Politics

Wildfires in Turkey

Politics ablaze as forests burn in Turkey

The ruling Justice and Development Party's inadequate preparedness and apparent poor and slow response to the large-scale devastating wildfires ravaging the country has unleashed a fresh political debate in Turkey. By Ayşe Karabat in Istanbul
By Ayşe Karabat
Taliban in the ascendant

Joe Biden and America’s withdrawal of choice

The swift fall of Kabul recalls the ignominious fall of Saigon in 1975. Beyond the local consequences – widespread reprisals, harsh repression of women and girls, and massive refugee flows – America’s strategic and moral failure in Afghanistan will reinforce questions about U.S. reliability among friends and foes alike. By Richard Haass
By Richard Haass
Ebrahim Raisi takes office

The Iranian regime will stop at nothing to ensure survival

Against the backdrop of growing protests over water shortages, Iran's new hardline president took office last week. For ordinary Iranians, a life in fear and repression will continue, writes Azadeh Pourzand
By Azadeh Pourzand
Death sentences against Muslim Brotherhood members in Egypt

An act of reckoning

Attracting little attention from the world at large, Egypt's military regime has been mercilessly going after dissidents. Now, the first executions of prominent members of the Muslim Brotherhood loom. All the while, the true extent of the crackdown remains unknown. By Jannis Hagmann
By Jannis Hagmann
US withdrawal from Iraq

Not Afghanistan: Why the US and Iraq won't leave one another

While agreeing last week to a withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq, neither Iraqi nor US leaders can admit publicly how much they need each other. By Cathrin Schaer
By Cathrin Schaer
Presidential take-over in Tunisia

Political earthquake in Tunis

Tunisia's President Kaïs Saïed has assumed executive powers in his country in a highly controversial and possibly unconstitutional manner, fuelling fears of an impending authoritarian rollback. Despite strong criticism of his intervention, many still hope for an end to the country's endemic crisis. By Sofian Philip Naceur
By Sofian Philip Naceur
Erdogan in Cyprus

No movement in the mediation deadlock

On his recent visit to Cyprus, Turkish President Erdogan continued to bang his two-state drum, insisting that this is now the only viable option for the divided island. By announcing the next phase of a plan to partially reopen the coastal resort of Varosha for Turkish Cypriot settlement, he is once again pushing his own agenda. By Ronald Meinardus in Istanbul
By Ronald Meinardus
Morocco's pre-election crisis of confidence

"People no longer trust us!"

In Morocco, years of patronage politics and favouritism have led to trust dwindling in government, parliament and the country's institutions. Neo-liberal policy-making favours enrichment and corruption, while the state holds a protective hand over the profiteers. Commentary by Moroccan analyst Ali Anouzla
By Ali Anouzla
Saudi Arabia, football and the Olympics

Making the leap from off-side to big league?

The Saudi national team is set to play the German Olympic squad at the Olympics in Tokyo later this month – a chance for the outsiders to make their mark. At the same time, and keen to buff up the nation's badly tarnished image, the Kingdom is looking to pitch for glory in the multi-million dollar football business. It's a risky strategy. By Sebastian Sons
By Sebastian Sons
Exclusive: Investigating Syria's civil war

How hardline rebels turned on activist Razan Zeitouneh

The disappearance of Razan Zeitouneh and her colleagues has been one of the greatest mysteries of the Syrian war – until today. DW's investigative unit hunted clues across six countries to track down the perpetrators
By Lewis Sanders IV & Birgitta Schuelke-Gill & Maria Chehadeh
Erdogan's NATO peace offering

Can Turkish forces tame the Taliban in Afghanistan?

Almost all NATO troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan. Turkey is looking to fill the gap and is offering itself as a new protective power. But the Taliban are sending clear threats in the direction of Ankara. By Hilal Koylu
By Hilal Köylü
Pimping the parliamentary facade

Narendra Modi's Potemkin democracy

India's prime minister has an "edifice complex" that has given rise to grand new government buildings, including a planned new parliament. Sadly, the spirit of deliberation and debate that animated the old parliament building risks being left there. By Shashi Tharoor
By Shashi Tharoor