Politics

Saudi Arabian and UAE foreign policy

A finger in every pie

When it comes to furthering their own interests, few political actors are currently attempting to influence developments in the Middle East and North Africa on so many fronts as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By Matthias Sailer
By Matthias Sailer
The Islamic Republic turns 39

At risk of Syrianisation?

Was the recent unrest in Iran merely a harbinger of a bigger political quake? Prominent sociologists and political scientists are predicting some more extensive social shock waves. And one man who made his name during the revolution has offered his apologies to the Iranian people. By Ali Sadrzadeh
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Europe and Algeria

The trust deficit

The European Union is keen to enhance co-operation with Algeria, but the North African nation, apparently wary of post-colonial meddling, is showing little interest. For political analyst Isabel Schafer the case is not that simple
By Isabel Schäfer
The role of Egypt′s armed forces

A military empire

After the Arab spring, the Egyptian military gained unprecedented influence. Able to count on the financial support of several Gulf monarchies, it maintains tight control of the political arena and the Egyptian economy. By Ingy Salama
By Ingy Salama
Germany's arms exports controversy

When doves cry

The embargo on arms exports to countries involved in the conflict in Yemen recently agreed by Germany's two biggest political parties must be maintained and underpinned by binding criteria in a law on arms exports, writes Markus Bickel
By Markus Bickel
Czech President Milos Zeman′s re-election

Europe's fearmonger

The Czech Republic has once again elected Milos Zeman as president, a leader who applauds Donald Trump's ban on Muslims entering the USA and who sees himself as a prophet warning against immigration and an imagined Islamic threat. By Farid Hafez
By Farid Hafez
Turkey’s Afrin offensive

Wrong, but not unjustified

Although the presence of an armed group on Turkey′s border – especially one allied to the PKK – was inevitably going to be perceived as a threat, Ankara′s Afrin offensive has been given short shrift in Germany. Commentary by Ulrich von Schwerin
By Ulrich von Schwerin
Lessons from the unrest in Tunisia

Free in name only

Although the protests in Tunisia are gradually dying down, the country′s political class still finds itself confronted with dissatisfaction from large sections of the population. Alongside political freedoms, the government now also needs to keep the social promises of 2011, says Tunisian journalist Ismael Dbara
By Ismail Dbara
Turkey′s incursion into Syria

The Kurdish quagmire

The last thing the conflict in Syria needed was more external intrusion and the opening of another front. Turkey′s Afrin offensive has provided both. Once again, the Western powers and Russia have managed to foster a dangerous escalation. Commentary by Tom Stevenson
By Tom Stevenson
Trump's Pakistan outburst

Reckless tweets vs. democratic hopes

Pakistan′s slow progress towards developing a stable and inclusive political system faced new challenges in the second half of 2017 – now Donald Trump's tweets could make matters worse. If Pakistan continues to falter in 2018, the consequences will be felt across South Asia and the broader Muslim world. By Shahid Javed Burki
By Shahid Javed Burki
U.S. policy on the Middle East

The imperial reflex

The United States believes it can enforce the policy of sanctions it has directed against Iran on the rest of the world as well. In no third country are the possible implications as grave as in Turkey, says Stefan Buchen in his analysis
By Stefan Buchen
Non-fiction: Safwan M. Masri′s ″Tunisia – An Arab anomaly″

A history of intellectual excellence

Tunisia stands out as the only democracy among Arab countries. Why it has managed the transformation from autocratic rule after the Arab Spring has deep roots that go back centuries, argues Safwan M. Masri. Hans Dembowski read the book
By Hans Dembowski