Politics

Iran's corruptocracy

Why the Abadan building collapse matters

Days of protests across Iran followed the collapse of a high-rise building in the city of Abadan in May 2022. But why has the disaster become such a political issue? Rahman Bouzari and Ali Fathollah-Nejad report
By Rahman Bouzari, Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Syria and Ukraine

Humanitarian aid is Russia's political football

Millions in Idlib depend on aid coming through a northern border crossing. On 10 July, the UN Security Council votes whether to keep it open. The decision may hinge not only on Syria, but also on the Ukraine war. Diana Hodali reports
By Diana Hodali
$Algeria‘s regime is again cracking down on anti-fracking activists and the unemployed in the country‘s south. Yet EU states remain keen to scale up their energy cooperation with Algiers, despite the reprisals faced by environmentalists.$

Algeria‘s gas reserves

Is defending the environment terrorism?

Algeria‘s regime is again cracking down on anti-fracking activists and the unemployed in the country‘s south. Yet EU countries remain keen to scale up their energy cooperation with Algiers, despite the reprisals faced by environmentalists. By Sofian Philip Naceur
By Sofian Philip Naceur
The Turkish state and the Kurdish question

Turkey – a battle of narratives

For a century, the Kurds and other minorities in Turkey have been subject to state repression. With his dissertation "The Kurdish Question in Turkey", political analyst Ismail Kupeli presents a new research paper on the topic. Interview by Gerrit Wustmann
By Gerrit Wustmann
Western Sahara

Is a gas crisis with Algeria on the horizon for Spain?

Madrid's about-face on the Western Sahara conflict has enraged Algeria. Trade relations have been frozen unilaterally and a cut in gas supplies to Europe could be in the pipeline. By Ralph Schulze
By Ralph Schulze
Electioneering in Turkey

Turkish right-wing populists on the rise

Right-wing radicalism and nationalism have dominated Turkish politics for decades. Now a new right-wing populist grouping is stirring things up: enter the "Victory Party". By Elmas Topcu
By Elmas Topcu
Middle East

In Iraq, sectarian prejudice goes beyond the grave

The "Islamic State" group is gone, but many of their Iraqi victims are still missing. They may well be buried in mass graves the extremists left. But critics say exhumations are too slow, and possibly politically biased. By Judit Neurink
By Judit Neurink
Iraq bans contact with Israel

Anti-Semitism as state doctrine?

A law has been passed by the Iraqi parliament that criminalises any contact with Israel. In the midst of heated debates on the subject, one crucial aspect has been forgotten: the restitution of Jewish property. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Siemens wins major contract in Egypt

High speed up the Nile valley

It is the biggest order in the history of the Siemens Group: a 2,000-kilometre railway network for high-speed trains is to be built in Egypt. But the project raises numerous questions. By Karim El Gawhary
By Karim El-Gawhary
Iran and the Ukraine war

Ali Khamenei prepares for the future

The Ukraine war is changing the global geopolitical landscape. Ali Khamenei, Iran's most powerful man, is already cosying up to Russia in anticipation of a harsh post-war reality. By Ali Sadrzadeh
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Middle East oil states

Surging energy prices likely to de-rail reforms?

The Ukraine war has seen energy prices spike with oil producers in the Middle East making more money than ever. But will it put the brakes on long-planned reforms to diversify oil-reliant economies in the region? By Cathrin Schaer
By Cathrin Schaer
Egypt's food crisis

Wheat from the desert?

The lack of grain supplies from Ukraine is forcing Egypt to act. Now even the Toshka project is being revived to grow grain in the desert. Birgit Svensson travelled to see it
By Birgit Svensson