Politics

Interview with identity politics expert Mujibur Rehman

"Muslims feel deeply unsafe in present-day India"

Known for his work on identity politics and political economy, Mujibur Rehman most recently published 'Communalism in postcolonial India′, which addresses the rise of religious fundamentalism in India. In Bonn to lecture on cow vigilantism, he spoke to Roma Rajpal Weiss about the situation of the sub-continent's Muslim minority
By Roma Rajpal Weiss
Reform in Saudi Arabia

Progress or megalomania?

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia says he wants to fundamentally change his country. But the inexperienced and impulsive young Mohammed bin Salman could quickly find himself in over his head, says Nader Alsarras
By Nader Alsarras
The restructuring of Turkey

Filling the gap left by Gulen

The crushing of the Islamic Gulen movement has left a gaping void in Turkey that other organisations are now rushing to fill, with people jostling for the tens of thousands of now-vacant jobs. Conservative foundations and religious orders stand to benefit most from the sell-off. By Ulrich von Schwerin
By Ulrich von Schwerin
Germany’s identity crisis

We are the people, too

Within two years, the rise of the AfD has caused a backlash in German discourse that Angela Merkel, fearing the loss of conservative voters to the right, has proved incapable of quelling. As the new German parliament reconvenes, it remains to be seen whose votes are worth more, writes Jagoda Marinic
By Jagoda Marinic
Fighting over Kurdish independence

A political fiasco

By going ahead with the referendum on independence, Massoud Barzani has forfeited the support of his international allies, while bringing tensions with Iraqi central government to a dangerous head. If Barzani hoped the referendum would consolidate his own power base, he couldn′t have been more wrong. An analysis by Cigdem Akyol
By Cigdem Akyol
Saudi Arabia′s labour market

Loosing the chains

Scarcely any other country treats native and foreign workers as unequally as Saudi Arabia. With its pronounced disparities between men and women, the labour market also reflects the contradictions within Saudi society. Implementing the initiated reforms will be no small feat. By Nassir Djafari
By Nassir Djafari
Germany's refugee influx two years on

Where there's a will

In 2015 and 2016, some 1.2 million refugees fled to Germany. Two years on from the start of the refugee crisis, how are these new arrivals integrating? Have the right steps been taken? Report by Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Fatah-Hamas rapprochement

Can they keep their cool?

Following the recent reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, journalist and Al-Shabaka policy advisor Khalil Shaheen examines what now needs to happen to cement this historic step along the road towards genuine Palestinian self-determination
By Khalil Shaheen
Ending the civil war

For a different Syria

Assad is still in power. But he has nevertheless lost it – to Iran, Russia, Syrian militia leaders and war profiteers. What Germany should now do for the Syrians. By Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg
Annulling the Iran deal

When amateurs rule

Abandoning the nuclear deal with Iran will leave the U.S. completely isolated, undermine global security and strain relations with its allies, which are already under mounting stress thanks to Trump′s unseemly and erratic behaviour. Commentary by Alon Ben-Meir
By Alon Ben-Meir
Germany′s arms exports to the Islamic world

Profiteering from terrorism

Germany's massive arms exports are helping shore up autocratic regimes in the Middle East. The policy is short-sighted and driven by economic interests, writes Markus Bickel in his highly informative analysis ″Die Profiteure des Terrors″. By Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Reform in Morocco

Sapping the political will

The Moroccan regime is seeking to cleanse the political arena, draining the debate of any substance. Using traditional pre-February 2011 means to tighten its grip on the population is, however, proving very difficult. By Mohamed Taifouri
By Mohamed Taifouri