional law contemplates China’s future and its chances of one day acquiring a federal constitution of its own. The Rector of the Wissenschaftskolleg, for his part, takes a look backward and shares with us the social particularities and technical know-how of his job as his tenure comes to an end, and he relates just how his Rectorship has had an impact on his own research over these years. We also introduce to you a Ukrainian sociologist who conducts interviews with victims of military conflict and forced displacement and thus allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the macro-political situation in her homeland. By contrast, we profile an Italian architect whose gaze is fixed on the micro-elements of urban infrastructures in order that he may obtain a deeper insight into the history of European urban design. And as every year, we conclude with our Letter from Berlin – which this year might be more accurately titled Letter from Douma – in which a Syrian author, journalist and dissident describes the perfidious instruments employed by the Syrian regime in the continuing war and genocide.

The faces to be seen in our photo spread likewise reflect a wide spectrum. The leitmotif here is the play of light and darkness, an attempt to provide a visual commentary on the themes addressed in the various texts. Atmospheric changes in light are also to be found in the story behind our cover photo, which was chosen as a result of talks with Vittorio Magnano Lampugnani. It shows one of the famous Wallace fountains which still today adorn Paris. Sir Richard Wallace donated these fountains after the Franco-Prussian War so as to supply – not just – indigent Parisians with precious drinking water and simultaneously aid in the city’s reconstruction while adding to its beauty.