Most recent articles by Hans Dembowski
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Middle East conflictTwo peoples' experience of displacement
The Israel-Palestine conflict is multilayered and very complex. The greatest problem is that both sides have reason to believe the other wants to destroy them
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Civilian death toll in GazaThe shameful one percent
About 23,000 Gazans – or one percent of the population – have died in the war in the past three months. Children and teenagers account for as much as 40 % of the dead. Though provided by Hamas, the numbers are considered largely accurate
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Middle East conflict and the Gaza war"Wake up to the reality of what is happening"
The Hamas terrorism of 7 October was particularly cruel and atrocious. The perpetrators committed terrible crimes. Many Israelis, however, think their own government bears responsibility for the bloodshed that occurred on its watch. Susan Neiman, a Jewish philosopher, shares her views
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Migration in the 1960sAdapting to Germany's fast-changing society
Nassir Djafari's second novel "Mahtab" tells the story of a migrant mother from Iran in 1960s Frankfurt. Not only does it describe how the protagonist adapts to an unfamiliar culture, but also reveals just how much Frankfurt itself was transformed during this period. By Hans Dembowski
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AfghanistanVictim-blaming – a trope of the West's failure in Afghanistan
One prominent narrative relating to the defeat of the western-led military intervention in Afghanistan is that it was a mistake to try to build a modern democracy in a society steeped in "mediaeval traditions" and "tribal attitudes". Hans Dembowski condemns this self-serving and condescending standpoint, which persists in ignoring the serious flaws in the West's engagement, while blaming the victims for its failure
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Interview with Indonesian economist Iwan J. Azis"Inequality will grow if all you do is unleash market forces"
For decades the conditions governing International Financial Institution (IFI) loans to Asian countries were often far too stringent, resulting in heightened social disparity. In interview with Hans Dembowski, Iwan J. Azis explains the risks of purely growth-oriented economies
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Tobias Lindholmʹs "A War"Nordic tragedy in Afghanistan
Released in 2015, Tobias Lindholmʹs "A War" was nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Foreign Language Film. Part frontline thriller, part courtroom drama, the film examines the simple question: what do you do, when there is no right answer? By Hans Dembowski
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Non-fiction: Safwan M. Masri′s ″Tunisia – An Arab anomaly″A history of intellectual excellence
Tunisia stands out as the only democracy among Arab countries. Why it has managed the transformation from autocratic rule after the Arab Spring has deep roots that go back centuries, argues Safwan M. Masri. Hans Dembowski read the book
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Erdogan′s TurkeyThe repression goes on
Turkey’s government is hounding opponents. Shortly after its narrow – and disputed – referendum victory in April, it extended the state of emergency and ran yet another purge of the police. The media had been silenced before the referendum and cannot hold the authorities accountable anymore. By Hans Dembowski
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Ennahda – the new Muslim DemocratsA blessing for Tunisian democracy?
Widely regarded as Tunisia′s equivalent of the Muslim Brotherhood back in 2011, Ennahda has moved a long way from its Islamist roots. Hans Dembowski assesses the latest developments
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Islam′s non-violent traditionNeglected heritage
In view of the threat of Islamist terrorism, Muslim intellectuals and leaders who emphasise non-violence and democracy tend to be ignored internationally. They deserve attention. Some Muslim traditions actually fit modernity quite well. By Hans Dembowski
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State and religion in Iran"Shias tend to support the underdogs"
The Shia faith has always been a defining aspect of Iranian nationhood. In the twentieth century, the pro-Western regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi silenced critics and was eventually toppled by a popular revolution with strong religious dimensions in 1979. Tehran's stance has since been basically anti-Western, but that may now be changing. Maysam Behravesh, a political analyst with Tehran Bureau, assessed the nature of the Shia regime in an interview with Hans Dembowski