Politics

Political Power Struggle in Egypt

Mubarak's Last Laugh

The public trial of Mubarak shows what united demands can achieve. But polarization between Islamists and secularists could endanger the goals of the Egyptian revolution, writes Omar Ashour
By Omar Ashour
Interview with Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

''Foreign Aid Helped Us Get on Our Own Feet''

As president of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie facilitated the democratisation of his country after May 1998. His autocratic predecessor Suharto had resigned in view of a huge protest movement. In an interview, Habibie recently shared his experiences with Hans Dembowski. Some of his insights may prove useful in Arab countries like Egypt
Resistance to the Assad Regime

Iron Hand and Bloody Reform

The brutality of the crackdown against the democracy movement in Syria is a reminder that the iron hand of the regime squeezes the life out of any potential reforms at birth – respected Syrian writer Fawwaz Haddad reports from Damascus
By Fawwaz Haddad
The Battle between Army and Government

A New Republic in Turkey?

Ahead of a key military meeting this week, chaired by the country's prime minister, the Turkish army has been rocked by a series of top-level resignations. Fatma Kayabal investigates the latest developments in Ankara's ongoing power struggle between the military and civil spheres
By Fatma Kayabal
Interview with Uri Avnery

''Israel Was Also Proclaimed Unilaterally''

The Palestinian leadership wants the United Nations to recognise them as an independent state. In an interview, Israeli human rights activist Uri Avnery says that this could lead to progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Interview with the Egyptian Historian Khaled Fahmy

''The Army Lacks a Vision for the Future''

The recent protests in Egypt have focussed attention on the country's army and its conflicted relationship with the revolution of 25th January. Hani Darwish discussed with historian Khaled Fahmy
By Hani Darwish
Portrait of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

The Man of Missed Opportunities

Just as he did in the "Damascus Spring", President Assad has again chosen to suppress the democracy movement during the current "Syrian Spring" that has swept across the entire country. Over the past eleven years, Assad has squandered no less than five opportunities to steer his country onto the path to democracy. That's at least one too many for him to have any credibility now when seeking dialogue with the opposition, says Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg
Aftermath of the Attacks in Norway

Isolate the Intellectual Incendiaries!

Right-wing populist politicians, bloggers and journalists have fuelled a climate throughout Europe in which a madman like Anders Behring Breivik could come up with the idea of fighting the "Muslim threat" with spectacular deeds. A commentary by Robert Misik
By Robert Misik
Iran and the Arab Spring

Trapped in the System

Some members of the Iranian opposition feel that their failed Green Revolution was in many ways the model for the uprisings in the Arab world. If that is so, why has the country's pro-democracy movement not benefited from the new democratic spirit sweeping the region since the Arab Spring? Reza Hajatpour investigates
Peace Research into the Arab Spring

''A Historical Turning Point like the Fall of the Berlin Wall''

The 2011 Peace Report, which was compiled by the five largest peace research institutes in Germany, demands for more support for the Arab Spring. By Bettina Marx
Peace Research into the Arab Spring

''A Historical Turning Point like the Fall of the Berlin Wall''

The 2011 Peace Report, which was compiled by the five largest peace research institutes in Germany, demands for more support for the Arab Spring. By Bettina Marx
By Bettina Marx
Religion and Politics

Much Remains to be Done

For Indonesia, May 1998 was an important turning point – much like February 2011 was for Egypt and January 2011 was for Tunisia. At that time, Suharto had been in power for more than 30 years. Thirteen years on, Edith Koesoemawiria reports on the hopes of Indonesian voters