Asset Publisher

International Reports 4/2010


Material for Conflicts. Egyptian Row over the Full Face Veil | The Current Context of Syrian-Israeli Tensions. Movement in the Region and Stagnation Inward | United Instead of Divided? What Effects Are Western Sanctions Having on Iran? | On the Current Situation of Christians in the Middle East | The Presidential Elections Are over – How Can the Ukrainian Democracy Be Consolidated? | Back to the Future? The Role of the Communist Party in the Czech Republic | Continuity in Costa Rica for the Coming Parliamentary Term. Costa Rica Has Elected Its New President

Show table of contents

Content

  • Editorial

    Ausgabe 4/2010 der Auslandsinformationen der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

    by Gerhard Wahlers

  • Material for Conflicts

    Egyptian Row over the Full Face Veil

    Since the French attempted ”burka ban” in December 2009, if not before, the Islam debate in Europe has a new element, the argument whether to tolerate or ban the full face veil. What many don’t know is that the pioneer in this controversy was not strictly secular France, but deeply religious Egypt. Largely unnoticed by the European public, a fierce public debate has been raging for months over the ”niqab” – the Arab version of the burka.

    by Andreas Jacobs

  • The Current Context of Syrian-Israeli Tensions

    Movement in the Region and Stagnation Inward

    Once again there is talk of war. Analysts in the local media and people in the street consider this possible. Only three and a half years after the devastating destruction in the showdown between Israel’s government and Lebanon’s virtual ”partial government”, Hezbollah, the war scenario once again awoke in the Levant. For a long time this has meant nothing in the region – war breaks out suddenly here and there, and the more that is spoken about it, the more improbable it is in reality. Yet, the fears draw a picture of the current fault lines.

    by Carsten Wieland

  • United Instead of Divided?

    What Effects Are Western Sanctions Having on Iran?

    Since the Iranian nuclear program was revealed in 2002/3, the international community, in the form of the 5+1 countries (veto powers of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany) along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has been struggling with the Islamic Republic of Iran as regards the Iranian nuclear program. The lengthy negotiations have now reached a threatening phase, which could entail economic sanctions and, in the worst case, a military confrontation.

  • On the Current Situation of Christians in the Middle East

    In his book Vie et Mort des Chrétiens d’Orient published in 1994, the French historian, Jean-Pierre Valognes, who spent part of his life as a diplomat in the Middle East, questioned whether in 3000 A.D. there would still be Christians in the Middle East.

    by Otmar Oehring

  • The Presidential Elections Are over

    How Can the Ukrainian Democracy Be Consolidated?

    For some time now, the European Union and German foreign affairs politicians have been regarding developments in the Ukraine mainly under the aspect of securing gas supplies. However, the current significance of the second largest European state in terms of geographical area with 46 million inhabitants stretching from Lviv to Donetsk goes far beyond that of a raw material transit country.

    by Nico Lange

  • Back to the Future?

    The Role of the Communist Party in the Czech Republic

    Opinion polls in Central and Eastern Europe in recent years have identified considerable nostalgia for the Communist era among the population. The German term ”Ostalgie”, coined in the course of public debate on the subject, shows the importance that researchers attach to the phenomenon. A return to Communist rule is a conceivable or even desirable option for the citizens in question.

    by Hubert Gehring

  • Continuity in Costa Rica for the Coming Parliamentary Term

    Costa Rica Has Elected Its New President

    On 7 February 2010, Costa Rica elected a woman as head of state for the first time in its history with Laura Chinchilla of the Social Democrat – Liberal governing party, Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN). 60 years after the introduction of voting rights for women in Costa Rica, a woman has made the leap to the country’s top job.

    by Kerstin von Bremen

Asset Publisher

About this series

International Reports (IR) is the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's periodical on international politics. It offers political analyses by our experts in Berlin and from more than 100 offices across all regions of the world. Contributions by named authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial team.

Ordering Information

Our periodical on international politics is published four times a year. We provide you with background information on what is happening in the world – free of charge. Use our registration form and with just a few clicks you can read the digital version of our political journal or order the print version in German or English.

Editor

Dr. Gerhard Wahlers

ISBN

0177-7521

Benjamin Gaul

Benjamin Gaul

Head of the Department International Reports and Communication

benjamin.gaul@kas.de +49 30 26996 3584

Dr. Sören Soika

Dr

Editor-in-Chief International Reports (Ai)

soeren.soika@kas.de +49 30 26996 3388

Rana Taskoparan

Rana Taskoparan

Referentin Kommunikation und Vermarktung

rana.taskoparan@kas.de +49 30 26 996 3623

Fabian Wagener

Fabian Wagener

Desk Officer for Multimedia

fabian.wagener@kas.de +49 30-26996-3943