Politics

Saudi Arabia and the Protests in the Arab World

A Colossus with Feet of Clay

Saudi King Abdullah has promised tentative reforms, but if the government in Riyadh does not change its policy, especially towards the Shiites, the kingdom could be heading for trouble. By Guido Steinberg
The Conflict in Libya

Distorted News Reports

What is now taking place in Libya is not a civil war. It is an unequal fight between Gaddafi and the Libyan people. Magda Luthay, an expert on Libya, assesses the current media coverage of the situation
Interview with Arnold Hottinger

"There's a New Non-ideological Political Power in the Arab World"

The uprisings in the Arab world have to a certain extent turned existing political systems upside down in the authoritarian states of the region. Arnold Hottinger talks about the consequences of the protests, and what is likely to happen in the future
EU Policy on North Africa and the Middle East

Morally Bankrupt

Reactions from the EU to the historic upheaval in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and other nations in North Africa and the Middle East have up to now been a moral and political disaster. By Andreas Zumach
Interview with Lebanese Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt

"Modernity Is Impossible within This Sectarian State"

As the leader of the Druze community and head of the Progessive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt has a decisive influence on Lebanon's complicated sectarian political system. With Naomi Conrad, Jumblatt talks about his country's ails
No-fly Zone over Libya

An International Legal Dilemma

Should the international community intervene in Libya? And if so, on what basis could a no-fly zone be imposed? Opponents of the idea fear the situation could further descend into an unmanageable war. Background report by Andreas Zumach
Arab Despots

Like Father, Like Son

Arabs have known for years that their rulers were beyond reform. That is why, in order to have a chance to catch up with the rest of the free, developed world, many of them are now risking their lives to remove those regimes. By Omar Ashour
Revolutions in the Middle East

Arab "Republics of Fear" at an End?

The recent protests in the Arab world have shown that military deterrence alone can no longer keep demonstrators at bay. Yet, how long can these autocratic systems remain in place? Birgit Kaspar reports from Beirut
The Role of the Military in the Egyptian Power Struggle

Tipping the Scales?

President Mubarak tried to restore public order in Egypt with the military. However, soldiers were reluctant and in some places were greeted with enthusiasm. Loay Mudhoon analyses the role of the military in the ongoing power struggle
Arab Protest Movements and the West

The Spectre of the Muslim Brotherhood

Faced with popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Western politicians are having trouble ridding themselves of their black-and-white view of the Arab-Islamic world. Michael Lüders sends us this analysis
Unrest in Bahrain

"We are all Bahrainis; Not Sunnis, Not Shiites!"

Relations between the opposition and the government, which is under the control of the Sunni royal family, continue to deteriorate. There have even been some calls for the overthrow of the monarchy. By Sabine Damir-Geilsdorf
European Arms Exports to North Africa and the Middle East

Doing Big Business with Gaddafi & Co.

Could Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi be using weapons produced in Europe to crush the revolt against his regime? As governments grapple with this uncomfortable question, a new report details brisk weapons sales by EU states to Libya. By Sonia Phalnikar