Politics

Fifteen Years on from the Oslo Accords

From Asymmetry to Apathy

The altered balance of international and regional power, continued settlement growth and acts of violence by radical Palestinian groupings have brought all hope to a standstill. Hisham Adem spoke to Jibril Rajoub, Margret Johannsen, and Akiva Eldar on the legacy of Oslo
Interview with Uri Avnery

"Israel Lacks a Leader"

Uri Avnery, a journalist and founder of the Israeli peace movement "Gush Shalom", says that Israel lacks a strong leader who would be able to push through a peace agreement with Syria and the Palestinians. He spoke with Lina Hoffmann
Rainer Hermann: Where is Turkey Heading?

The Illusion of National Homogeneity

Rainer Hermann is one of Germany's most respected and important foreign correspondents. He is now set to leave Turkey for Dubai, after 17 years. His recent book draws on his experiences in the country over that time. Semiran Kaya on an outstanding piece of writing
"Football Diplomacy" between Armenia and Turkey

Hawks and Agitators Marginalised

The FIFA World Cup qualifying match that wrote diplomatic history: Turkey played in Armenia last Saturday. And this gave the governments of the two neighbouring countries that have long been deeply at odds a chance for rapprochement. Baha Güngör comments
“Yeah Right, Where Do You Really Come From...?”

Since 11 September 2001, nothing much would appear to have changed for many people from a Muslim background in Germany. Nevertheless, many of them still think there is a gulf between ‘East’ and ‘West’.
Interview with Orhan Pamuk

"Winning the Nobel Prize Made Everything Political"

Ahead of the 2008 Frankfurt Book Fair in October with Turkey as the Guest of Honour, Nobel Prize winning author Orhan Pamuk spoke to Rainer Traube about his latest book and unwanted political attention
Youssef Courbage, Emmanuel Todd

Predicting a "de-Islamicised Muslim World"

Two French demographers believe literacy and a decline in the birth-rate will lead the Islamic world into modernity – and away from religion. With their analyses they add a new dimension to the ongoing debate over the clash of civilisations. Maik Meuser reports
Interview with Ishak Alaton

"Turkey Needs a Mentality Revolution"

Ishak Alaton is one of Turkey's most influential businesspeople of Jewish extraction. Hülya Sancak spoke to him in Istanbul about the current political situation in Turkey and minority rights for Jews, Kurds and Armenians in the country
The Maghreb after the Putsch in Mauretania

Long Live the Military's Democracy!

For many, the March 2007 elections in Mauretania represented a hopeful democratic awakening for the entire North African region. But the dream swiftly came to an end with the August putsch and the renewed dominance of the military, as Slim Boukhdhir describes in his essay
New Mosque in Cologne

Standing Up Against Right-Wing Demagogues

According to Lale Akgün, a member of the Bundestag and the SPD's commissioner on Islam, the majority of Cologne's population are 100% behind the new mosque to be built in Cologne – and the planned "anti-Islam congress" won't change that. Loay Mudhoon talked to Lale Akgün
Green Light for the Construction of the Cologne Mosque

The Triumph of Reason

The city council has made up its mind and given the go-ahead for the construction of Cologne's controversial mosque. In his commentary, Peter Philipp, who feels that the building of mosques in Germany should be supported, writes that ultimately, this is a victory of sense over ignorance
Interview with Heinz A. Richter

A Ray of Hope for Cyprus

On September 3 new negotiations will begin on the divided island of Cyprus. But what are the chances for a reunification? Tuba Tuncak interviewed Cyprus expert Heinz A. Richter