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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · 25d

Syria holds indirect parliamentary elections this week. Despite a lot of domestic and external challenges, the country has a real chance to stabilize and take off again. Longer interview in Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau:

www.fr.de/politik/expe...

Experte Volker Perthes sieht „Chance, dass Syrien sich stabilisiert“

Politikwissenschaftler Volker Perthes über die Herausforderungen bei Syriens Wiederaufbau und wie wichtig die Inklusion auch von Minderheiten für das Gelingen ist.

www.fr.de

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Sep 5

Danke! Wichtigste Frühstückslektüre heute Morgen. Und ein wichtiger Beitrag zu Rationalität und Humanität in der Debatte.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Aug 21

Radio Interview (in German) on the political and geopolitical nature of Israel’s cabinet decision to build the “E1” settlement in the West Bank:

www.ardaudiothek.de/episode/urn:...

Podcast: Israels Siedlungspläne: Friedensprozess gezielt blockiert?

Israels neue Siedlungspläne im Westjordanland sorgen international für Kritik. Politologe Volker Perthes sieht darin eine bewusste Blockade für die Gründung eines Palästinenserstaats.

www.ardaudiothek.de

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Aug 13

Rather unusual article in Germany’s main tabloid on hunger in Sudan.
And some quotes from me on the human-made nature of the hunger catastrophe, hunger as a weapon, and the rather symbolic nature of airdrops (in Sudan as well as Gaza).
www.bild.de/politik/ausl...

Sudan: Diese Hungersnot hat die Welt vergessen

Seit April 2023 herrscht Bürgerkrieg im Sudan. Millionen leiden unter Hunger. Besonders dramatisch ist die Situation in Darfur.

www.bild.de

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jul 17

www.majalla.com/node/326464/...

فولكر بيرتس لـ"المجلة": السودان مهدد بالتفتت والجمود... وتفكك الدولة

حرب السودان ليست "حرب بالوكالة"، وإيران مُنيت بهزيمة استراتيجية كبيرة، وعلى الرغم من صعوبة إطلاق أحكام مسبقة على خطوات الرئيس ترمب التالية، يبدو جليا أن رؤيته ليست شرق أوسطية. إنها رؤية أميركية

www.majalla.com

Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jul 12

Here is a rather long interview (print and video) I gave to Al Majalla on Sudan as well as on developments in the Middle East. It was recorded before the so-called “12 days war” between Israel and Iran, but only published on 12 July.

en.majalla.com/node/326421/...

Volker Perthes: fragmentation and stalemate awaits Sudan

In a wide-ranging interview, the German scholar and former UN envoy offers a sobering assessment of the conflict's trajectory.

en.majalla.com

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jul 1

Was macht gute wissenschaftliche Beratung für die Außenpolitik aus? Talkshowauftritte sicher nicht, Unabhängigkeit und Relevanz schon. Und dass Politik den Rat erhält, den sie braucht, nicht den, den sie sich wünscht.
Mein Essay in internationalepolitik.de
internationalepolitik.de/de/wegweiser...

Wegweiser für die Weltbühne

Unabhängig forschen, praxisorientiert denken, transparent kommunizieren: Was wissen schaftliche Außenpolitikberatung ist, was sie kann und wofür sie gebraucht wird.

internationalepolitik.de

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jun 26

Virtual, imagined reality now shaping real politics more than physical reality. It’s no longer important whether Iran’s nuclear program was “totally obliterated” or just “set back” for a few months. We don’t know. But as long as all agree it is “severely damaged”, all can maintain the ceasefire.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jun 24

Some thoughts on Iran, the forgetfulness of policy-makers who phantasize about regime change, and the advantages of diplomacy. In a German-language interview with IPG Journal:

www.ipg-journal.de/interviews/a...

„Wir machen einen Crashkurs in Realpolitik“

Volker Perthes über den US-Angriff auf Irans Atomanlagen, europäische Diplomatie und die Erosion des Völkerrechts.

www.ipg-journal.de

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jun 22

The discussion about regime change in Iran which we heard over the past week is so much an expression of refusing to learn from recent history. Remember Iraq in 2003, and the civil war that ensued? Yes, Iranians may again stand up against the regime. But not while being bombed.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jun 22

It seems we find ourselves in a spiral of insanity. Of course further escalation between Iran, Israel and the US can still be stopped. This would need a heroic decision from Iran not to seek retaliation, and from Washington to call it a victory and move to diplomacy again.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jun 16

Some thoughts on the current war between Israel and Iran. And why there would be a good opportunity to end it today. On my ⁦‪@LinkedIn‬⁩ account:

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Jun 14

Interview with DLF-Kultur (in German, from minute 4.50) on Israel’s attack on Iran and Iran’s reaction. Israel attacked because it could: because Iran is weak & to prevent a US-Iran deal. Not a “pre-emptive” strike. No need for any side to escalate.

www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/nach-angriff...

