Politics
Topics
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Germany's Colonial History in the MediterraneanA Place in the Orient
In his new book about the history of Germany's colonial endeavours, historian Malte Fuhrmann examines German political ambitions and strategies in the Orient in the 19th Century. Götz Nordbruch read the book
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Row over Book Burning in Turkey
Reactionary Forces Try to Create National Hysteria
Turkish nationalists see their country's liberalization and its moves toward joining the EU as a betrayal. They are joining forces against those they hold responsible for the eclipse of Kemal's legacy, including writers. By Ömer Erzeren
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Court Case against Intellectuals in Turkey
Minority Issues a Taboo Subject
There is no end to the wave of court cases against Turkish intellectuals on the alleged grounds of denigrating Turkish identity. Immediately following the Pamuk case, two government advisors were also brought to court last week. Günter Seufert reports
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The Reconstruction in Afghanistan
The West's Mistakes and Shortcomings
In October 2001 the Afghanistan military campaign was launched. Today, critics refer to Afghanistan as a vast reeducation camp. Virtually all the moral concepts of the people have been up for discussion or questioned for five years, says Martin Gerner
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Islamic Association Milli Görüs
Dialogue with Extremists?
The Islamic Association Milli Görüs in Germany has been classified as extremist by the German intelligence agency, yet it presents itself as being open to dialogue. It is difficult to determine to what extent both claims are true. Report by Rainer Sollich
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Reconstructing Lebanon
High Expectations
Despite the stationing of UN troops in Lebanon the population still has no confidence in the peacekeeping capacity. And also the leadership in Beirut comes under increasing pressure since the Lebanese people are waiting for government action to rebuild the country. Bernhard Hillenkamp reports
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Shashi Tharoor's Nehru Biography
India's Secular Legacy
In his book "Nehru: The Invention of India", Shashi Tharoor, who has worked at the UN in New York since 1978 and was tipped as a possible successor to UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, goes in search of India's first prime minister. By Gerhard Klas
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Interview with Faleh Abdel Jabar
"Denominational Federalism Is Dangerous and Separatist"
Iraq is increasingly struggling with its centrifugal forces. In this interview, Faleh Abdel Jabar, head of the Iraq Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses the various concepts of federalism and how they might work for Iraq. Interview by Youssef Hijazi
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Turkey and the Mideast Economy
Arab Petrodollars Move into Istanbul
In the face of the Lebanon crises and Mideast instability, Turkey has become all the more attractive for Middle Eastern investors. Dorian Jones looks at how current trends in Middle Eastern and world politics influence Turkey's economy
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Analysis Fred Halliday
The Left and the Jihad
United in their rejection of capitalism and Western imperialism, Islamists and the political Left have – in a more recent development – begun to forge alliances. Taking a closer look at their historical enmity, however, shows that the two do not at all make a good match.
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Interview with Sadiq al-Azm
"Democratisation is a Gradual Process"
Qantara.de interviewed Sadiq Jalal al-Azm, one of the most prominent Arab intellectuals, about democracy in the Arab world, and about the stance Arab intellectuals take towards authority
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Shi'a and Sunna and the Mideast Crisis
The View from Pakistan
The war in Lebanon has forged a new unity between secular and religious political forces in Pakistan against Israel and the United States.