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Editorial

Neither the secularization nor the modernization of society have suppressed religion. People turn to religion for guidance. In many parts of the world, religions are experiencing a “resurgence.” Christianity is currently the fastest growing religion. More than two billion people declare themselves followers of Christ – and this number is increasing. However, investigations have shown that Christianity is not just the fastest growing religion, but it is also the one that is most under threat.

Gerhard Wahlers

Martin Beck, Lea Johanna Collet

On Syrian Politics and its Christian Minority

Foreign Affairs, Domestic Affairs and the situation of the Christian minority – this article aims at discussing all three issues, thereby showing whether and how the character of Syrian foreign, domestic and religious policy simultaneously differ from as well as correspond with each other. Thereby, the focus will be on religious as well as foreign affairs. However, the issue of domestic politics is dealt with only briefly and mainly in light of links and (dis)similarities with the two other areas.

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region – An African CSCE?

A glimpse at the political situation in the Great Lakes Region of Africa shows no sign of stabilization any time soon. There is an institution in the region that has taken up the cause of achieving lasting peace: The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), an institutionalized conference initiated by the international community. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) is often cited as being a prototype of the ICGLR.

Charlotte Heyl

The Role and Influence of Christians in the Palestinian Territories

The Palestinian Territories are the cradle of Christianity. But the days are long gone since the Christians were the dominant force in the region. For many years now the Palestinian Territories have had an overwhelming Muslim majority – and more and more Christians are leaving. Ignored by the world community, there is a creeping loss of Christian identity within the Palestinian Territories.

Felix Dane, Jörg Knocha

Under Muslime Rule – On the Political and Social Situation of Egyptian Christians

The murders in Nag Hammadi in 2010 drew the attention of Egypt and the international community to the steadily worsening relationship between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority in the country. Human rights organizations, governments, and international organizations criticize the dwindling religious freedoms in Egypt, denouncing the increased number of violent assaults and systematic discrimination of Christians. What are the causes and reasons for this development?

Andreas Jacobs

Editorial

On September 2, 2010, new direct negotiations between Mahmud Abbas and Benjamin Netanjahu started in the USA. The international community is watching these discussions with great interest, but also with some concern.

Gerhard Wahlers

Elections in Australia - A Narrow Victory for the Prime Minister

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will remain in her post and keep on running a minority government after elections of August 21st, 2010. Her predecessor Kevin Rudd, whom she overthrew in an internal party coup, will hold the post of foreign minister in the new cabinet.

Wilhelm Hofmeister

Four Scenarios and No Recourse? Saudi Arabia and Iran's Nuclear Program

The West faces a dilemma with the Iranian nuclear program: taking military action against Iran or an Iran which possesses nuclear weapons – both alternatives bring considerable risks and seem more and more inevitable in the face of Iran’s progress to acquire nuclear capabilities. Up to now, the carrot of supporting the peaceful use of nuclear energy has been just as ineffective as the stick of sanctions.

Thomas Birringer

Fundamentals of an Islamic Economic System Compared to the Social Market Economy - A Systematic Overview

In the light of the lasting development problems of many countries of the Muslim world – stretching from North Africa, across the Middle East to Southeast Asia – these states have by no means ruled out the search for economic concepts that promote development. Not least as a result of disappointment with the results of the capitalist and socialist economic systems, since the mid-1970s people have been progressively formulating ideas about an Islamic economic system, propagating them as an alternative to the unsatisfactory status quo.

Volker Nienhaus