Why the seemingly successful Westernization of the country turned out to be the overthrow of the reformer and the victory of the Muslim clergy. Iranian youth students, mid-1970s Photo by News Dog Media In the 1960s and 1970s, Iran was considered by the Western world to be one of the most progressive and secular countries in…

From antiquity to modern times, prisoners of war have been taken for various reasons. However, as international law evolved, regulations were put in place to ensure the humane treatment of these captives. In this article, we examine the reasons why prisoners of war matter, the historical context in which they have been taken, and the…

In the wake of the Ukraine conflict, the Iran-Russia relationship has taken an unexpected turn. While historical tensions and conflicting interests seemed to define their interactions, recent developments have seen these two nations drawing closer together. This analysis delves into the complex web of factors shaping this evolving alliance, from the role of Iranian drones…

┬┴┬┴┤(・_・)├┬┴┬┴ In the midst of escalating tensions, I, Alexandra Appelberg, an orientalist residing in Israel and contributing to the local news outlet "Details," find myself compelled to shed light on the recent turmoil gripping the Gaza region. Additionally, I curate a Telegram channel dedicated to disseminating insights on the intricacies of the Middle East. On…

¯\_(シ)_/¯ Today I want to talk to you – not about politics, but about books. In general, by education, I am a philologist and I defended my diploma in the history of literature at university. However, the literary genre, which my today’s letter is dedicated to, is closely related to politics. This is the…

Hello, this is Margarita Zavadskaia, a political researcher at the Alexandrov Institute at Helsinki University. With me is Alexei Gilev, an associate professor of political science and international relations at HSE University. For more than 10 years I have been studying dictatorships and public opinion, while Alexey focuses on elections and the distribution of state…