The gruesome attacks in Paris were framed by some as a significant change in politics, linking it to a Third World War, a “clash of civilisations“, and a possible invocation of the NATO’s 5th article. Despite all these voices stressing the huge impact, I do not see much changing for now. Continue reading How the Paris Attacks did NOT change international relations
The Taliban capture of Kundus, Afghanistan’s main transportation hub in the North and the first major city controlled by the Taliban since 2001, is a major setback for government forces. Just how dire is the situation? Continue reading The Fall of Kundus
Iran’s nuclear deal has the potential of changing US-Iranian relations as well as regional power dynamics – finally, after decades of disruptive clashes. Continue reading Stopped the Bomb
When the events of the Arab Spring started, observers were keen to point out the lack of involvement from Islamist groups. Yes, they were the main opposition group in countries like Tunisia and Egypt for decades, but it seemed like there were as much taken by surprise as the respective regimes. Continue reading How do religious identities explain the success of Islamist parties in Tunisia and Egypt after the Arab Spring?
Afghanistan ist nicht der Irak. Diese Annahme klingt banal, war aber die Grundlage entscheidender policy-Entscheidungen: Unter Obama haben die USA von vornherein unterschiedliche Ansätze zz Bekämpfung des Terrorismus in beiden Ländern verfolgt. Mit dem IS aber nehmen die Parallelen zu. Continue reading Levante: Die neue Af-Pak Region