Why Was Iran Never Colonized?
Iran preserved its sovereignty through the interaction of internal agency, civilizational continuity and external constraints.
War Policy Pulse archive
Every episode, in one place.
Twenty-two concise perspectives on the forces shaping Iran, West Asia and the international order.
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What Was This War About?
The geography of destruction suggests that the objective extended far beyond military targets.
The Al-Zaydi Government and the Future of Iraq’s Political Order
A fragile governing coalition must manage American pressure, internal rivalry and the future role of Iraq’s resistance groups.
While They Call It Fun
Most people find joy in ordinary life. In another world, power turns destruction and human suffering into entertainment.
The Path to Power: China’s “Make Yourself Strong” Doctrine
China’s rise followed a deliberate sequence: build economic strength, finance military power and then act with greater autonomy.
In Praise of Naysayers
Strategic failure becomes more likely when loyalty to power matters more than honest disagreement and professional judgment.
The Strategic Message of Hormuz
Free trade and maritime security cannot be treated as universal rights for some states and selective privileges for others.
Crisis of Credibility: The FIFA Case
When punishment is immediate for some states but silence surrounds graver cases, neutrality begins to look like a political choice.
Unyielding Unity: A Flag That Never Falls
A flag held continuously by ordinary citizens became a living expression of collective responsibility and resilience.
A Theological Confrontation Between Good and Evil
Western leaders often describe their opponents as irrational ideologues while relying on mythic and apocalyptic language themselves.
This Is What Real Human Rights Look Like
Human dignity becomes meaningful when it protects people and institutions at the moment they are most vulnerable.
Attacks on Universities: A War on Knowledge and Progress
When universities become targets, the battlefield expands from military power to a society’s capacity to learn and rebuild.
Framing the Conflict: Judaism, Zionism and Competing Narratives
Iran’s long history of Jewish life challenges attempts to frame the present conflict as a struggle against Judaism.
How Did “America First” Become “Israel’s Security First”?
A movement that promised to end endless wars now risks drawing the United States into another major conflict.
Why the West Misreads Iran’s Power
Iranian resilience is rooted less in individual leaders than in social coordination, historical memory and institutional depth.
From Ancient Epics to Modern Politics
External threats often push internal divisions aside and create a powerful rally-round-the-flag response.
The Spillover Effect in Action
Iran’s security doctrine rests on a simple premise: instability rarely remains inside the borders where it begins.
The Power of the People: Iranian Solidarity in Crisis
In the darkest moments of crisis, ordinary citizens can become the central infrastructure of national resilience.
Beyond Geopolitics: Iran’s Cultural Memory in War
Military maps and cost-benefit models cannot fully explain how Iranian society understands and responds to war.
The Strait of Hormuz: The Hidden Key to Global Energy Security
A narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf remains one of the most consequential arteries in the global economy.
The Mirage of Normalization
Normalization with Israel was presented as a path to peace and prosperity. Recent events tell a different story.
A New Security Architecture for West Asia
Can a regional security order built around permanent foreign military presence still deliver stability?