Argument
A Wave of Defiance
A wave of youth-led uprisings has swept South Asia, revealing shared frustrations across the region. Uprisings in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now Nepal reflect a broad pattern of generational disillusionment and demands for greater accountability, more inclusive democracy and a break from the past.
A Clash of Myths
Both the Iranian regime and those who resist it use myths and ideas about divinity to cultivate support. From self-sacrificing martyrs to ancient archers, bloodthirsty tyrants and dangerous davalpas, these tales help to reveal Iran’s political culture and the nature of the Islamic Republic’s authority.
American Support for Israel Is a Political Religion
What makes the relationship between the U.S. and Israel unique, one that can’t be captured by ordinary frameworks? It’s as if the two states were a single entity — “AmericaIsrael” — functioning like an article of faith and producing its own heretics.
Putin’s Illegal Conquests Wouldn’t Be the First the White House Has Endorsed
The U.S. denounces Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian land, yet both Republican and Democratic administrations have tolerated illegal conquests by allies, such as Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara and Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights and occupation of the West Bank. This double standard undermines the case against territorial concessions.
A Police Officer’s Death Divides Bangladeshi Americans
The death of NYPD officer Didarul Islam brought rare recognition for Bangladeshi Americans in the force but, for the younger generations, shaped by post-9/11 surveillance and Black Lives Matter, it exposed painful questions about representation and belonging.
The Farther East One Goes in Europe, the More ‘West’ One Winds Up
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to many unintended consequences, but none so quick and profound as the consolidation of the Nordic and Baltic regions under the NATO umbrella following Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to the alliance in the past two years.
The Catholic Church, the Mafia and the Limits of Infallibility
The late Pope Francis was a vehement opponent of the Mafia, but he failed in his years-long effort to excommunicate them and thereby prevent organized crime bosses from using religion to legitimize their power. His failure demonstrates the Vatican’s complex relationship with the Mafia and the limits of papal infallibility.