Politics

The Bahraini Activist Ala'a Shehabi

"We Are Being Spied On"

The Bahraini activist and blogger Ala'a Shehabi is certain that freedom of the press is unattainable in Bahrain, even within the framework of the national dialogue between the country's opposition and the leadership of the royal family. In an interview with Hisham al-Douriush, she tells how she and her colleagues are subject to surveillance by the Bahraini security apparatus
By Hisham al-Douriush
International policy on Syria

The rehabilitation of Assad

Above all, the West wants stability in Syria. Because he has managed to sit out everything that has happened in recent years, the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad seems to offer this very stability. But accepting the kind of stability Assad offers would mean having to forget the atrocities committed by his regime. A commentary by Bente Scheller
By Bente Scheller
Interview with Lale Akgün

"Erdogan's Days Are Numbered'

Turkey's corruption scandal has put the prime minister's party under severe pressure. Lale Akgun, a German Social Democrat (SPD) politician with Turkish roots, says Erdogan fatally underestimated the Gulen movement
By Arnd Riekmann
The Gulen Movement Strikes Back

"Power Struggle Weakens Erdogan"

Supporters of the Gulen movement and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are now at odds with each other. Turkey expert Günter Seufert explains what this power struggle means for Erdogan
By Alexandra Scherle
Pakistan's Supreme Court

Ambiguous Ambitions

Pakistan's Supreme Court has become increasingly active in the past decade. While the judiciary must uphold fundamental rights, it must also let the executive and legislative branches of government do their jobs. By assuming too much executive and legislative power, Pakistan's top judges are obstructing democratisation. By Maryam S. Khan
By Maryam S. Khan
Iran's Intellectuals and President Rouhani

When Freedom Becomes A Possibility

Ever since Hassan Rouhani assumed the office of Iranian president, optimism has been growing among Tehran's intellectuals. Nevertheless, no one is taking any chances; past experience has shown that this would be unwise. Marina Forti reports from the Iranian capital
By Marina Forti
Hamas after the Overthrow in Egypt

Stuck in the Tunnel

Hamas abandoned Syria and Iran in the course of the Syrian civil war and relied on the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt as their powerful regional ally. However after Morsi was overthrown by the Egyptian military, the Palestinian organization became isolated in the region. A background report by Juliane Metzker
By Juliane Metzker
Libya's Border Triangle

Trouble Looming

The EU is supporting Libyan border security troops near Ghadames, but local members of the military complain of unclear structures and insufficient equipment. They put the blame on the government in Tripoli. Valerie Stocker reports
By Valerie Stocker
Two Years after the Overthrow of the Gaddafi Regime

Are We Facing a Second Somalia?

The Libyan writer and political analyst Mustafa el-Fituri describes here the most important challenges that Libya must now overcome on its way to democracy
By Mustafa Fetouri
New Egyptian Constitution

Democracy Hangs by a Thread

The new draft constitution sets down the timetable for democratic transition on paper, but the police and military are standing guard at the station and controlling the points, writes Karim El-Gawhary in his commentary
By Karim El-Gawhary
Guido Steinberg on German Islamist Terrorism

Trend towards "Individual Jihad"

Guido Steinberg is Germany's foremost specialist on Islamist terrorism in Europe. In this interview with Paul Hockenos, he talks about the specifics of German Islamist terrorism and al-Qaeda's change of strategy
By Paul Hockenos
Egypt's Political Outlook

In Need of a Culture of Compromise

The biggest challenge facing Egypt in its attempts to build a new future is the fact that it does not have a political culture of compromise, writes Ronald Meinardus
By Ronald Meinardus