Peyman Asadzade

Nota: Este archivo abarca los artículos publicados por el autor desde el 1 de abril de 2009. Para fechas anteriores realice una búsqueda entrecomillando su nombre.

Iranian riot police prevent university students from joining other protesters in Tehran on Dec. 30, 2017. (AP)

MundoOriente Próximo,

The swift spread of Iran’s protests through socially conservative and traditionally apolitical small cities is perhaps their most notable feature. Participation in anti-government protests in such locations carries potentially high costs. Why did the protests garner such support in these areas?

The protests started with a small rally against Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, in Mashhad, a conservative-leaning city. It was staged by conservative activists, who initially blamed Rouhani’s administration for high prices and poor economic performance. But this small demonstration rapidly attracted more people, spread to other cities, and finally, broadened its message to include the entire political establishment.

Protests against government economic policies are not unprecedented.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoOriente Próximo, ,

On Sept. 27, thousands of Iranians attended the funeral of Mohsen Hojaji, an Iranian soldier who was captured and beheaded by the Islamic State. He was hardly the first Iranian casualty in Syria. As the head of Iran’s Martyrs Foundation announced a few months ago, the death toll among Iranian forces in the Syrian civil war has passed 2,100. Yet despite high fatalities in 2015 and 2016, polls suggest that Iranian public support for the military involvement has remained strong. What explains this continued support?

My research suggests that religious motivations, strategic calculations and efficient use of troop deployment have convinced a majority of Iranians of the need for their nation’s involvement in the Syrian civil conflict.…  Seguir leyendo »