Politics

Saudi influence in Pakistan

A perilous road

Saudi-supported ultra-conservative worldviews, abetted by successive Pakistani governments, are changing the very nature of Pakistani society. By James M. Dorsey
By James M. Dorsey
Citizenship law reform in Algeria

The tug-of-war over identity

In July of this year the Algerian cabinet passed a controversial law allowing only those with ″exclusive Algerian nationality″ to hold high office. Report by Federica Zoja
By Federica Zoja
US presidential elections

Huma Abedin – the woman in the shadows

Huma Abedin, long-time aide to Hillary Clinton, is someone who prefers to remain in the background. The current election campaign has seen her dragged reluctantly into the limelight however – and confronted her with sex scandals and terror threats. By Mey Dudin
By Mey Dudin
Democracy in Palestine

High hopes, low expectations

Palestinians who hoped municipal elections would eventually pave the way to overdue national ones voice criticism about decisions that led to their postponement. By Ylenia Gostoli
By Ylenia Gostoli
The murder of Jordanian author Nahed Hattar

The same stinking swamp

There′s not much to choose between the IS terrorist who recently gunned down the Islam-critical author Nahed Hattar in Amman and those who murdered Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi in Tunisia. These murders are the result of the Islamist mobilisation against all those who think differently or have a different political standpoint. By Khaled Hroub
By Khaled Hroub
Elections in Morocco

Enough austerity

Morocco′s Party for Justice and Development (PJD) faces a stiff confidence test on 7 October when parliamentary elections are held for the second time since constitutional reforms were adopted in 2011. Moreover, rumours that the Makhzen is finished with the PJD means that the main opposition – the Party for Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) – poses a serious challenge at the polls. Analysis by Matthew Greene
By Matthew Greene
On the death of Shimon Peres

Stranger than fiction

In the blanket homage to the late Israeli politician Shimon Peres there are significant omissions. One should not speak ill of the dead. But nevertheless, the gushing praise demands further clarification. A critical appraisal by Stefan Buchen
By Stefan Buchen
Russia and the Syrian conflict

Drop the dictator!

For there to be any hope of an end to the war in Syria, Moscow has to realise that an orderly handover of power in Damascus is in its own interest, writes Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg
India and Pakistan

Unable to bury the axe

Following the latest attack on an Indian military base in Kashmir, India and Pakistan have yet again locked horns over the disputed region. Now the Indian government says it wants to isolate its Islamic neighbour as a terrorist state. Report by Ronald Meinardus in New Delhi
By Ronald Meinardus
Israel and the settlements

Netanyahu′s forked tongue

The video posted by Benjamin Netanyahu on 9 September took everyone by surprise. Nobody could explain it – neither the timing, the essence, nor the Israeli prime minister′s hidden agenda. For years now, the so-called peace process has been in stasis. Then, out of the blue, Netanyahu decides to address the evacuation of Jewish settlers. Commentary by Gideon Levy
By Gideon Levy
Tahrir Square's democracy activists

The forgotten heroes

Egypt's activists were once the heroes of Tahrir Square. Then the world forgot them – and all other Arab democrats along with them. Authoritarian states and Salafists are not giving them any leeway. By Mey Dudin
By Mey Dudin
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