Arab Spring
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Israeli Air Attacks in Syria
Blinding Flashes in a Shadowy War
The latest Israeli air bombardments of military facilities near Damascus throw a spotlight on the Israeli-Iranian conflict in the region, and apparent Israeli plans to fight Iran and Hezbollah on Syrian territory. Analysis by Stefan Buchen
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Interview with Sharif Nashashibi
''No Sovereign Government Has the Right to Oppress Its Own People''
In this interview with Samira Sammer, Sharif Nashashibi, co-founder and chairman of Arab Media Watch, discusses the difficulties of reporting on the Arab Spring in repressive states, the situation of minorities in Syria and the question of Western involvement in the Syrian civil war
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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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The West and the Conflict in Syria
The Ghost of Saddam's WMD
In view of the appalling numbers of people being killed and injured in the Syrian civil war and recent reports that poisoned gas has been used there, pressure is growing on the West to finally take some decisive action. Washington and London, however, continue to exercise restraint. By Karim El-Gawhary
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The ''Women under Siege'' Website
Mapping Sexual Violence in Syria
"Women under Siege" is the name of a website gathering data on sexual violence in Syria. The use of open source software enables users to input their data directly. Many people are prepared to risk their own safety for the sake of being heard by the outside world. Johannes Thumfart has the details
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Civil War in Syria
A Return to Normality
Aleppo, the once hotly contested north Syrian metropolis and economic centre, is now a divided city. In the part controlled by the rebels, daily life seems to be gradually returning to normal. More and more refugees from Aleppo are returning to their city, even though economic recovery is slow. Peter Steinbach reports from Aleppo
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Islamists Target Tunisia's Universities
Freedom under Threat
When Tunisians revolted against the Ben Ali regime in January 2011, the protesters were joined by many university lecturers and academics hoping to see an end to censorship. But this newly-won freedom for research and tuition in Tunisia again finds itself under threat today. Martina Sabra reports
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Essay by the Syrian Writer Fawwaz Haddad
Children of a Divided Nation
In his essay, the renowned Syrian writer and novelist Fawwaz Haddad criticises the cynical attitude of the international community toward the Syrian conflict and the dramatic decline of his homeland
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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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Criticism of the Media in the Case of Syria
The Perversion of the Media Machine
Western media attention is only refocused on protracted conflicts in the Arab world – such as those in Iraq and Syria – when their own correspondents fall victim to these wars. Commentary by Karim El-Gawhary
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Weapons Exports to Countries of the Arab Spring
Armed to the Teeth
The Middle East and North Africa region is the most militarised world region. It spends five percent of gross domestic product on arms on average. The global average is only two percent. In regard to military procurement, the revolutions have not made a difference. By Sheila Mysorekar
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Interview with Amel Grami
Political Stagnation in the Cradle of the Arab Spring
Tunisia's process of democratic transition has been stagnating since late 2012. The Tunisian people are still waiting for their new constitution. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent murder of opposition politician Chokri Belaid. Ute Schaeffer and Loay Mudhoon spoke to the renowned academic Amel Grami about Tunisia's political crisis