Social movements

Topic: Social movements

Political analyst, activist and podcaster Nizar Hassan from Beirut (photo: Julia Neumann)

Interview with Lebanese activist Nizar Hassan

Beirut's ruling elite may be down, but they are not yet out

In the “Lebanese Politics Podcast”, co-host Nizar Hassan analyses political events in Lebanon. In interview with Qantara, he talks about solutions to the country’s economic crisis, the role of Hezbollah in the political negotiations and Lebanon's political prospectsMore

Mass protests in Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq: Is this the Arab Spring 2.0?Middle East: Lebanon's protesters are here to stay Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle

Lebanese director Rabih Mroué (source: YouTube)

Interview with Lebanese director Rabih Mroué

"First, they all have to go. And all means all"

The Lebanese director Rabih Mroué explains why a tax on WhatsApp led to an outbreak of mass protests in his country. And also why the government has until now refrained from using force. Rabih Mroue talked to Till BrieglebMore

Interview with the Lebanese media artist Rabih Mroué: "Images until victory?"Middle East: Lebanon's protesters are here to stay Book review: Mazen Kerbaj′s ″Beirut won′t cry″: ″Bombs pass and we bark″

Political scientist Nader Hashemi (photo: Josef Korbel School of International Studies)

Interview with Nader Hashemi on the protests in Iran

Violence "reflects the Iranian regime's desperation"

The recent protests in Iran were not as peaceful as the Green Movement of 2009, something that political scientist Nader Hashemi attributes to the actions of the security forces. Interview by Azadeh FathiMore

Interview with Omid Nouripour on the protests in Iran: "The Europeans lack courage"The mirage of regime change: Why the United States is Khamenei’s bogeyman Neoliberalism and Iranʹs protest movement: It's the economy, stupid!

Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Sudan's premier Abdalla Hamdok give a press conference in Khartoum on 03.09.2019 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Nietfeld

Horn of Africa

Give Sudan's fledgling democracy the support it deserves!

Sudan today is on a knife-edge: it can evolve toward peace and democracy, or spiral into instability and violence. Vital and timely international assistance can make the difference between success and failure for the new government. By Ibrahim Elbadawi and Jeffrey D. SachsMore

Democracy movements in the Arab world: Look to Sudan, Algeria!Sudanese opposition and military council in agreement: Sudanʹs first steps towards democracy?After the ousting of Omar al-Bashir: Sudan holding out for real change

Anti-government protests on 9 November in Baghdad (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Facing the Mahdi militias

Iraqi civilians in the firing line

Of all the protests currently in progress around the world, those in Iraq have been the most deadly. But just who exactly is firing on the demonstrators? The question is difficult to answer – and constitutes political dynamite. Birgit Svensson reports from BaghdadMore

Anti-government protests: Is this Iraq's Arab Spring?Economic crisis in Iraq: Trump's Iran embargo impacts Iraqis Protesting for reform and an end to corruption: Iraq's youth reject the dire status quo

Anti-government protests

Is this Iraq's Arab Spring?

Iraq is currently facing such an alarming array of economic, political and social problems that many observers fear no-one will be up to the task of delivering the much-needed reforms. By Stasa SalacaninMore

Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle Protesting for reform and an end to corruption: Iraq's youth reject the dire status quo The Iraq War fifteen years on: "America destroyed my country"

Symbolic image of a genie and a bottle (photo: Imago)

Unrest in the Arab world

The genie is out of the bottle

The Arab world is one gigantic pressure cooker. For the most part the lid of repression is on, but it is boiling over with increasing frequency. Whether in Lebanon, Iraq or in Algeria, where people are rising up against political despotism and corruption. By Karim El-GawharyMore

Middle East: Lebanon's protesters are here to stay Democracy movements in the Arab world: Look to Sudan, Algeria!Arab response to Trump's Jerusalem decision: Walking a fine line

Morocco's teachers demonstrate for better working conditions on 24.03.2019 in Rabat (photo: Reuters)

Democracy and human rights

Morocco's police state makes a comeback

Morocco's rule of law, human rights and freedom of the press are under attack. According to political scientist Mohamed Taifouri, although the 2011 constitution includes a large number of freedoms, the state repression that was thought to have been overcome is making a comebackMore

Morocco and the return of autocracy: Playing with fire Moroccoʹs treatment of Hirak El-Shaabi: Fair trial? Fat chance Reform in Morocco: Sapping the political will

Demonstrators protest against Hariri and the Lebanese government in Beirut (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Middle East

Lebanon's protesters are here to stay

Demonstrators in Lebanon have been taking to the streets for days demanding the resignation of the government. So far, the government has offered little to pacify the people. How long can this go on? Diana Hodali reportsMore

Political crisis in Lebanon: Time is running out for Saad Hariri Lebanon protesters block roads to keep revolt alive Lebanonʹs rubbish crisis and youth protests: "If not us, then who?"

