Politics
Topics
- 
      
   
     Civilian death toll in Gaza Civilian death toll in GazaThe shameful one percentAbout 23,000 Gazans – or one percent of the population – have died in the war in the past three months. Children and teenagers account for as much as 40 % of the dead. Though provided by Hamas, the numbers are considered largely accurate By Hans Dembowski
- 
      
   
     The Gaza war and Egyptian civil society The Gaza war and Egyptian civil societyDeep riftsThe war in Gaza has opened up deep rifts between Arab human rights organisations and Western donor nations. And it's not just the credibility of Western governments that is at stake By Shady Lewis Botros
- 
      
   
     Afghanistan after two years of Taliban rule Afghanistan after two years of Taliban ruleThe Taliban's second emirateDuring their second period of rule, the Taliban appear more moderate in a few select areas. This shift is due to a variety of factors, including international expectations and a more self-confident Afghan society. However, it is not a reason for optimism By Felix Kugele
- 
      
   
     Organised crime in Turkey Organised crime in TurkeyA haven for international criminalsLax laws on money laundering, easy access to citizenship, insufficient prosecution – Turkey has grown more attractive for international criminal networks in recent years. In response, the new interior minister has declared a crackdown By Elmas Topcu
- 
      
   
     Sunnis and Shias in Islam Sunnis and Shias in IslamHow the Sunni-Shia split shaped the Islamic world throughout historyToby Matthiesen's new book, "The Caliph and the Imam", explores both the origins of the Sunni-Shia divide, what the two branches of Islam have in common and how the split has shaped the Islamic world By Tugrul von Mende
- 
      
   
     Turkey's Gaza policy Turkey's Gaza policyBetween a rock and a hard placeBetween domestic pressure to take more action against Israel and pressure from the West regarding its stance on Hamas, Turkey is struggling to balance its Israel policy as it seeks permanent peace in the Middle East By Ayşe Karabat
- 
      
   
     Israel-Hamas war Israel-Hamas warArab attitudes are hardening against IsraelThe prospect of normalised relations between Israel and Arab nations is fading as public anger at Israel's on-going bombardment of Gaza grows. Could it lead to radicalisation or violent extremism in the Middle East? By Cathrin Schaer
- 
      
   
     War in Sudan War in SudanConflict fuelled by climate change and the EmiratesThe violent conflicts in the western region of Darfur, which were triggered by decades of drought, have now spread to central Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates is adding fuel to the fire By Roman Deckert
- 
      
   
     War in Israel and Gaza War in Israel and GazaGermany's war discourseThe manner in which the escalation of violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip is being discussed is, in many ways, unsurprising By Hanna Pfeifer, Irene Weipert-Fenner
- 
      
   
     Israel's goal in Gaza Israel's goal in GazaCan Hamas really be completely 'eliminated'?The short answer, military analysts say, is "no". The long answer is more complex. Israel's campaign may degrade the group's capabilities, but defeating its ideology is likely impossible without a political solution By Cathrin Schaer
- 
      
   
     War in the Middle East War in the Middle EastInternational law – a handy excuseIn the shadow of war, the Israeli government is becoming increasingly radicalised. Is the German government aware of this trend and the risks it poses? There are no signs that it is. Germany doesn't even have a Middle East policy By Stefan Buchen
- 
      
   
     Middle East conflict and the Gaza war Middle East conflict and the Gaza war"Wake up to the reality of what is happening"The Hamas terrorism of 7 October was particularly cruel and atrocious. The perpetrators committed terrible crimes. Many Israelis, however, think their own government bears responsibility for the bloodshed that occurred on its watch. Susan Neiman, a Jewish philosopher, shares her views By Hans Dembowski
Most read articles
- 
      Egypt's TikTok crackdownSuzy el-Ordoneya and the politics of social media fame
- 
      Israeli-Palestinian conflict"Jerusalem is the key to a political solution"
- 
      "Nostra Aetate" at 60A landmark for Muslim-Christian understanding
- 
      Art in IstanbulCurating on shifting ground
- 
      Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin’s "The Messiah of Darfur"A peacemaker in times of war
- 
      Syrian reconstruction"Debris isn't waste"