Bahrain
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Essay by Nawaf Obaid
The Collapsing Arab State
The Arab Spring has toppled some regimes, though not others. But, more important, everywhere in the Arab world – and beyond – it has called into question the viability of the nation-state. An essay by Nawaf Obaid
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Political Crisis in Bahrain
Reformers on the Defensive
Two years after the outbreak of the unsuccessful revolution in Bahrain and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in the Gulf state, protests are continuing unabated. There is no end to the conflict in sight, while Saudi Arabia is setting strict boundaries to the Bahraini King Hamad's reform programme. By Guido Steinberg
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Interview with Maryam al-Khawaja
''Even if the men stop, the women will continue"
In conversation with Azzurra Meringolo, the head of the "Bahrain Center for Human Rights" Maryam al-Khawaja reports on the repression of activists within the Bahrain democracy movement and how the regime is trying to portray the protests as a conflict between ethnic or confessional groups
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Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren on the Arab Spring
Post-revolution Patchwork
In their book The Battle for the Arab Spring: Revolution, Counter-Revolution and the Making of a New Era, Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren show how differently the countries affected by the uprisings of 2011 are developing. They conclude that for a number of reasons, post-Arab Spring democracies will not turn out to be similar to those in the West. Paul Hockenos read the book
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Interview with Tariq Ramadan
A Revolution in Suspense
According to the Islamic intellectual Tariq Ramadan, the revolutions in the Arab world are either unfinished or have not yet reached their goals. Ceyda Nurtsch spoke to him and asked him about the prospects for the popular uprisings and the nature of the protest movements
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Interview with the Bahraini Dissident Nabeel Rajab
''Our regime has to leave''
The Formula One Grand Prix took place in Bahrain as planned despite a storm of criticism and days of demonstrations. Kersten Knipp spoke to human rights activist Nabil Rajab about the situation
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Interview with Ali al-Jallawi
''Bahrain Has No Future under This Government''
In conversation with Birgit Kurz and Abdelrahman Ammar, Bahraini writer poet and writer Ali al-Jallawi criticizes his country's government, which he blames for stoking inter-confessional conflict and suppressing the democracy movement
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New Line of Succession to the Saudi Throne
Riyadh's Old Regime Grows Older
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has named Naif bin Abdelaziz, 77, as crown prince and deputy prime minister, a choice that raises concerns about the direction in which the conservative prince will take the kingdom. By Mai Yamani
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Saudi Arabia's Flawed Iraq Strategy
The Iranian Wolf at the Kingdom's Door
The Saudis fear that the departure of US troops from Iraq would represent a sweeping victory for Iran, which has no military presence in Iraq, but is the strongest player there. But, says Mai Yamani in her commentary, this defeat is partly self-inflicted
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Interview with Lebanese Political Scientist Khattar Abou Diab
Vying for Supremacy in the Gulf
Relations between Iran and its Arab neighbours have reached an all time low following the military intervention by the Arab Gulf states in Bahrain. But, warns Lebanese political scientist Khattar Abou Diab, it is unlikely that tensions can be contained at the diplomatic level should any further escalation occur. He talks here to Tarek Anegay