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Saudi standoff with Iran threatens regional turmoil

Riyadh’s perceptions of ’enemy’ Iran are creating political tensions in the region Beneath the strategic rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the latter’s perception of its Persian neighbour as an existential threat is an example of ‘ideological fundamentalism’ in operation. International relations theorists Ken Booth and Nicholas J. Wheeler explain that when a state develops […]

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Electoral victories for Rouhani – is Iran set for reform?

Rather than a portent for reform, Iran’s recent election results could reflect broader divisions in the country Results in Iran’s general elections of 26 February were swiftly hailed as a victory for President Hassan Rouhani. The success of Rouhani’s centrist and reform-inclined ‘list of hope’ in the parliament was mirrored by the election of a

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Women hope for something good in Rouhani’s Iran

Women in Iran are realistic about the difficulty of undoing more than three decades of institutionalised discrimination against them, writes REBECCA BARLOW. Views on the prospects for meaningful change under Iran’s new leadership are mixed. Some have expressed hope that new president Hassan Rouhani will usher in a period of greater cultural openness with the

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