Politics
Topics
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Tunisia and the European UnionPrecarious Contradiction
For ten years now Tunisia has been the EU's biggest financial beneficiary. But why is it that the money that was intended to boost Tunisia's economy is being used to exercise political oppression, asks Mokhtar Yahyaoui
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Commentary by Raja Ben Slama
They Love Their Dictators More Than Themselves!
When political parties that call themselves democratic, including Islamist ones, mourn the "martyr and hero" Saddam Hussein, we have to ask ourselves what kind of political future awaits us, says Raja Ben Slama in her commentary
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Gujarat Turmoil
Victims Are Taunted, Perpetrators Go Free
After an arson attack on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims last year, an estimated 2,200 Muslims died in the anti-Islamic pogroms that followed. The ensuing court cases did not bring the perpetrators to justice. Bernhard Imhasly reports
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War in Somalia
Mogadischu between Plague and Cholera
For nearly 16 years Somalis have had no choice who governs their country. The invasion by Ethiopian troops has done nothing to change this. The responsibility lies above all with the failure of European diplomacy, says Marc Engelhardt
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Iranian Assembly of Experts Election
The Anti-Fundamentalist Coalition
The election of ex-president Rafsanjani as head of the Assembly of Experts in Teheran has prevented radical Islamic forces from gaining total control over the political system. His election was enabled by a coalition of religious conservatives, pragmatists and reformers, writes Faraj Sarkohi
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Analysis Faraj Sarkohi
The Gulf between Population and Opposition
One of the greatest successes of the Islamic Republic has been its ability to violently suppress the Iranian opposition. This triumph, however, would not have been possible without the assistance of the opposition itself, says Faraj Sarkohi
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Interview with Tom Koenigs
"No Military Victory in Sight"
The UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tom Koenigs, says the Afghans need to be placed as quickly as possible in a position where they can fight out the conflict with the Taliban on their own. Martin Gerner met with him in Kabul
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Economic Development in Syria
Crawling towards a Market Economy
Syria would have to liberalise its economy swiftly in order to avert collapse. But the reformists are hampered by the rusty structures left behind by 40 years of socialism. Gabriela M. Keller reports
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France's Middle East Policy
"Chirac of Arabia" Era at an End
A "slip-up with an announcement," wrote the French newspaper Libération of a faux pas by the Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal during her first Middle East trip. Götz Nordbruch on France's Mideast policy options
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Malek Chebel's "L'Islam et la Raison"
"Which Islam Is the Right One for Tomorrow?"
Malek Chebel is one of the best-known Arab intellectuals in France. In his latest book, "L'Islam et la Raison" (Islam and Reason), he turns his attention once again to his favorite subject: the compatibility of Islam with modernity. A review by Susan Javad
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A New Model for Dialogue
"No Taboos and No False Politeness"
Farish Noor of the German Center for Modern Oriental Studies, has initiated what he calls a new model for dialogue, taking more time and incorporating partners that were previously left to watch from the sidelines. Anna Zwenger reports
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Ahmadinejad's Cultural Revolution
Increased Level of Repression
Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office, pressure on Iran's cultural sector has been continually increased, bringing cultural life to a virtual standstill. Intellectuals and students are now publicly voicing their protest. Bahman Nirumand reports
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