India
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Rapprochement between India and the Gulf States
The realpolitik of Modi and MbS
Abu Dhabi and Riyadh see a natural partnership with Modi’s government, a co-operation that could change the dynamics of the South Asian-Gulf nexus. By Jean-Loup Samaan
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Cultural politics in India
India's celebrities confront Hindu nationalism
In July 2019, with hate crimes against minorities in India rising sharply, 49 eminent personalities signed an open letter to Narendra Modi, stating that the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram' – Hail Lord Rama – a Hindu chant usually reserved for prayers or religious gatherings had become a war cry. By Amrita Das
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Modi and the revocation of Article 370
Kashmirʹs tormented quest for freedom
Since India scrapped its special status, tensions in Kashmir are rising once again. The conflict over the valley has defined the lives of Kashmiris for decades. Marian Brehmer reports from Kashmir
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Kashmir, Xinjiang and Arab land in the Middle East
Victims of the civilizational agenda
India's decision to deprive Kashmir of its autonomy, alongside a clampdown in the troubled north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang and US-backed Israeli annexation of Arab land, is the latest indication of what a new world order led by civilizational leaders may look like. By James M. Dorsey
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Instant Islamic divorce in India
Triple talaq ban divides Muslims
Lawmakers have passed a bill to outlaw the centuries-old Muslim practice of instant divorce in India. While conservative Muslim sections slammed the move, liberal groups hailed it. Murali Krishnan reports from New Delhi
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India, Modi and the Muslim minority
"Not yet a Hindu Pakistan"
Many regard Modi's Hindu nationalist policies as an attack on India's pluralism. But does this mean that pluralism has really died a death? Marian Brehmer reports from the Muslim pilgrimage city of Ajmer
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After the peace conference in Doha
A test match with the Taliban
Under the tutelage of Pakistan's military, the Taliban brought peace to Afghanistan the last time it ruled the country. But it was the peace of the graveyard, which it could establish once again – this time with the support of the United States. India is watching developments closely. By Shashi Tharoor
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Right-wing populism
Modi won – but did India?
In Indiaʹs recent elections, the ruling NDA secured 45% of the vote. The fractured oppositionʹs message of inclusivity and justice was no match for Modiʹs brand of jingoistic populism. But what are the implications for Indian society? By Aditi Roy Ghatak
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Hindu nationalist election victory in India
Modiʹs credo of divide and rule
India is following an international trend: with the victory of the Indian Peopleʹs Party or BJP, we are again witnessing the success of a party that can clearly be located on the extreme right of the political spectrum and that is at the same time courted by international companies and economic heavyweights. By Dominik Muller
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Interview with Indian novelist Arundhati Roy
"India is much more dangerous than it was ten years ago"
Celebrated Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, best known for works such as "The God of Small Things" and "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness", has also made a name for herself as an essayist and critic of the political situation in India. Dominik Muller spoke to her in New Delhi about changes in India over the last decade
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Modi, the BJP and social media
Indiaʹs WhatsApp elections
As Indiaʹs general election continues, there has been little progress in stopping "fake news", arresting its perpetrators, or limiting its spread. Thatʹs because the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is responsible for disseminating much of it. By Shashi Tharoor
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Interview with writer Rahman Abbas
Overcoming Indiaʹs social divide
More and more Indian writers are picking up on the right-wing theme in response to the growing strength of India's Hindu nationalists. Among them, Bombay-based author Rahman Abbas, who writes in Urdu and who scooped India's highest literary accolade in 2018 for his novel "Rohzin". Interview by Dominik Muller