Politics

Iraqi Kurdistan in political and economic crisis

Barzani′s sinking ship

The ongoing political and economic crisis in northern Iraq is forcing many Kurds to flee. Instead of fighting the causes of the exodus from Iraqi Kurdistan, however, the Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani is relying on patriotism and empty promises. Birgit Svensson reports from Erbil
By Birgit Svensson
Syria conflict

Feigning helplessness

Claims by Western diplomats that the Syria conflict can only be solved politically and not militarily are misleading. While the West foots the bill for the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Assad regime, Russian President Putin creates a situation on the ground to further its interests. A commentary by Markus Bickel
By Markus Bickel
President Bouteflika and Algeria′s future

The sick man of the Mediterranean

The ongoing struggle for power between Algeria′s president and the country′s secret service may for the time being have been won by Abdelaziz Bouteflika. But the question as to who holds the reins of power in Algeria remains. The president or the omnipresent armed forces? An analysis by Gianni del Panta
By Gianni Del Panta
Turkey: interview with Bilgin Ayata

No haven for refugees

Turkey′s military has been leading operations in the east of the country for months. The clashes have cost hundreds of lives so far. Ceyda Nurtsch spoke to Bilgin Ayata, assistant professor of political sociology at Basel University, about the political motivation behind the conflict and its impact on Turkey′s citizens
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Turkey′s campaign against the PKK

Siege tactics

Hundreds dead, whole districts reduced to rubble. That’s the outcome of Turkey′s military campaign in its south-east. For two months now, the predominantly Kurdish region has been under a curfew imposed by the Turkish army. Tom Stevenson reports from Diyarbakir
By Tom Stevenson
Syria and Geneva III

The great pretenders

As the Geneva III peace talks get underway, there is no sign that the conference will secure an end to the violence in Syria. The Assad regime can participate safe in the knowledge that it has nothing to fear. A commentary by Bente Scheller
By Bente Scheller
The Egyptian Revolution five years on

Ghosts of the uprising

25 January 2011 saw the start of the revolution in Egypt that led to the collapse of the Mubarak dictatorship. Today, the Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez-Eldin sees another regime in power staging an absurd drama of fear and oppression
By Mansoura Ez-Eldin
Islamic State

Know your enemy

There is much the West does not understand about its latest enemy, in which it faces more than ″just″ extremists. IS ideology thrives on hatred, anger and resentment – the most effective response would therefore be to introduce and nurture values of tolerance, unity, mutual co-operation and peace. By Abdel Bari Atwan
By Abdel Bari Atwan
Gentrification in Egypt

Urban counter-revolution in Cairo

The "Reclaiming Downtown" campaign launched by the Egyptian government is no ordinary measure designed to advance the gentrification of the Cairo city centre. It is instead a politically motivated drive against any form of opposition and civilian autonomy. The "backyard of the revolution" is to be refurbished and its revolutionary history wiped out. By Sofian Philip Naceur
By Sofian Philip Naceur
Interview with Slim Laghmani on Tunisia′s national crisis

″We′re halfway there″

In the medium term, it′s neither political nor economic problems that pose the greatest threat to democratic change in Tunisia, but rather the country′s national crisis, says Slim Laghmani, a legal scholar at the University of Carthage. Sarah Mersch spoke to him
By Sarah Mersch
Muslim Brotherhood texts

Once valued, now proscribed

In recent months, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia have begun withdrawing literature relating to the Muslim Brotherhood from the public domain. Tracts and treatises that once held pride of place on bookshelves – with some even enjoying official textbook status – are being confiscated and burned. By Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru
New Year′s Eve and Islam in Germany

A gift from the gods

What happened in Cologne is being instrumentalised on all sides. Islamist preachers such as Pierre Vogel and Muslim representatives in Germany are using the events to clalm that salvation lies, as ever, in the strict observance of religious rules. This is simply serving to widen the rift, writes Stefan Buchen
By Stefan Buchen