Essays
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Saudi Arabia's foreign policyCatalogue of political failures
The world of the Arab states is in dramatic decline. In this time of crisis, Saudi Arabia has stepped into a leadership role. According to Stefan Buchen, it is not up to the job
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Muslim anti-SemitismPointing the finger
In the wake of Donald Trump's declaration that he would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, enraged Muslims took to the streets in Germany, some of them chanting anti-Semitic slogans. German politicians swiftly responded, outdoing each other with each condemnation. In this essay, Stefan Buchen explains why this should not be let pass without comment
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Political discourse in the Arab worldLast ditch democracy
In this essay, Lebanese journalist Karam Hilo asks whether it is possible to apply the Western concept of democracy – as is – to the countries of the Arab world. Or does the unique political culture of this corner of the globe call for a certain degree of adaptation?
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Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in EuropeTargeting the Muslim population: Presumed guilty
Ascribing a presumption of guilt to all Muslims on the issue of anti-Jewish sentiment is nothing more than a strategy successfully deployed by right wing groups in their anti-migrant campaigns, argues Ingrid Thurner
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Islam in EuropeAn appeal to Muslims: Call out the terrorists!
Muslims in the West need to shoulder some of the burden when it comes to combatting extremism, otherwise they themselves may well fall under the wheels of the proverbial bus. Commentary by Mousa Barhouma
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Syrians in GermanyWriter Widad Nabi: ″Integration is the search for common ground″
Faced with war and death in my home country I fled to Germany, no longer a writer but a refugee. For me it′s the chance to start over and find my way in this wonderful country. Essay by Widad Nabi
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Middle EastEnding Iraq′s humanitarian crisis: Trust the people
Provided its leaders correctly reassess the changing regional and domestic dynamics and agree to allow all Iraqis, regardless of their sect and cultural orientation, to choose their own political and civil structure, the country can still overcome the horrors of the past 14 years. Essay by Alon Ben-Meir
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Arab nationalism and political IslamSecularism – ″the other option″?
In his essay, Syrian publicist and writer Hammud Hammud debunks conventional Islamist prejudices regarding the concept of secularism and examines the ambivalence of political Islam and Arab nationalism
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Violence in the Arab worldBorn of a barbaric state
In this essay, the Syrian writer Morris Ayek describes how repressive Arab states have succeeded in creating societies modelled on themselves
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Islam in the Middle EastThe curse of religiosity
Some regard the fanatical and raging tide currently sweeping through Arab societies as variations of a "latent Daesh-isation". Indeed, argues Khaled Hroub, despite falling short of the use of violence or arms, in its most extreme form, its ideological principles and convictions share common ground with the heinous beliefs of Islamic State