Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung

“In the service of democracy, peace and development” is the principle guiding the work of the Hanns- Seidel-Stiftung (HSS), headquartered in Munich. Established in 1967, it is an independent German political institution, yet espouses ideals close to those of the Christian Social Union (CSU) and its sister party Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The foundation (Stiftung) is named after Hanns Seidel (1901-1961), one of the co-founders of Germany’s right-wing conservative party Christian Social Union (CSU) founded in 1945. Hanns Seidel was elected member to the Bavarian State Parliament in 1946, later he became Party Chairman of the CSU, Minister of State for Economic Affairs in Bavaria and finally Minister-President of Bavaria from 1957 to 1960.  

The Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung works at the interface of politics and science. Its task is to analyse political inter-relations, to create a scientific basis for political action and to bring experts, multiplicators and decision-makers together. Through our Scholarship Organisation, we also foster highly talented students both from Germany and abroad. Our graduates retain their connection to us for many years through membership of an alumni network for former scholarship holders.

The Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung operates two educational centres in Germany, in Wildbad Kreuth (Upper Bavaria) and at Banz Monastery (Franconia). We also have a modern conference centre in Munich. The Hanns Seidel Stiftung’s Institute for International Contact and Cooperation (ICC) has been active abroad for more than 30 years. The HSS works throughout the world towards “good governance”, democracy, peace, the rule of law and sustainable development. What started sporadically in 1976 developed in the course of the years into a global task, so that today over 90 projects are being carried out in over 50 countries. Through its many different development cooperation projects, the Hanns Seidel Stiftung assumes global responsibility.