Politics

Interview with Israeli historian Moshe Zimmermann

AfD's success comparable with the rise of the Nazis

Jews must speak out about the German general election result, says Moshe Zimmermann. The Israeli government, on the other hand, prefers to look the other way. In interview with Sarah Judith Hofmann, the German-Israeli historian explains why
By Sarah Judith Hofmann
Iran and the USA

Trump's UN debut: The axis of evil is back

The USA no longer accepts the nuclear agreement with Iran in its current form and instead wants to renegotiate elements of the international treaty. President Hassan Rouhani now has to manoeuvre between Trump and the radicals at home – hoping all the while that Europe will act as mediator. A commentary by Ali Sadrzadeh
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Germany′s election result

Facing down the AfD: We shall not be moved!

There can be no alternative to a pluralist society – whether the AfD accepts it or not! Now is the time to stand up for democracy and resist the right-wingers and racists. Commentary by Canan Topcu
By Canan Topçu
Muslims in Austria

October elections: Beware of Islamophobes

Austria′s election campaign has to date been characterised by cheap propaganda and Islamophobia. Now, just four weeks before people go to the polls, Sebastian Kurz, leader of the conservative OVP, has conceded that coalition with the right-wing FPO is an option. By Farid Hafez
By Farid Hafez
Interview with Bettina Marx, head of the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Ramallah

Hamas' olive branch: ″Palestinians want reconciliation″

Hamas has made an offer to its Palestinian rival, Fatah, agreeing to hold elections in the Gaza Strip. The head of the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Ramallah, Bettina Marx, sees this as a striking and positive development
By Uta Steinwehr
Germany's general election

Calling all Muslim voters: ″Won′t vote″ won′t wash

Which party should Muslims vote for in the German general election? Should they participate at all? Those who want to make themselves heard and be viewed as equal citizens need to exercise their civil rights. By Canan Topcu
By Canan Topçu
Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Securitising Turkish foreign policy: Turning back the clock

Turkey′s armed forces chief is due to visit Tehran this week, the trip is the latest by the region′s top generals in and out of Ankara. This military traffic is being seen as evidence of a foreign policy increasingly dictated by security concerns, last seen in the 1990′s. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul
By Dorian Jones
Economic Community of West African States

Morocco's grand plan: In pursuit of economic union

Morocco is launching a charm offensive as the kingdom seeks to expand its influence in West Africa. Membership of the economic union ECOWAS is also on the agenda. Yet not everyone welcomes the idea. By Gwendolin Hilse
By Gwendolin Hilse
Immigrants in Germany

Electioneering in the Federal Republic: Courting the immigrant vote

"What′s the Turk doing up there?" a caller to the Green party complained when he saw Cem Ozdemir in the Bundestag in 1994. Today 37 MPs and one in ten voters have a migrant background. Could they swing the election? By Andrea Grunau
By Andrea Grunau
Interview with Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch

Myanmar's denier-in-chief: ″An utter failure of moral leadership″

An estimated number of 270,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled ethnic cleansing in Myanmar and have crossed over to Bangladesh. Aid agencies are struggling to cope with the influx and are reporting an acute shortage of provisions. Roma Rajpal Weiss spoke to Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch in Asia
By Roma Rajpal Weiss
Turkey and the Gulf states

Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Sticking his neck out for Qatar

Ankara′s unilateral siding with the Emirate of Qatar in the Gulf crisis is giving rise to fears that the Turkish President is gambling away his role as a credible mediator in this key region, writes Aziz Bouabe
By Aziz Bouabe
Soft power and football

Qatar vs. UAE: The not-so-beautiful game

In the race to buy influence, garner soft power and win over hearts and minds, those involved in the three-month old Gulf crisis are hell-bent on raising the stakes. Commentary by James M. Dorsey
By James M. Dorsey