Politics

Development Cooperation

Helpless Help

Despite the best of intentions, development aid doesn' accomplish much, says Kiflemariam Gebre-wold. Without a thorough overhaul of the foreign aid machinery of assistance, the world will not reach the Millennium Development Goals
UN Coordinator Eveline Herfkens:

"Bring the Millennium Development Goals on to the Streets"

The development community has declared 2005 to be the decisive year for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In this interview, Eveline Herfkens, UN Coordinator for the MDGs Campaign, explains what has to be done now to move closer to the goals.
Kifaya – Enough is Enough

Egyptian Youth Demands Change

Around a hundred young people from the Egyptian "Kifaya" movement, which fights for the democratisation of Egypt, have founded a youth movement. Nelly Youssef reports on the aims of the "Kifaya" youth
Democratic Reform in the Arab World

Mirages and Realities

The latest Arab Human Development Report, by richly documenting the deep social problems of the Arab world, reinforces awareness among Arab citizens of how far they must go to achieve democratic freedoms.
By Fred Halliday
Commentary: Iran's Presidential Election

A Triumph for Islamist Hardliners

In a surprise victory, Teheran's archconservative mayor Ahmadinejad has won the presidential election – in large part, Peter Philipp argues, due to low voter turnout and calls for a boycott on the part of Iranian dissidents in exile.
"World Tribunal on Iraq"

The Defendants Are Absent

Istanbul is hosting the final meeting of the "World Tribunal on Iraq" which is made up of NGOs and aims to hold to account the US and its allies for the invasion of Iraq. Dorian Jones reports
Commentary Volker Perthes

Stability Must Be the Primary Aim of Iraq Policy

Despite continuing disagreements with the U.S. administration, there is no schadenfreude on the European side regarding the predicament the US is facing today. Volker Perthes presents a catalogue of suggestions for a new Iraq policy
Ridwan al-Sayyid

The Struggle for Islam

The Islamic world urgently needs reform initiatives, says the Lebanese scholar of Islam Ridwan al-Sayyid. Wolfgang G. Schwanitz has read al-Sayyid's latest book "The Struggle for Islam" and says it should also be studied in the West
Defamation of Tunisian Journalist

Smear Campaigns Waged at the Lowest Level

The Tunisian journalist Sihem Bensedrine is fighting against the indescribable methods of the regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who stops at nothing when it comes to dragging oppositionists through the mud. By Hamid Skif
Analysis Presidential Elections in Tunisia

Hopes Dashed for Democracy and a Civil Society

The recent presidential elections in Tunisia shed light on the deplorable state of democracy in that country and the regime's all-powerful control apparatus. A post-election report and analysis by Sihem Bensedrine
Interview Nabil Abdel Fatah

Egypt – Hopelessness, Frustration Spawning a New Generation of Terrorists

The recent terrorist attacks in Cairo have raised many questions about the motivations of the assassins. Nelly Youssef speaks with Nabil Abdel Fatah, a scholar at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo
Turkish Penal Code Comes into Force

"Reforms Are Not Easy, But Necessary"

Turkey's new penal code brings Turkey almost completely into line with EU standards on human rights. Among other changes, the law increases penalties against human rights abusers and torturers. Erik Campano reports