Egyptian Students and the Arab Spring
Activists involved in the "January 25 Revolution" against the Mubarak regime included many students who took to the streets demanding freedom and social justice. But what is left of that revolutionary spirit now? Fabian Schmidmeier went to Cairo's Ain Shams University to find out More »
Pakistan at a Crossroads
Pakistan's Taliban have for a long time been extending their influence on society by way of intimidation, brute force and terror killings. Now, however, people seem to be ready to confront the militants, drawing from the memory of Pakistan's liberal society in the early 70s. Ashraf Khan reports from Karachi More »
German-Israeli Ties
Despite German Chancellor Angela Merkel's strong, traditional backing for Israel, some Germans are becoming more critical of the country and calling into question Germany's unequivocal support. By Daniella Cheslow More »
Massive Conflicts within Syrian Churches
Well-known Syrian dissidents criticise the impact of the huge influence exerted on religious groups by the Assad regime. Syrian journalist Michel Kilo warns against a "bunker mentality" within faith communities and a new "confessional racism". Claudia Mende reports More »
The 'Mapping Democracy' Project
To explore innovative forms of democratic dialogue – that's the idea behind the project "Mapping Democracy", which saw experts and audiences taking part in a simultaneous debate in Cairo, Madrid and Munich. Claudia Mende reports More »
Israel's Social Media and the Gaza Crisis
In light of the war of information raging throughout the current Gaza conflict, the Israeli writer Assaf Gavron highlights the important role that social media plays in his country, providing a voice for authentic and independent viewpoints beyond any control or influence by the state More »
Interview with Nilüfer Göle
In the wake of the protests against the anti-Mohammed video, the West should be aware that the principle of freedom of opinion can be abused in order to attack Islam, says the Turkish sociologist Nilüfer Göle. It is now more urgent than ever before that society takes greater responsibility in addressing religious values, she stresses. Alessandro Lanni spoke with the sociologist More »
Iranian Reformist Thinkers in Exile
Iran has forced intellectuals and clerics like Abdulkarim Soroush and Mohsen Kadivar into exile. These men once drove the debate about a reform of the political system and religion in Iran. They have found refuge in the West, where they can work, speak, and conduct research more freely. But what influence – if any – do they still have in Iran? By Urs Sartowitz More »
The Arab Spring and the Media
Why have Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya and most western media neglected to report on the uprisings in Bahrain? Is it true that in Syria, Alawites are fighting against Sunni Muslims? And who were the real victims of the Houla massacre? Amira Mohsen Galal takes a look at some of the most striking flaws in reporting on the Arab Spring, two years after the uprisings began More »
Interview with the Egyptian Muslim activist Asmaa Mahfouz
Asmaa Mahfouz is one of the founders of the April 6 Youth Movement. She has been credited with helping to spark mass uprising through her video blog posted one week before the start of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. In this interview with Nina zu Fürstenberg, she shares her concerns and hopes for the Arab Spring More »
