About the book: 2016 / A tangle of contradictions: religious movements in the Middle East; “Islamic State” versus the “civilized world”: who wins?; What did Russia “forget” in Syria?; Türkiye: treacherous ally or hidden enemy? The fire of war is growing ever stronger in the Middle East. Foci of conflict that have been smoldering for decades are becoming more active, and previously relatively calm areas are flaring up. Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Turkey... Too many contradictions have accumulated between different peoples and religious groups that have long divided this explosive region among themselves. The Middle East, the cradle of three world religions, is once again poised to set the agenda for the entire planet for years to come.