Tunisian Youth and Kais Saied
Corruption, the deteriorating struggling economy, and the charades of parliamentarians force Tunisians to accept the president’s decisions, even if it’s a coup, argues Sabrine Chahbi.
Democracy
The Far Right and the Middle East
Donald Trump will leave the White House, but the alliance of autocrats in the Middle East with the far right in the West is here to stay.
Death of Shady Habash
The death of filmmaker Shady Habash makes author Wael Eskandar think of a friend who goes by the same first name - and of how the Egyptians deal with injustice and loss.
Interview with Palestinian politician Mustafa Bargouti
In 2005 he was the only serious challenger to Mahmud Abbas. Mustafa Barghuthi explains to zenith why the constant postponement of elections weakens Ramallah's position - and why he calls Israel's Palestinian policy apartheid.
EU, Security and Elections in Palestine
What happened to all of last year’s talk surrounding a possible election date in Palestine? One its most fervent cheerleaders was the EU, but their ongoing securitised agenda in Palestine means that elections do not equate to democracy.
Government Formation in Iraq
For five whole months Iraq has waited for a new government – will Mustafa al-Kadhimi be the one to break the deadlock? The prime minister designate has limited room to manoeuvre. But Tehran is feeling the pressure, too.
Democracy, Technology and the Future of Society
by Ramon Blecua
How states respond to the ongoing pandemic risks rendering their citizens serfs in a new digital Middle Ages. Ramon Blecua calls on political leaders not to close the door on the coronavirus by opening the door to Big Tech.
The military, the protest movement and democracy in Algeria
by Lyas Hallas
The intelligence services, by taming the media outlets and opposition parties, have broken an attempted democratic transition in Algeria.