The Far Right in the US and the Religious Right in Iran
In the age of Trump and a rising tide of intolerance globally, a universalist outlook that critiques all forms of repression is an important theoretical perspective to adopt.
Diplomacy
In today’s interconnected world, effective and skilful diplomacy is vital to ensure that humankind can navigate an ever-growing list of shared challenges that may be our undoing if left unresolved.
Donald Trump, the Middle East, and American Foreign Policy
As they take office, the new US president, Donald Trump, and his national security staff should remember the key lessons learned in the Middle East by their predecessors.
Trump and the Iran Nuclear Deal
If Trump scraps the Iran nuclear agreement his administration may push Iran into using ISIS in a tactical way against American interests in the Middle East.
Crime against Humanity?
Ayatollah Montazeri’s critique of executions in the 1980’s is an admittance of crimes against humanity. Recognising them as such could raise awareness of other crimes.
Understanding Syria’s Many Conflicts
The Syrian war is not just one conflict, but several conflicts which interact with one another. Syria has become a quagmire in which nobody can win but all can lose.
Soft Power in the Middle East: The Invisible Skirmish
Two soft power models in the Middle East are assessed. Iran’s can be another source of regional instability. Oman’s seeks stability and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Interview – Houchang Chehabi
Houchang Chehabi elaborates on why Iran’s single biggest crisis is its drought, its impact on agricultural centers, as well as its implications on geopolitics.
Is It Time for an Iranian-American Buddy Film?
Challenging dominant IR narratives and reworking the US geopolitical imaginary of Iran via popular culture is possible. Stranger things have happened.
Interview – Louise Fawcett
Louise Fawcett discusses the resurgence of regionalism, the long-term effects of the Iraq War, and elaborates on why Iran should be considered an aspiring regional power.
