Politics

Five-Year Commemoration of 9/11

The Primal Scene of a Global Confrontation

September 11 marks the start of a logic of escalation. Even those of our generation understand how such an escalation begins and how it continues to spiral upwards. What we still don't know is how it can be stopped, writes Robert Misik
Amnesty for Islamist Fighters in Algeria

Extension of Deadline Not Ruled Out

The end of August marked the expiration of the period during which radical Islamists in Algeria could lay down their weapons and take advantage of the offer of amnesty. Few fighters have responded to the offer to date. Bernhard Schmid reports on why
Kurdish Conflict Flares Up Once More

The "Freedom Falcons of Kurdistan" Thwart the Ceasefire

Only a few days after the PKK offered a ceasefire agreement to the Turkish state, the "Freedom Falcons of Kurdistan" carried out a number of terrorist attacks. Ömer Erzeren believes that they were a sign the Kurdish movement doesn't know which direction it's going in
In the Aftermath of the Lebanon War

The Big Loser: Democracy

Following three years of unprecedented political dynamism and debates regarding the prospects for democratic transformation in the Arab world, the Arab-Israeli conflict returned to the forefront.
By Amr Hamzawy
New Shia Confidence

Shiite "Arc of Crisis" in the Middle East?

In his article, Middle East and Islam expert Arnold Hottinger describes how, in the recent past, Shia influence in the Middle East has been fuelled by the Iraq and Lebanon armed conflicts
The Lack of Development in Sinai

Poor Huts instead of Flourishing Resorts

The national program to develop the Sinai has resulted in the building of some infrastructure, but has not succeeded in attracting investors to the region, except for a few committed visionaries. Frederik Richter reports
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran Lacking in Diplomacy

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again voiced defiance as the UN Security Council deadline for Iran to halt its nuclear program nears. And he again did so without tact or diplomacy, says Peter Philipp
Domestic Policy in Iran

Intellectuals and Civil Society under Fire

The more pressure Iran's foreign policy brings down on the country, the easier it is for the government to stir up citizens' suspicions of both internal and external enemies. The victims are intellectuals, artists, and journalists. By Bahman Nirumand
Islamic Militans in Pakistan

The Janus Head of the Musharraf Regime

After 9/11, Pakistan became an important US ally in the battle against terror. But for tactical reasons, the government is not particularly eager to attack the ideological base of the Islamic militants, as Boris Wilke explains in an interview with Thomas Bärthlein.
The Image of Pakistan in Western Media

Too Little Research, too Many Clichés

Especially since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the German media have presented a distorted view of Pakistan. Much of the reporting reveals that reporters often take a prejudicially selective view. An analysis by Thomas Baerthlein
Politics and Oil in Azerbaijan

The Magic of Numbers

Billions of dollars from the oil industry is consolidating the power of authoritarian president Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan and endangering the cease-fire with Armenia. Tobias Asmuth reports
Violence in Thailand's Southern Provinces

Delicate Signs of Change

Thailand's southern largely Muslim provinces face almost daily bloodshed in insurgent attacks that have escalated since 2004. Now the Thai Government and security forces are hoping to win over local support through special programs and financial assistance. Ron Corben reports