Politics

Parliamentary Elections in Azerbaijan

Vote Criticised as Flawed

This weekend's parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan did not meet a number of OSCE commitments and Council of Europe standards for democratic elections. Anja von Cysewski reports
Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Vote

Democracy under Pressure

As voters in Azerbaijan go to the polls on 6 November, they will do more than choose a new parliament. They will take part in a vote seen as a gauge of stability and commitment to democracy. Marianna Yahilevich reports
Anniversary van Gogh Murder

Europe Wakes Up to Multicultural Realities

The Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in Amsterdam on November 2, 2004. His murderer said he killed in the name of Islam. Many saw the idea of a multicultural society irreparably damaged. Peter Philipp disagrees
Interview Nadim Shehadi

"Political Uncertainty Is Assad's Most Important Asset"

After the UN Security Council resolution Syria is politically isolated and under great political pressure to instigate reform. However, the regime might not be as weak as it seems, says Nadim Shehadi Director of the Centre for Lebanese Studies in London
Islam in Europe

The "Muslim Community": A European Invention

Europeans' tendency to view immigrants from Islamic countries as belonging to a single, homogeneous "Muslim community" reflects an essentialist view of the "other" which carries negative consequences, argue Hazem Saghieh and Saleh Bechir
The Iraqi Constitution

Despite Approval Major Issues Remain Unresolved

Iraqis have passed their country's new constitution, according to official results from a referendum. In theory the constitution is a step forward, but core questions of power distribution have yet to be resolved, says Michael Lüders
Ahmadinejad's Attack on Israel

World Condemns Iran for President's Remarks

In a speech that has triggered outrage around the world, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map". Ahmadinejad made his comments at a conference called "the World without Zionism". Gregg Benzow has more
Jihadis in Kashmir

The Politics of an Earthquake

The Kashmir earthquake exposed deep fractures in Pakistani politics. As the state was paralysed and unable to help, the efforts of radical Islamist groups, the Jihadis, won accolades from anguished survivors. Jan McGirk reports
International Investigation in Lebanon

High Expectations on Mehlis Report

On October 20 the senior public prosecutor at the German attorney general's office, Detlev Mehlis, will present the UN with his report on the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister. But it is still unclear if the report will resolve the case. By Bernhard Hillenkamp
Elif Shafak

There Is No Clash of Civilizations

There Is No Clash of Civilizations between Europe and Turkey; rather there is a clash of opinions within Turkey itself, crystallized in a collision between those who are state-oriented and those who are civil-society-oriented, writes Elif Shafak
Afghanistan after the Parliamentary Election

Warlords and Fundamentalists Are the Winners

While no official results have as yet been made available for the Afghan elections, provisionally published lists indicate that powerful warlords and local commanders with links to the drug cartels have emerged victorious. Ratbil Shamel reports
Exodus from Africa

The Search for a Better Life

Those who risk their lives to trek thousands of kilometres through the Sahara desert to get to the North African coast and make their way to Europe must have sound reasons for doing so. In his commentary, Dominic Johnson names them

Politics

Topics

Vote Criticised as Flawed

Democracy under Pressure

Europe Wakes Up to Multicultural Realities

"Political Uncertainty Is Assad's Most Important Asset"

The "Muslim Community": A European Invention

Despite Approval Major Issues Remain Unresolved

World Condemns Iran for President's Remarks

The Politics of an Earthquake

High Expectations on Mehlis Report

There Is No Clash of Civilizations

Warlords and Fundamentalists Are the Winners

The Search for a Better Life

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