Politics

The rise of right-wing populism in Europe

A continent divided

The rise of right-wing populism is throwing Europe off-balance. The impacts on policies concerning migration, inclusion and asylum are already evident. In many European countries, right-wing propaganda is calling into question achievements such as the freedom of religion, free movement for EU citizens and the right of asylum. By Daniel Bax
By Daniel Bax
Donald Trump the author

"Strengthen American Muscle"

Donald Trump has long been known in America as a book author and cautionary voice. He has already set down his plans for the Middle East in writing – and they give cause for concern. By Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru
Hamza Meddeb on the "No Future" generation

Tunisia's ticking time bomb

Political scientist Hamza Meddeb is critical of the Tunisian authorities, which prefer to focus exclusively on security aspects in the war against terror, rather than launching efforts to genuinely address the causes of youth radicalisation. Interview by Sarah Mersch
By Sarah Mersch
Libya, Al Koni and the Skhirat Agreement

A fatal blow

If the Skhirat Agreement (LPA) is not quickly and substantially amended to allow a new executable agreement to be reached, its end will have been written from within its own chapters. By Azza K. Maghur
By Azza K. Maghur
Non-fiction: Sebastian Sons′ ″Auf Sand gebaut″

Saudi Arabia – a difficult ally

Saudi Arabia is an important, but controversial partner of western countries. Sebastian Sons, an expert on the country with the DGAP (Germany's Council on Foreign Relations), assesses the country’s mindset, its political problems and how western governments should engage its leaders. By Sabine Balk
By Sabine Balk
Erdogan and Turkish foreign policy

Neo-Ottoman rumblings

In the past few months Turkish President Erdogan has repeatedly called the borders of Turkey into question and implicitly laid claim to neighbouring territories. While such statements are mainly aimed at his own citizens, the neighbouring states are getting nervous, particularly now that Erdogan has dispatched troops to Syria and Iraq. By Ulrich von Schwerin
By Ulrich von Schwerin
Interview with Iranian dissident Abolhassan Banisadr

Selling the revolution on

Following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, millions of Iranian dissidents were forced to flee the country for fear of reprisals. Prominent among them, Abolhassan Banisadr, the first president of the Islamic Republic. Having fallen out with Khomeini, he left Iran in the summer of 1981. Interview by Mahindokht Mesbah
By Mahindokht Mesbah
Middle East conflict

Empty rhetoric

The West likes to repeat its criticism of Israel's settlement policy but does nothing to put a stop to it. That's why the two-state solution is just empty rhetoric, writes Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru
The Syrian revolution

Girding the forces of change

"We will return, Aleppo" says the writing on the walls of the devastated city. These words defy Assad's claim that his regime's military victory is now complete, writes the Syrian dissident Akram al-Bunni
By Akram al-Bunni
Pakistan and the Trump factor

Who pays the piper

The surprise victory of Donald Trump resonated in markets around the world as voters in the USA endorsed his protectionist agenda. Pakistan was no exception. By Afshan Subohi
By Afshan Subohi
RLA winner Mozn Hassan on civil repression in Egypt

″Now′s the time to be creative″

Freedom of the press and freedom of assembly in Egypt have practically ceased to exist. Freedom of speech is under massive pressure – even online. Meanwhile the Egyptian regime is continuing its campaign against civil society with a new law featuring unprecedented measures to control and monitor NGOs. Sofian Philip Naceur talks to the director of the Cairo-based NGO Nazra for Feminist Studies, Mozn Hassan
By Sofian Philip Naceur
The situation post-Aleppo

An orphaned revolution

Russian′s bombing campaign in Syria has helped put an end to Aleppo′s civil democratic experiment, once a beacon of hope. What next? By Leila Al-Shami
By Leila Al-Shami