Politics

Interview with Turkish politician Sirri Sureyya Onder

The solution to the Kurdish conflict as a yardstick for democracy

Sirri Sureyya Onder of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is a member of the Turkish parliament and a negotiator in the talks between Abdullah Ocalan, head of the PKK, and the Turkish state. In an interview with Ceyda Nurtsch, he expresses his thoughts on the political future of Turkey under President Erdogan and on the negotiations to solve the Kurdish conflict
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Turkey and the alliance against IS

Of inaction and double standards

In recent days, there have been a lot of reports about the Kurds' determined battle against the terrorist group Islamic State in Kobani, northern Syria. In this context, Turkey has frequently been accused of "inaction". Why? An essay by Cemal Karakas
By Cemal Karakas
Turkey, IS and the Kurdish conflict

"Kobani is now everywhere"

The deputy chairman of the PKK, Cemil Bayik, accuses Turkey of supporting IS and consciously ending the peace process. He views the recent Turkish parliamentary motion authorising the use of force in Syria and Iraq as a preparation for war – albeit a war against the PKK rather than against IS. Difficult weeks now lie ahead for Turkey and the Kurds. By Ekrem Guzeldere in Erbil
By Ekrem Eddy Güzeldere
Turkey, IS and the Kurds

Powder keg on the Turkish-Syrian border

More than 200,000 people from Kobani have fled the IS onslaught and sought refuge in Turkey. But as the days pass, anger and frustration at what they see as Turkish inactivity is growing. More and more Kurds, from both Syria and Turkey, are now considering taking up arms not only against IS but also against Turkey should Kobani fall. By Kiran Nazish in Mursitpinar, Turkey
By Kiran Nazish
The international alliance against IS

No clear objective

The American strategy of conducting air strikes in Syria remains dubious and unclear. According to Karim El-Gawhary, air strikes can only be part of a broader military strategy, and the West needs to address the genesis of IS
By Karim El-Gawhary
Military strikes against IS

Fragile alliance

The fight against IS is bringing East and West closer together and uniting the Arabs at the same time. However, it is possible that this alliance will only be of short duration. By Birgit Svensson in Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Rebuilding Gaza

The back of the Gazan economy has been broken

What will become of the Gaza Strip? The American academic Sara Roy doubts that there is a future for Gaza and its inhabitants following the recent Israeli offensive. Bettina Marx has the details
By Bettina Marx
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