Anti-government protests in Lebanon (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Political crisis in Lebanon

Time is running out for Saad Hariri

In Lebanon, protests continue against the government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri has already lost a coalition partner. His power appears to be eroding. Diana Hodali reports from BeirutMore

Lebanon's Hariri agrees reforms amid nationwide protests over economic crisis Social inequality in the Arab world: There is no state in Lebanon Lebanonʹs rubbish crisis and youth protests: "If not us, then who?"

Protesters at an anti-government demonstration on 1 October 2019 in Baghdad (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Protesting for reform and an end to corruption

Iraq's youth reject the dire status quo

More than a hundred dead and thousands injured: this is the brutal tally thus far of the current unrest in Iraq. Neither the country's political landscape, nor the ubiquitous confessional take on Iraqi politics offer much in the way of explanation. By Karim El-GawharyMore

From Basra to Baghdad: Young Iraqis rise up for a life worth living Economic crisis in Iraq: Trump's Iran embargo impacts Iraqis What triggered the Middle Eastern revolts in 2011? The economics of Arabellion

Caricature of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi by Celine Rubbelke (source: DW)

Protests in Egypt

Sisi, the survivor?

The protests in Egypt against Sisi’s regime have revealed not only his decline in popularity, but also the fragile nature of the military regime. The latter launched a hysterical campaign of arrests, turning the streets and main squares into military barracks in order to prevent mass anti-Sisi demonstrations. Analysis by the Egyptian researcher Taqadum al-KhatibMore

Protests in Egypt: Sisi's social media nightmare Eight years after the Arabellion: The Egyptian opposition's seven deadly sins Interview with Nawal El Saadawi: "They don't want any really courageous people!"

Great guys, one and all? Front row, from left to right: Zine el-Abidine Ben-Ali next to Ali Abdullah Saleh, Muammar Gaddafi and Hosni Mubarak (photo: dpa)

Revenge is not the answer!

Prosecuting tyranny in the Arab world

In the wake of the Arab Spring, not one Arab dictator has faced charges for creating a police state and inducing terror among citizens. Similarly, none has been prosecuted for destroying state institutions, the essentials of citizenship, or the means of social advancement. Analysis by Shafiq Nazim GhabraMore

Tyranny in the Islamic world: Keeping the tribe alive The decline of humanism in the Arab world: With an iron fist Military dictatorships in the Middle East: The real enemies of the Arab Spring

Algerian opposition politician Soufiane Djilali during an anti-Bouteflika demonstration on 24.02.2019 in Algiers (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Interview with Algerian opposition leader Soufiane Djilali

Political crisis in Algeria – is compromise in sight?

Presidential elections or constitutional assembly? Algeria's opposition continues to argue over ways to overcome the crisis. A proposal by the Jil Jadid party could finally break down the entrenched fronts. Sofian Naceur spoke to its leader, Soufiane DjilaliMore

Democracy movements in the Arab world: Look to Sudan, Algeria!Algeria after the postponed elections: The closing window for change Civil society and democratic transition in Algeria: Algerian activists demand a place at the table

Photo montage Sudan/Algeria: in Sudan the military and the protesters managed to negotiate an agreement, in Algeria, demonstrations continue (photo: AP/picture-alliance/AFP/Getty Images)

Democracy movements in the Arab world

Look to Sudan, Algeria!

A watershed moment in Sudan: after 30 years of repression, a civilian-led government looks set to co-determine the country’s future path. It's quite a different picture in Algeria: here, the people have been demonstrating against the military for months, to no avail. By Khaled SalamehMore

Algeria in transition: Time's up, Bouteflika!Civil society and democratic transition in Algeria: Algerian activists demand a place at the table Sudanese opposition and military council in agreement: Sudanʹs first steps towards democracy?

Protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid to run for a fifth term (photo: Getty Images/AFP)

Algeria after the postponed elections

The closing window for change

For more than four months now, protesters in Algeria have been urging a clean-up of the country's politics and a new constitution. But how realistic is change given the military's iron grip on power? By Dalia GhanemMore

Civil society and democratic transition in Algeria: Algerian activists demand a place at the table Mass anti-president protests in Algeria: No more Bouteflika!Algeria′s disillusioned majority: Desperately seeking voters

Topic: Social movements

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