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Core Subject Areas and Main Topics of Policyinstitute.net and de-news.net

Sep 13, 2025 by author 0 Comments

Dear Network,

Readers engaging with the main project pages founded by yours truly — namely counter-terrorism.org, preventhate.org, and sahara-sahel.org (under the umbrella of Policyinstitute.net), and increasingly GermanPolicy.com (an initiative of de-news.net) — may have found themselves thinking about the topical composition reflecting the conceptual framework and ongoing editorial priorities shaping these sites.

Given the interconnected subject matter, a closer examination of the categorical structure offers valuable insights into the policy orientation that inform the mentioned publications. The tags representing the content reflect the platforms’ commitment to public discourse and multidisciplinary analysis aimed at informing decision-makers, researchers, and actors of civil society.

Conversely, the architecture of the websites is defined by a comprehensive set of overarching categories encompassing domains ranging from theoretical considerations pertaining to soft security to means of achieving social cohesion, not least by technological innovation. Readers can infer the core communicative goals of Policyinstitute.net and de-news.net from the taxonomy of the curated, mostly third-party content comprising press articles, strategic analyses, and official releases.

Broad topical areas:
Algorithmic Detection and Platform Governance, Communication, Language, Media Literacy Initiatives, Legal, Societal, and Ethical Responses to Hate, Gendered Hate and Misogynistic Extremism, Youth Radicalization in Digital Spaces, Counter-Terrorism Policy, PCVE (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism), Soft Security Approaches, Prevention and Resilience, Deradicalization Frameworks, Countering Online Hate Speech and Digital Extremism, Disinformation and Misinformation, Regional Policy Analysis in the Sahara-Sahel Zone, Agroecology in the Sahel, Youth Employment and Resilience in the Sahara-Sahel, Environment Food Security, Domestic Policy Developments in Germany, Economic Reform and the Welfare State in Germany.

The most important tags include:
Algorithms, Agriculture, Communication, Communities, Finance, Conference, Economy, Politics, Conflict Resolution, Legal, Education, Technology, Culture, Policies, Ethics, Deradicalization, Health, Covid-19, Migration, Insights, Language, Nutrition, LinkedIn, Rehabilitation, PCVE, Security, Relief, Society, Counter-Terrorism, Women.

You will now be equipped with a first understanding of the main subjects and specific topics at hand with reference to the above-mentioned project websites. With the contextual framing and thematic structure laid out, the foundation is well in place for informed engagement and, hopefully, further exploration of the content which is disseminated via LinkedIn and the websites listed above. One venue is to visit strategism.org with updates on all Policyinstitute.net projects.

In the future, I might procure a more complex, empirically-grounded index with regard to the topics which shape our understanding of soft security over time…

Sincerely,
Thorsten Koch, MA, PgDip
Policyinstitute.net and de-news.net
13 September 2025

Assorted

Policyinstitute.net: A Digitally-Driven Think Tank

Aug 7, 2025 by author 0 Comments

Policyinstitute.net operates in a markedly distinct manner from many conventional policy institutions. Whereas traditional think tanks often align themselves with specific ideological frameworks — be they liberal, conservative, libertarian, or otherwise — Policyinstitute.net prioritizes pragmatic engagement over partisan advocacy. Its core mission centers on countering violent extremism (CVE), promoting regional development, and advancing humanitarian objectives.

Hybrid organizational status

Policyinstitute.net maintains a hybrid formal status under German law, which reflects its innovative and unconventional structure:

  • It operates as a non-profit business entity rather than a registered association (e.V.)
  • The organization was founded by journalist Thorsten Koch and is legally registered under his name as an independent entrepreneur
  • Despite its business registration, Policyinstitute.net functions as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a clear mission

Distinctive operational model

Policyinstitute.net sets itself apart through a combination of specialized content and regional focus:

  • It produces high-quality, policy-relevant content tailored to both academic audiences and field practitioners
  • The think tank maintains an active digital presence, regularly publishing policy briefs, promoting analytical posts and articles on current affairs
  • Its primary geographic focus includes the United Kingdom, Germany, and the northern regions of Africa, with particular emphasis on the Sahel
  • With over 21,000 posts on LinkedIn and almost 68 million views across its websites, Policyinstitute.net has become a digital outreach powerhouse

Volunteer-driven engagement

The organization operates through a collaborative, volunteer-based model that mirrors the participatory ethos of traditional NGOs:

  • It engages selected volunteers in content creation and research, thereby fostering a dynamic and inclusive operational culture
  • This bottom-up approach complements top-down policy mechanisms, enabling multi-layered impact, especially on civil society

Mission and strategic focus

At its core, Policyinstitute.net is a lean, digitally sophisticated think tank with a humanitarian orientation. Its thematic priorities include:

  • Soft security and countering violent extremism (CVE)
  • Prevention of digital hate speech
  • Mitigation of disinformation and misinformation
  • Capacity building and institutional strengthening in the African Sahel

In a nutshell

Unlike legacy think tanks that rely on hierarchical structures, Policyinstitute.net embraces a digital-first, agile model. While it may not yet possess the entrenched clout of long-established institutions, it occupies a unique and increasingly relevant niche within the global policy ecosystem. Its operational flexibility and responsiveness to emerging challenges allow it to exert meaningful influence across multiple regions.

Through targeted digital advocacy and strategic content dissemination, notably, Policyinstitute.net has exerted considerable influence on regional political discourse, particularly in parts of Europe and in Northern Africa. With its contributions reaching millions of views – and through sustained engagement across social media platforms -, the think tank shapes narratives, supports civil society actors, and contributes to the development of resilient societies.

07 August 2025
(Compiled, before edition, with the help of Microsoft Copilot)

Analysis, Assorted

Website Statistics

Jul 21, 2025 by author 0 Comments ,

Dear Network,

I am thrilled to share the latest statistics for my websites under Policyinstitute.net, de-news.net, and thorstenkoch.com. From 2017 to 2024, the total views of pages and posts across my websites – ten altogether – soared to an impressive 67,921,258, marking a significant increase over the years. The annual visits to these pages rose from 23,981 in 2017 to a remarkable 19,893,073 in the year 2024.

Over the span of eight years since their inception, the number of projects expanded from two to seven, encompassing a diverse range of topics covered. The project pages include preventhate.org, counter-terrorism.org, strategism.org, sahara-sahel.org, GermanPolicy.com, GermanCorrespondent.com, and journal-allemand.com. Notably, the websites now feature three main landing pages: Policyinstitute.net, de-news.net, and thorstenkoch.com.

Looking ahead to the second half of 2025, the projected average traffic is set to reach 4,206,214 hits per month. This forecast indicates a total of 25,237,285 visits for the latter half of 2025, contributing to an estimated yearly total of 50,477,570 hits for 2025.

I am excited to continue updating you on LinkedIn about topics related to soft security, with a particular focus on addressing the issues of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), countering hate speech, and countering dis-/misinformation.

Sincerely,
Thorsten Koch, MA, PgDip
21 July 2025