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Welcome to The Global Dispatches,
This month Professor of Medieval History Alessandro Barbero examines a defining moment in European history, the Battle of Poitiers in 732 AC when Charles Martel defeated the "wali" of al-Andalus; Oleguer Sarsanedas, explains that Spain appears to be heading towards an evolved party system in which the big players will be now four, not two. 2015 will be the year in which the powerful emergence of recently-funded new political actors will get translated into parliamentary seats; political analyst Ekrem Eddy Güzeldere examines how Turkey’s parliamentary elections in June could decide whether Turkey will irrevocably become an AKP dominated country or whether for the first time since 2002 other majorities might be possible. The decisive factor will be whether the Kurdish HDP manages to pass the 10 percent threshold; The director of the ECFR's Asia and China programme François Godement, sees inconsistencies in the EU's decision to participate in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank sponsored by China and Fabián Rodríguez the editor-in-chief of Télam, the national news agency of Argentina highlights the fact that for the first time in more than a decade, Argentina faces a political future without a Kirchner in the presidential office. See you next month. |

 | Updated for August 2017. Every month we recommend a few classic music CDs that rarely see the light of day. This month sees: Incredible Bongo Band, Jesus Guerrero, Budos Band, Dead Combo, Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos, Ali Khattab and The Cairo Jazz Band get main billing. |
 | For the first time in more than a decade, Argentina faces a political future without a Kirchner in the presidential office. And that is already news explains Fabián Rodríguez, the Editor-in-Chief of Télam, the national news agency of Argentina. |
 | The terrorist attack in Tunis highlights the challenges facing Tunisia's new government and underlines the need for western support in meeting them. Tunisia is a lynchpin of regional security explains Francis Ghilès, senior research fellow at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs. |
 | For many years, the biggest Newroz festivities in Turkey have taken place in Diyarbakır where a message by imprisoned PKK-leader Öcalan was read out. However, this year the surprising message on Newroz day came from deputy prime minister Bülent Arınç who openly criticised the comments of President Erdogan and reiterated that it was the responsibility of the government to run the country. |
 | The director of the ECFR's Asia and China programme sees inconsistencies in the EU's decision to participate in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank sponsored by China. |
 | The only silver lining to the Israeli prime minister's surprisingly strong reelection victory is that Washington and Brussels might finally get fed up with him. |
 | SYRIZA's mild Keynesian programme has been gutted. Is a more democratic economic alternative possible within the framework of the EU? |
 | The parliamentary elections in June will decide whether Turkey will irrevocably become an AKP-country or whether for the first time since 2002 other majorities might be possible. The decisive factor will be whether the Kurdish HDP manages to pass the 10 percent threshold. |
 | Spain appears to be heading towards an evolved party system in which the big players will be now four, not two. 2015 will be the year in which the powerful emergence of recently-funded new political actors will get translated into parliamentary seats. |
 | Professor of Medieval History Alessandro Barbero examines a defining moment in European history, the Battle of Poitiers in 732 AC when Charles Martel defeated the "wali" of al-Andalus. |
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