Nach Angriff Israels auf Iran: droht Flächenbrand in Nahost?

www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 27

When Germany's Chancellor criticizes Israel publicly and its Commissioner for fighting antisemitism (rightly) says: "starving the Palestinians ... has nothing to do with safeguarding Israel’s right to exist", Israel's government has definitely driven its country into isolation. EU more aligned now.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 21

Good that the EU eventually decided to lift economic sanctions on #Syria. Could have been done months earlier. It is a shame that the EU only followed the Trump administration rather than going ahead. This is about the EU’s neighborhood, and its strategic autonomy.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 20

Pleasure to participate in Delphi Slemani (Sulaymaniyah) Forum
and speak on Iraq in a changing geopolitical environment. The meeting certainly helped to bring Iraqi Kurdistan on the map of (mainly) Greek and European businesspeople. Also brought thinkers and doers across regions together.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 17

and some more views from a very relaxed city. Or so it seems:

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 17

“Teach them love”: Mural from Sulaimani, Kurdistan Iraq.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 8

Concern that Germany's new government is weakened because Merz needed a second round of voting were clearly overblown. It’s a democratic parliament; it was an election, not a rubber stamp vote. New government will be as strong as it wants to be: they have an agenda, they need to pursue it together.

Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · May 6

I’d be a bit more cautious. If Merz loses a second vote, yes, then this hope has been dashed. If he wins it, which I think and hope he will, it only proves that not everyone in CDU/CSU and SPD are happy with him and the coalition arrangements. But still able to act as “responsible stakeholders”.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Apr 28

Glückwunsch an Katherina Reiche, die gerade als Wirtschaftsministerin nominiert worden ist.
Hier ist ein Artikel, den wir vor 15 Jahren zu einer effizienz- und nachhaltigkeitsorientierten Rohstoffstrategie veröffentlicht haben (FAZ, 20.20.2010). Er ließe sich - fast - so wieder veröffentlichen.

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Apr 26

European Strategic Autonomy: mission impossible? No, but we need to define it realistically. And we need to plan and act European. Very useful discussion at the Delphi Forum, including myself, @kajsaollongren.bsky.social, Nik Gowing as moderator. Video now online.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZQ...

DEF X - European Strategic Autonomy – Mission (Im)Possible?

YouTube video by Delphi Economic Forum

www.youtube.com

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Apr 17

Video recording of our discussion on #Syria and the #MidEast at the Delphi Forum, 11 April 2025. With Anja Wehler-Schoeck as moderator, Greece’s national security advisor Thonos Dokos, Lina Khatib from Chatham House and myself. youtu.be/fEhFRhM1_vI?fe…

DEF X - After Assad: Middle East and the New Security Architecture

YouTube video by Delphi Economic Forum

https://youtu.be/fEhFRhM1_vI?fe…

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Apr 14

In #Darfur, the Rapid Support Forces have overrun & occupied ZamZam IDP camp after laying siege on it for months, causing malnutrition and famine. In this article, we analyse the causes of hunger in #Sudan, and lay out what needs to be done to end the war.
www.welthungerhilfe.org/global-food-...

Hunger in Sudan: A Human-Made Catastrophe

Looting, arson, blockades - the warring parties use hunger as a weapon and caused the food system to collapse. In the past two years, the greatest humanitarian crisis the world is experiencing at pres...

www.welthungerhilfe.org

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Volker Perthes @perthes.bsky.social · Apr 11

Huger and malnutrition in Sudan are not a natural disaster. They are man-made, the result of two years of war. In this article, Wibke Hansen and I lay out the political background to the catastrophe, and what needs to happen to end the war.

www.welthungerhilfe.org/global-food-...

Hunger in Sudan: A Human-Made Catastrophe

Looting, arson, blockades - the warring parties use hunger as a weapon and caused the food system to collapse. In the past two years, the greatest humanitarian crisis the world is experiencing at pres...

www.welthungerhilfe.org

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