Book Review
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In the unforgiving deserts of Nimroz, amid dust and displacement, we made bonds and promises sprinkled with earth-tasting sugar to never forget each other. Narges Joodaki, an award-winning journalist, documents the harrowing journeys of Afghan refugees scarred by continuous wars. While teaching displaced children, subject to a world of suffering and untimely maturity, the bitter tangibility of their strife is captured. As makeshift camps dissolve and political landscapes shift, these moments of connection resonate against the backdrop of a turbulent history, marked by 20 years of American presence and a fragile, uncertain future.
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Reza Alijani’s book “The Future of Islam in Iran” explores the social evolution and religious criticism in Iran since the Qajar era, focusing on the post-1979 authoritarian turn and economic corruption of the Islamic Republic. Analyzing society’s move towards modernity and individual rights, Alijani underscores the widespread challenge to traditional religious dominance, the advent of an “Iranian Renaissance,” and rising secularism among Iranians, including many clerics. Alijani, a national-religious figure, argues for the separation of religion and state while acknowledging the deep historical roots of religion in Iran.
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In the heart of the Middle East lies a land considered holy by millions, yet the battleground for one of the most protracted and complex conflicts in modern history: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This blog post delves into the narratives, pain, and perspectives of both Israelis and Palestinians through the lens of three pivotal works. Each book offers a unique viewpoint, from the ground realities faced by individuals living amidst the conflict, to the historical and political analysis of its origins and evolution, and finally, to a defense of one nation’s right to exist amidst widespread misunderstanding.
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The phrase “camel, cow, leopard” symbolizes a confusing mixture, something Iranians use to describe Ali Shariati’s complex blend of Islam and social science, reshaping young Iranians’ views. Asef Bayat’s book details Shariati’s role in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, portraying him as a thinker who challenged Western ideologies and traditional religion with a Marxist-Islamic perspective. He captivated young intellectuals and was central to pre-revolution debates. Despite varied views, Shariati’s teachings inspired Islamic leftists globally. His life, from formative years under his father’s guidance to transformative Parisian influences, was marked by intellectual growth, activism, and controversy, ultimately rendering him a legend in…
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Valentine Moghadam’s article, “Socialism or Anti-Imperialism? The Left and Revolution in Iran,” analyzes the ideological complexity of the Iranian Left during the revolutionary period. It explores the Left’s commitment to anti-imperialism and its critique of dependent capitalism, while also addressing its failures and challenges. The article delves into the impact of historical events, such as the Shah-CIA coup and the rise of Islamic governance, on shaping the Iranian Left’s strategies and outcomes. The article also highlights the Left’s underestimation of the power of Islamic clergy and its neglect of democracy, providing valuable insights into the struggles of aligning ideological principles…
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“The Fate of Third Worldism in the Middle East: Palestine, Iran and Beyond” explores the region’s shift from Third Worldism—a revolutionary, anti-imperialist ideology of the 1960s, aimed at universal emancipation—to authoritarian religious governments in the 1980s. Rasmus Christian Elling and Sune Haugbolle’s book discusses how the promising liberation movements in Iran and Palestine succumbed to oppressive regimes and Islamic fundamentalism, respectively. Analyzing the decline of Third Worldism, the work reflects on global neoliberal shifts, the end of leftist movements, and the rise of Islamist politics, suggesting that by the mid-1980s, third-worldist rhetoric was co-opted by authoritarian states. Spanning 320 pages…
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The establishment of Israel emerged from British imperial interests in the Middle East, Zionism, and various historical events, rather than being an eternal constant. Zionism began in the late 19th century as a secular movement in Eastern Europe and Russia, advocating for a Jewish nation as a refuge from persecution and anti-Semitism. However, the Jewish community was divided on Zionism; while middle-class Jews were more inclined to embrace it, the Jewish working class, deeply integrated into their local societies and socialist movements, often opposed it. The Zionist leadership was challenged by the socialist Bund, particularly in Jewish areas of Eastern…
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More than half of humanity now resides in cities. By 2050, this number is expected to double, creating an unprecedented level of urban growth. Will these cities be places of justice and equality, where prosperity and quality of life are available to all? Or will the urban future be one in which cities benefit the global 1 percent at the expense of the many, where growth and opportunity are coupled with exclusion and repression? The rising level of urban unrest worldwide may be a sign of the direction in which cities are moving.
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Karl Marx’s critique of capitalism is still relevant today, as many of the issues he identified remain unresolved. In particular, Marx’s analysis of the exploitative nature of capitalism, in which workers are paid less than the value of their labor, and capitalists profit by appropriating the surplus value created by workers, remains a contentious issue.
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C. L. R. James, also known as Cyril Lionel Robert James, was a Trinidadian-British Marxist theorist, historian, and cultural critic who made significant contributions to the study of colonialism, slavery, and the African diaspora. Born in 1901, James spent much of his life traveling and writing, and his ideas have had a lasting impact on the fields of history, sociology, and cultural studies. In this article, we will explore James’s thoughts on migration and its relationship to the broader themes of colonialism and globalization.
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A critical study of how Iranian nationalism, itself largely influenced by Orientalist scholarship first undertaken by the European Orientalists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, has shaped modern conceptions of Iran and Iranian identity, as well as narratives of Iranian history, leading to the adoption of a broad nationalist construction of identity to suit Iranian political and ideological circumstances.
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The story contained in the ancient petrous bone is one of continuous movement – ancient people around the world mixing and merging. Physical differences, like skin color or height, are simply the shifting modifications of the human body reacting to different environments. Rather than homo sapiens, a more fitting name for us would be homo migratio.