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Religious Fanatics as Rational Actors

Drawing on parallel research on radical religious Jews, Christians and Muslims, Eli Berman argues that terrorists can be understood as rational altruists. His approach offers new, rational countermeasures. By James M. Dorsey

"It's good to make right-wingers cry"

Abdulrazak Gurnah, the British-Tanzanian Nobel-winning writer, has spent a lifetime confronting colonialism and racial politics – and welcomes a new generation keeping these issues alive

Traditional boat-makers keep ancient craft afloat

Khaled Bahlawan hammers nails into a traditional wooden boat he built by hand, toiling under the scorching sun on Syria's Mediterranean coast to preserve a disappearing ancient skill

Taliban curtails women's rights in Afghanistan

Iran’s increasingly decentralised axis of resistance

The Islamic Republic's “axis of resistance” is currently shifting from a hierarchical, Iran-centric network to a decentralised horizontal structure, facilitating greater autonomy for its members. More autonomy gives Iran the plausible deniability to distance itself from its partners’ provocations, while still seeking their support when needed.

The Triumph of the Shisha

Throughout the Arab world, the water pipe has been a traditional accompaniment to friendly gatherings since the 17th century. Now, the shisha is becoming increasingly popular in German bars and cafes. Ariana Mirza reports from Berlin.

Reading into the Minds of Millions in the Islamic World!

Al-Jazeera did not treat the knighthood awarded to the Indian-born British writer Salman Rushdie as a literary or cultural item. Instead, it created a major political news story. A commentary by Fidel Sbeiti

Winning hearts and minds in Kabul?

Confessions of a Muslim woman

In her debut novel, Fatima Daas makes use of traditional narrative forms reminiscent of Koranic suras. The piercing, insistent rhythm of her writing style addresses topical issues such as same-sex love, gender and questions concerning her identity as a French woman with Algerian heritage. Volker Kaminski read the book

Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy behind the Taliban's return

If one individual could bring peace to Afghanistan, U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad touted himself as the man for the job. In the end, however, the seasoned diplomat has overseen the demise of the republic he so painstakingly assembled.