The two main subjects of this publication are politics and social sciences, although cultural matters are also dealt with. The contributors are made up of intellectuals, authors, trade-unionists, journalists, and academics. The journal is edited by Johannes Rau and Hans-Jochen Vogel, among others, on behalf of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Each issue is devoted to one main topic, which is treated by different authors.
Political news is international in scope, although the main focus is on Germany and Europe.
Controversial topics under discussion e.g. wage policies, asylum law etc. are presented from different viewpoints. Also includes interviews with writers, journalists and others, and detailed book reviews. The language is straightforward.