Politics

Sweden Koran burnings

Playing to the radicals

As Sweden grapples with the diplomatic fallout of a series of Koran burnings, radicals on all sides are rubbing their hands and exploiting the moment. Birgit Svensson travelled from Baghdad to Stockholm to get the full picture
By Birgit Svensson
Taliban Afghanistan's double whammy

Afghans face a failing economy and high taxation

Almost two years after the Taliban swept to power, other international crises have distracted attention away from Afghans' suffering amid the country's dire socioeconomic conditions. Looking ahead, Hameed Hakimi asks what are the economic prospects for Afghanistan under the Taliban?
By Hameed Hakimi
Books on the Iran protests

Fighting for freedom in the "mullah state"

Women are the main drivers behind the new revolutionary movement in Iran. Four female authors offer inside views and moving snapshots from a variety of perspectives. Review by Rene Wildangel
By René Wildangel
Ukraine conference in Saudi Arabia

Diplomatic success for the Crown Prince

A meeting in Saudi Arabia about a war in Europe? The conference in Jeddah shows how much the world is changing. Analysis by Karim El-Gawhary from Cairo
By Karim El-Gawhary
Israel shifts to the right

Neo-Zionism takes aim at liberal democracy

German-Israeli historian Tamar Amar-Dahl sheds light on the role of long-term Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's ongoing shift to the right. Joseph Croitoru read the book
By Joseph Croitoru
Migrants and Germany's gig economy

"ReWolt" against Wolt

The "ReWolt" campaign waged since the spring by migrant delivery couriers against gig economy giant Wolt in Berlin came to a head this week, with three claimants, who have accused the company of wage theft, getting their day in court. By Minerwa Tahir
By Minerwa Tahir
France after the Nahel riots

Healing racism wounds through culture

It's calm in France's suburbs again after the recent riots. But cultural activists say the uprising's causes run deep and are calling for fundamental reforms. By Lisa Louis
By Lisa Louis
100 years of the Turkish Republic

The legacy of the Treaty of Lausanne

One hundred years after it was signed, the Treaty of Lausanne is still the subject of political controversy and conspiracy theories. What is the accord's legacy and what role does it play today in Turkey’s domestic and foreign policy decision-making? Analysis by Yasar Aydin
By Yaşar Aydın
LGBTQ+ rights in Turkey

Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric intensifies

During this year's election campaigns, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vilified the LGBTQ+ community in an attempt to strengthen his support among conservative voters and drive a wedge between the parties of the opposition alliance. Now the government wants to introduce constitutional amendments that rights groups fear would further marginalise LGBTQ+ people. By Ayşe Karabat
By Ayşe Karabat
Russia, Assad, UN?

How to get aid to millions in Syria now

The UN mandate that allowed humanitarian agencies to send aid through a single border crossing in northern Syria has lapsed. The future of such deliveries is now worryingly unclear. By Cathrin Schaer and Omar Albam
By Cathrin Schaer & Omar Albam
Assad's rehabilitation

Enforce sanctions instead of normalising the Assad regime

The Arab League's decision to bring Syria back into the fold after 12 years in isolation shocked Syrians the world over. Rebekka Rexhausen examines what led to this development and argues that the West must adhere to a human rights-centred foreign policy to address authoritarianism in Syria
By Rebekka Rexhausen
War in Sudan

No hope for peace as fighting intensifies

With peace talks running into a dead end, the UN is warning of destabilisation in Sudan. According to experts, the warring parties have no interest in reaching a truce but seek to consolidate their respective power. By Martina Schwikowski
By Martina Schwikowski