Author: Moritz Baumstieger

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The Egyptian series "El-Ekhteyar 2" was created by a production company with close ties to the military - and promotes a narrative to match (photo: ON TV)

Mass propaganda in Egypt

"El-Ekhteyar 2" – twisting the facts for President Sisi

The Egyptian series "El-Ekhteyar 2" was created by a production company with close ties to the military – and pursues a corresponding narrative. Moritz Baumstieger explains how the series, which was broadcast in time for Ramadan, takes its own unique approach to historical factsMore

Social utopia on the Nile? Sisiʹs new breed of EgyptiansEgyptʹs political future: Generalissimo SisiSisi regime propaganda: Egypt's people – nothing but a burden and a nuisanceThe role of film-makers in the new Egypt: Revolution on screen
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (photo: Getty Images/AFP/G. Cacace)

Book review: Ben Hubbard's "MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed bin Salman"

Ruling Saudi Arabia from the wings

Is he a reformer, a despot, or both? Ben Hubbard's detailed biography explores Mohammed bin Salman's style of rule – even though he has not yet acceded to the Saudi throne. Moritz Baumsteiger read the bookMore

Mohammed bin Salman′s political agenda: The Saudi parablePolitical transformation under Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabiaʹs perilous pivotSaudi Arabia jails eight over Khashoggi murder, fiancée decries trialMurder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi: Donald Trump's ersatz reality
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad with his brother Maher (photo: AP)

The decades-long rule of Syria's al-Assad dynasty

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Psychogram of a Syrian dictator

With "Assad or We Burn the Country", Sam Dagher has furnished the world with some genuine ammunition against the Syrian regime's on-going campaign of disinformation. The only Western journalist to have lived in Damascus from 2012, Dagher conducted meticulous research to safeguard his recounting of almost 50 years of Syrian history. Moritz Baumstiger read the bookMore

Assad & Baʹath party rule: About Syria, which is no moreFighting for democracy and a free Syria: "Ideas cannot be killed with weapons" – remembering Raed Fares"War in Syria. Resolving a global conflict": Refuting the populist mantra "Syrians go home"Interview with Syrian dissident Yassin al-Haj Saleh: The West's lamentable myopia
Protesters rest under the shadow of an army tank on Tahrir square (photo: picture alliance/dpa)

The Role of Film-Makers in the New Egypt

Revolution on Screen

What happens when a country's biggest stars are despised because they supported a former dictator? Very few of Egypt's illustrious old TV guard are still in front of the camera. Yet two film-makers are already working on an appraisal of the protests in Tahrir Square. Moritz Baumstieger reportsMore

Egyptian Film ''Ein Shams - Eye of the Sun''Ahmad Abdalla's Film ''Microphone''