Politics

Afghanistan's new president: Ashraf Ghani

The intellectual and the warlords

Ashraf Ghani is Afghanistan's new president. The months of acrimonious dispute over the country's presidential election came to an end about a week ago. However, not much has changed: like his predecessor, Ghani is surrounded by violent warlords and drug barons. Emran Feroz has the details
By Emran Feroz
Islamic State (IS)

A totalitarian, expansive and hegemonic project

Are we underestimating the scope of Islamic State (IS) by referring to it as a "terrorist militia"? IS raises taxes, recruits soldiers, pays officials and is keeping oil wells in operation. According to Volker Perthes, it would be more accurate to call it a jihadist nation-building project
By Volker Perthes
The Arab Spring and its enemies

The end of all hope

Ultimately, the Arab Spring was a failure because the movements fighting for freedom were faced with too many enemies who sought to quash the revolutions and thwart the efforts of the region's peoples to achieve greater democracy. An essay by the Syrian dissident Akram al-Bunni
By Akram al-Bunni
Landmine victims in Algeria

Open wounds

Landmines left over from the colonial era are still claiming victims in Algeria. For 50 years now, those affected have been fighting for recognition as war invalids, which France still denies them. By Susanne Kaiser
By Susanne Kaiser
Political upheaval in Yemen

The triumphant advance of the Houthi rebels

In an unprecedented demonstration of power, Houthi rebels have caused key members of Yemen's political elite to flee, negotiated a cabinet reshuffle, and laid bare the political weakness of President Hadi. By Marie-Christine Heinze
By Marie-Christine Heinze
Qatar's foreign policy

Little emirate, big ambition

This week, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani paid his first state visit to Germany since being named emir of Qatar after his father's abdication in June 2013. The 34-year-old emir is one of the Middle East's most influential leaders, but his political course is controversial. By Anne Allmeling
By Anne Allmeling
The German Muslim community's protest against extremism

"No" to hatred and injustice

The German Muslim community's day of action against extremism and injustice was a strong appeal for tolerance. It was also a demonstration that there are many, many Muslims who are not willing to allow their religion to be hijacked as a justification for barbarism and hatred. By Bettina Marx
By Bettina Marx
New government in Iraq

Shouldering a huge political burden

Iraq's new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, along with some members of his cabinet were recently confirmed in their posts with the help of votes from Kurdish members of parliament. But the haggling in Iraq's post-Saddam political bazaar is far from over. By Birgit Svensson in Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Outside intervention in Syria

Wanted: moderate, reliable rebels for fight against IS

The US wants to bolster the Syrian rebels in the fight against IS. But which of the groups is it supposed to support? Kristin Helberg examines three reasons why the search for suitable allies on the ground is not as straightforward as it seems
By Kristin Helberg
British fatwa against IS

Breaking the spell of a poisonous ideology

Leading British Muslims have issued a fatwa against the terrorist group Islamic State. The imams are hoping that it will help change the minds of some of the group's supporters. By Kersten Knipp
By Kersten Knipp
Turkey's new president

Where to now, President Erdogan?

Following his recent victory in Turkey's presidential election, Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to pursue the process of democratisation in Turkey and the nation's efforts to join the EU. But his political opponents say all he's really interested in is the consolidation of his own power and the conservative-Islamic restoration of Turkey. An essay by Cemal Karakas
By Cemal Karakas
Assad and Islamic State

The two faces of terror in Syria

Fighting the war on terror together with Syria's President Assad would be not only cynical and morally bankrupt, but also a tactical mistake. As long as he is in power there will be jihadists in the region, because the Syrian regime has been using them for years to secure its grip on power, writes Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg