Commentaries by Volker Perthes

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  May 7, 2013

  The Changing Map of Middle East Power

  BERLIN – The eruption of the Arab revolts in late 2010 and early 2011 put power relations among Middle Eastern countries in a state of flux,…

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  Oct. 22, 2012

  Uniting Syria

  BERLIN – Syrian opposition activists regularly express disappointment with the level of international support that they receive. Although th…

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  Jun. 12, 2012

  When Democracies Collide

  BERLIN – The multipolar nature of today’s international system will again be on display at the upcoming G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico. Gl…

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  Apr. 10, 2012

  A Post-Arab Spring Strategy

  BERLIN – More than a year into the Arab revolts, their outcomes remain highly uncertain. But some initial lessons for international politics…

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  May 2, 2011

  A European Opening for the Arab World

  BERLIN – The people of Tunisia and Egypt have shown that democracy in Arab countries need not come at the barrel of a Western gun. But, whil…

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  Jan. 20, 2011

  Is Ahmadinejad Now Free to Make a Nuclear Deal?

  BERLIN – In Istanbul this week, representatives of Iran and the “5+1” group (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Counc…

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  Jul. 28, 2010

  Is Middle East War Inevitable?

  BERLIN – Fuad Siniora, Lebanon’s former prime minister, is a thoughtful man with deep experience in Middle Eastern politics. So when he spea…

• Jun. 11, 2008

  Iran’s Options

  Berlin -- With President Bush in Europe getting EU leaders to agree to toughen UN sanctions against Iran, and with the ongoing debat…

• Dec. 17, 2007

  Time to Talk with Iran

  BERLIN – The recent comprehensive assessment by America’s spy agencies about Iran’s nuclear program and ambitions – the so-called “National …

• Apr. 18, 2007

  Reviving the Quartet

  Following the formation of a Palestinian unity government between Fatah and Hamas, and the Arab League summit which revived King Abdullah’s …