Political Polarization in Hollywood
Despite the fact that many Jewish leaders in California have been sharply critical of the policies of the government of Israel and the vast majority of American Jews are liberal, especially in Hollywood, Michael Carmichael sees the defection of billionaire Saban and Spielberg to the Republicans in California as a significant move for the “Israel Lobby.”
The Lesser of Several Evils
It is obvious Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon. The question, therefore, is what to do about it, and this question must be answered now, before Israel takes matters into its own hands and sets off even more conflict in the region, or before Iran gets the bomb and sets off an arms race among its neighbors. The international community’s options aren’t pretty, but even worse would be to do nothing.
The Nuclear Haves and Have Nots
Disarmament, deterrence, and the role of nuclear power in the UN system.
Nobel Peace Laureate 2003
Iranian lawyer, Shirin Edabi, is only the third Muslim to be awarded the Nobel following Yasser Arafat in 1994 and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1978 and is only the 11th woman
Female Faces of Farsi Freedom
Iran’s controversial 2009 election led to massive street protests, the launch of a new Green Movement, a new Social Media Movement (incited by the banning of traditional media from the country), and a newly inspired Iranian Feminist Movement. Women from all ages and walks of life added their voices to the protests. Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karoub, the intelligent, influential and inspiring wives of liberal leaders Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi helped commence this eminent female uprising, and Ahmadinejad’s cabinet has recently appointed female representative Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi as Minister of Health. As Iranian women gain more political clout, we may see a return to the days when women enjoyed positions of status and prestige in the country.
New Year, Old Conflicts: Nuclear crises in 2011 and their implications for US-China relations
Rob van Riet follows three conflicts with nuclear potential — rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, continued animosity between the US and Iran, and the persistent India-Pakistan dispute — set against the backdrop of shifting Sino-American relations. While each of these conflicts has a potential to undermine efforts toward international security, and may trigger war on a nuclear scale, van Riet argues, much will depend on the willingness and ability of US and Chinese leaders to work together towards their resolution.
Islam and its seeming incompatibility with the West
The wave of largely non-violent, popular movements that swept across large portions of the Arab world in early 2011 to demand government accountability, social responsiveness, women’s rights, and other social reforms, is not necessarily incompatible with liberal democracy — even if it is firmly based in political Islam.
US-Russia negotiations on missile defence
Key Words: US, Russia, Security Council, Nuclear Arms, Missile Defense Shield, Human development, Arms Stockpiles, conflict resolution, Negotiation, United Nations
Iran and the EU3: Stick it Out
Iran’s suspicions that the EU3 were trying to transform this temporary suspension into a de facto permanent suspension by dragging out the talks, led them to repeatedly threaten resuming nuclear activities unless new proposals were tabled. The EU3 thus submitted new proposals in August 2005 which, however, were rejected by Iran.
Movement: Women, desertification, participatory democracy, mobile pastoralists, and Iran
In Iran, desertification is the backdrop to some of the most important social issues of the day. Sierra Ramirez analyzes its connection to new democracy movements, nomadic cultures, gender relations, and more.