Politics

Unrest in Tajikistan

The Spectre of Civil War

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a bloody ethnic conflict raged in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. The peace accord of 1997 appeared to put an end to the fighting, but recent clashes on the border with Afghanistan indicate that the civil war may be flaring up again. Marcus Bensmann explains the background to the conflict
By Marcus Bensmann
Uprising in Syria

Zero Hour Approaching for Syria

Zero hour may not yet have arrived for the Syrian regime, but the sense of security in Damascus is fractured and illusory, and the misguided responses of the regime are causing fear and apprehension among the people, writes Fawwaz Haddad from Damascus in his essay
By Fawwaz Haddad
Alliance between the PKK and the Assad Regime

A Political Sect on the Wrong Track

Just as the Assad regime is foundering, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, is proving to be its loyal henchman. In this essay, Stefan Buchen writes that PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan made a deal with the Syrian regime back in the days of Hafez al-Assad
By Stefan Buchen
Series of Terrorist Attacks in Iraq

A Culture of Violence

On the fourth day of the holy month of Ramadan, bombs went off simultaneously in 14 Iraqi cities, marking a new peak in al-Qaeda activity since the withdrawal of American troops at the end of last year. The terrorist network is shamelessly exploiting the way people behave during Ramadan, as Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
The Syrian Conflict

Preparing for the Endgame

Syria's fate is being decided on the battlefield and not at the negotiating table. In some parts of the country, the post-Assad era has already begun. The Syrian opposition must now prepare itself to assume power and needs support from the international community, writes Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg
Egypt's Future following the Election of Mohammed Mursi

Have No Fear, Democracy is Here!

In this essay, leading Egyptian youth activist Ziyad al-Alimi argues that millions of Egyptians only voted for Mohammed Mursi to prevent a return to the Mubarak system. He says that instead of viewing it as a setback, the election result should be seen as marking the start of a democratic breakthrough
By Ziyad al-Alimi
Interview with Heiko Wimmen

The Beginning of the End for Assad?

Weak spots in the Syrian armour have been exposed by the latest escalation of violence in Damascus and a rebel attack that killed three of President Assad's inner circle. Does all of this indicate that the Syrian dictatorship may be on the brink of collapse? Many around the world seem to think it does. Kersten Knipp spoke to Middle East expert Heiko Wimmen
By Kersten Knipp
Syria, Libya and the ''Responsibility to Protect''

Don't Look Away

Because of violent conflicts in Libya and Syria, international law lawyers, experts in peace and conflict studies, and politicians are once again discussing the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P). The big question is what kind of military intervention or other response is appropriate at what point. By Peter Hauff
By Peter Hauff
Massacre in Tremseh

Window of Opportunity for Diplomacy Closing

Tremseh would seem to be the most recent addition to a growing list of bloody massacres in Syria. The brutality of the attack further reduces the likelihood of a diplomatic solution. Kersten Knipp reports
By Kersten Knipp
Interview with Kenan Kolat

''We Need an Open Debate about Institutional Racism''

The failure of Germany's domestic intelligence agency to halt the activities of a neo-Nazi terror cell and recent revelations about the destruction of key files have led to accusations of institutional racism. Kenan Kolat, the head of the Türkische Gemeinde in Deutschland (the Turkish Community in Germany), an advocacy group representing the interests of Turkish people in Germany, says faith in the country's security organs has hit rock bottom. Samira Sammer spoke to him.
By Samira Sammer
One Year after the Division of Sudan

Old Conflicts within New Borders

A year after gaining independence, South Sudan is still a long way off achieving any democratic change or securing a lasting peace. The nation is also threatened by economic collapse after ceasing oil production, in a conflict with Sudan that continues to dog economically and strategically important border regions. By Annett Hellwig
By Annett Hellwig
Protests against the Palestinian Authority

''The People Want to Bring down Oslo''

Following a number of demonstrations in Ramallah, some of them brutally crushed by Palestinian police, the political future of occupied Palestinian territories is again thrown into question. By René Wildangel
By René Wildangel