From the McCarthyism era in the West to Mao’s Cultural Revolution in the East, films and filmmakers have been at the discretion of their governments. […]
Glimpses of Iranian Society through Filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s Lens
From the McCarthyism era in the West to Mao’s Cultural Revolution in the East, films and filmmakers have been at the discretion of their governments. The censorship mechanism in Iran especially resembles the US censorship era, except it is state-controlled like China. One is left to wonder and ask how Iranian cinema thrives in such hostile conditions. One of the main causes includes a vehement rejection of Hollywood films and Western values, while a surge in auteur films. In such an environment, a filmmaker is left with no choice but to simultaneously accept the regime’s conditions while discreetly resisting. Not only does the filmmaker actively negotiate at multiple levels, but they also self-censor due to the ambiguity and uncertainty of…
Glimpses of Iranian Society through Filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s Lens
From the McCarthyism era in the West to Mao’s Cultural…
Engineering Fear 2.0: From the Strait of Hormuz to the Streets of Amman – How the Iran War is Reshaping the Middle East
In a previous article for the Middle East Outlook, "Engineering…
Calibrated Re-engagement: India’s New FDI Framework and the Return of Chinese Capital
On 10 March 2026, the Indian government approved a proposal…
The Hormuz Paradox: American Power Projection Meets Strategic Fragility
The recent talks between the Iranians and the Americans in…
NON-ALIGNMENT 2.0: A pretence or path for the global south?
For scholars, policymakers and strategic analysts navigating the fragmented architecture…
Is Joe Kent’s Resignation a Bad News for United States–Israel Relations?
On March 17, US National Counterterrorism Director Joe Kent resigned,…
Surveillance, Cybersecurity, and Human Rights: Navigating Privacy in the Digital Age
Globalisation is well-rooted in the contemporary world order and has…
From Haram to Deterrence: How the Israel-US Aggression May Have Reversed Iran’s Nuclear Policy
For decades, Iran insisted it did not seek nuclear weapons.…
From Hands-off to Engagement: India’s Diplomacy Amidst a Changing Nepal
Nepal has moved towards political stability over the past few…
Engineering Fear: The New Middle East Truce
In a regional moment defined by calculated ambiguity and measured…
Engineering Fear 2.0: From the Strait of Hormuz to the Streets of Amman – How the Iran War is Reshaping the Middle East
In a previous article for the Middle East Outlook, “Engineering Fear: The New Middle East Truce”, I had argued that ceasefires in the Middle East […]
Calibrated Re-engagement: India’s New FDI Framework and the Return of Chinese Capital
On 10 March 2026, the Indian government approved a proposal that would bring significant changes to the country’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, including the […]
The Hormuz Paradox: American Power Projection Meets Strategic Fragility
The recent talks between the Iranians and the Americans in Pakistan grabbed global headlines. Dubbed the Islamabad Talks, the intense direct negotiations between the two […]
NON-ALIGNMENT 2.0: A pretence or path for the global south?
For scholars, policymakers and strategic analysts navigating the fragmented architecture of contemporary international relations, the growing adoption of a non-aligned posture by many states is […]
From Hands-off to Engagement: India’s Diplomacy Amidst a Changing Nepal
Nepal has moved towards political stability over the past few decades. India, its closest neighbour and largest trade partner, has been a keen observer of […]
Spies for Hire: How Tehran, Moscow, and Islamabad Turned Espionage Tactics
In early April 2026, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet arrested four active-duty IDF soldiers on suspicion of espionage for Iran. In another case, a […]
Engineering Fear: The New Middle East Truce
In a regional moment defined by calculated ambiguity and measured tension, ceasefires are no longer mere pauses in hostilities and have become strategic tools for […]
Is Joe Kent’s Resignation a Bad News for United States–Israel Relations?
On March 17, US National Counterterrorism Director Joe Kent resigned, citing concerns over Israel’s growing sway over the United States war on Iran. In his […]
Epstein Files and the Politics of Concealment: Venezuelan Crisis
In the digital age, power no longer operates primarily through suppression but rather through saturation. It means that truth is no longer hidden but drowned, […]