Politics

Hamas versus Fatah

Palestine Drifting Further Apart

The rivalry between secular Fatah and fundamentalist Hamas, which came to a head in the violent Islamist coup in the Gaza Strip in early June, has been escalating again in recent weeks. Joseph Croitoru reports
Tendencies towards Islamisation in Turkey

Power Struggle between Laicism and Islam

The political climate of the last few years in Turkey has made it possible for conservative religious elites to expand into more public domains and extend their social and political influence. Ömer Erzeren examines this development
Interview with Migration Minister Tobias Billström

"We Need a Common European Migration Policy"

Sweden's Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Tobias Billström, is in favour of a common EU asylum policy and calls on the Member States of the European Union to support Sweden in the matter of Iraqi refugees. Petra Tabeling spoke to Minister Billström
Interview with Richard Schröder

"Religions Are Systems for Orientation"

Secularisation is not the solution to the problem of religious violence, says Richard Schröder, member of the National Council on Ethics in Germany. In this interview with Volker Maria Neumann, he talks about the differences of Christian and Islamic concepts of self-criticism
The 9/11 Syndrome

The Return of Religious Identities

The terrorist attacks of September 2001 have left their mark on western societies: representatives of the Christian faith have become more confident and are laying claims to the values of the Enlightenment as their own. Robert Misik comments
Results of the Parliamentary Elections in Morocco

Paralyzing Lethargy

Low turnout for the elections in Morocco sheds light on the increasing alienation of the populace from the political elite – an alarming development that only benefits the outlawed Islamic movement "Justice and Welfare." By Sonja Hegasy
Pakistan's Political Crisis

Sidelining Sharif

Even by the standards of Pakistan's turbulent politics, the high drama surrounding Nawaz Sharif's brief return to Pakistan would be hard to beat. Irfan Husain reports
Interview with Malika Zeghal

"Unfavourable Trends in Morocco Can Still Be Reversed"

On September 7th a new parliament will be elected in Morocco. What may change should the Islamist forces gain strength, as has been predicted? Martina Sabra spoke with the French political scientist Malika Zeghal
Freedom of the Press before the Moroccan Elections

Censorship of Taboo-Breakers

As the parliamentary elections on September 7 approach, the Moroccan justice system is muzzling independent journalists. Criticism of King Mohammed VI. is met with repression. David Siebert reports
Palestine and National Socialism

Correcting the Picture

In his study about attitudes to National Socialism in Palestine, historian René Wildangel shows that there are no grounds for claims that all Palestinians approved of National Socialism. Götz Nordbruch read the study
Interview with Muhammad Abbou

"Tunisians Want Reconciliation"

In 2005, Muhammad Abbou, lawyer and human rights activist, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for publishing two articles, one of which compared the situation of Tunisian prisons to Abu Ghraib. Selim Boukhidr interviewed Abbou after his premature release
NATO in Afghanistan

The Alliance and the Limits of its Strategy

The war in Afghanistan raises major challenges for the North Atlantic Alliance. The outcome of NATO and coalition troops' involvement in the battle against the Taliban and al-Qaida is questionable. An analysis by Timo Noetzel and Sibylle Scheipers