Politics

Constitutional Reform in Morocco

I Am the Reform!

Over the past 25 years, Morocco has been through a remarkable political opening process and encouraged social pluralism. However, no limits have been set to the king's extreme authority. Despite this, the changes to the constitution made in 2011 are more than a short-term reaction to the revolutionary upheavals in north Africa. By Sonja Hegasy
By Sonja Hegasy
The Turkish Role in the Middle East and Beyond

Moving Beyond the Dichotomy

The dichotomous perception of Turkish politicy as ‘pro-Western’ and ‘anti-Western’ or ‘pro-Muslim’ reflects a mental division of the world into Occident and Orient rather than the complex reality of 21st-century international politics. By Erik Siegl
Nervousness in the Gulf

Carrot and Stick Diplomacy

Unlike much of the rest of the Arab world, the Gulf region has seen very little in the way of protests so far. Here, too, however, political relations are in flux and those in power are coming under increasing presssure to justify their role. Matthias Sailer reports
By Matthias Sailer
Anxiety at the Border

Turkey Braces Itself for Another Wave of Syrian Refugees

The Syrian armed forces have started to move against more towns in the north of the country, sending panicked refugees, including children, rushing across the frontier to safe havens in Turkey. By Thomas Seibert
Syrian Refugees in Turkey

''Wait until Assad Falls''

Syrian refugees are arriving in their thousands in neighbouring Turkey. They regard Recep Tayyip Erdogan as their hero. He has in the meantime distanced himself from rulers in Damascus. Daniel Steinvorth reports from the border region
By Daniel Steinvorth
Radical Islam in Indonesia

Pluralism as Provocation

Indonesia's image as a poster child for pluralism has been tarnished – the actions of Islamic radicals are increasingly controlling the agenda. In the opinion of some observers, the moderate majority must display a greater sense of unity and overcome the authoritarian heritage of the country. By Anett Keller
By Anett Keller
Interview with Noam Chomsky

''The West Is Terrified of Arab Democracies''

Noam Chomsky is one of the major intellectuals of our time. The eighty-two-year-old American linguist, philosopher and activist is a severe critic of US foreign and economic policy. Ceyda Nurtsch talked to him about the Arabic spring in its global context
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Islam and Politics in Turkey

A Divided Nation

Turkey's ruling AK Party is splitting the nation in political and geographical terms. It has loyal supporters as well as rabid opponents. In many ways, however, it looks like a faith-based organisation that is capable of stemming Islamist radicalisation, writes Maren Zeidler
By Maren Zeidler
The Syrian Orthodox Lawyer Erol Dora

Source of Hope for the Christian Minority

Turkey has taken a historic step. For the first time in decades, a Christian was elected as a member of parliament. He is Erol Dora, a Syrian Orthodox lawyer. A report by Thomas Seibert in Istanbul
By Thomas Seibert
Turkish Elections

From Megalomania to True Greatness?

So near and yet so far: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to remain in office. But he's had to bury his lifetime ambition of establishing a presidential system with himself as president. A commentary by Jürgen Gottschlich
By Jürgen Gottschlich
Uprising against the Assad Regime in Syria

Is This a Second Libya?

In his essay, Radwan Ziadeh, founder and director of the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies and an activist during the "Damascus Spring", discusses several possible scenarios for the outcome of the conflict between the Syrian regime and the protest movement
By Radwan Ziadeh
Political Protests in Bahrain

The King's Revenge

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has so far dealt with the protest movement in the Gulf state with the utmost severity. Now the monarch is increasingly coming under pressure to introduce democratic reforms. By Birgit Svensson
By Birgit Svensson