Politics

Ahmad Shah Massoud

Afghanistan's Cold War hero

9 September marked the 15th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, revered as a war hero not only in his homeland, but also in the West. This is astonishing in view of the fact that he – just like all other Afghan warlords – can justifiably be described as a war criminal. By Emran Feroz
By Emran Feroz
Oil and development in the Middle East

A two-edged sword

When poor countries started producing oil, they thought that was the key to economic growth and prosperity. Since then, the impact of resource wealth on producing countries has been the subject of endless debate. By Nassir Djafari
By Nassir Djafari
Syrian civil war

The end of a dream

In Daraya, a town southwest of Damascus, Assad has triumphed. After four years of continuous bombing and starvation, the last 8,000 residents have capitulated and agreed to be resettled by the regime. By Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg
Fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan

Where the warlords still hold sway

The militias of Afghan warlords have always occupied a dubious position in the life of the country. But Kabul relies on them as allies in the battle against the Taliban – a strategy, however, that is having the opposite effect. By Emran Feroz
By Emran Feroz
Turkish involvement in Syria

Making enemies

Ankara has invaded Syria to keep Islamic State fighters out of its own territory and prevent Kurdish territorial gains. In Turkey, the dual strategy has not only met with approval: critical voices are growing louder. By Andreas Gorzewski
By Andreas Gorzewski
Pakistan and sectarianism

The enemy within

Pakistan′s generals blame their country′s cycle of political violence, including a recent bombing in the Baluch capital of Quetta, on groups in Afghanistan. The focus on external enemies complicates efforts to reduce political violence, ease inter-communal strains and facilitate easing of tensions with Pakistan′s neighbours. By James M. Dorsey
By James M. Dorsey
Egypt's economic and fiscal crisis

Rescuing the sinking ship

Just last week, the Egyptian government and a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement about a 12 billion US-dollar loan package. Egypt hopes to restore confidence in its crippled economy and attract more investors. But is this deal the right answer for Egypt's economic problems? Sofian Philip Naceur talked to Amr Adly, a non-resident scholar of the Carnegie Middle East Center
By Sofian Philip Naceur
Refugees and German crime rates

Zero correlation

There is no link between refugees and criminality. A new study shows that this connection cannot be empirically verified and thereby contradicts the slogans of populist firebrands. By Matthias von Hein
By Matthias von Hein
The siege of Aleppo

Seven levels of hell

The breathtaking ruthlessness of Assad′s regime means that the hoped-for humanitarian corridors, aimed at bringing relief to the besieged residents of Syria′s Aleppo, are never likely to materialise. By Bente Scheller
By Bente Scheller
Noam Chomsky in interview

Obama's sangfroid

Former MIT professor and philosopher Noam Chomsky is widely regarded as one of the world's leading intellectuals. Undoubtedly, Chomsky's word has weight. Emran Feroz interviewed him on Barack Obama's political legacy in the Middle East, the deal with Iran and the refugee crisis
By Emran Feroz
Turkey's democratic future

Hanging by a thread

The thwarted coup of 15 July is being celebrated by the AKP as well as large sections of Turkish civil society as a victory for democracy. But the state of emergency and the mass arrests spotlight the authoritarian political tide in Turkey. Ceyda Nurtsch reports from Istanbul
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Libya

Facing hell in Sirte

The war against the Islamic State Group is taking a heavy toll on Libya, especially on the youth at the front line, and a military victory is only the first step toward stability, writes Valerie Stocker
By Valerie Stocker