Middle East Research and Information Project

Critical Coverage of the Middle East Since 1971

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Olmo Gölz

Olmo Gölz is a senior lecturer in Islamic and Iranian Studies in the department for Oriental Studies, University of Freiburg.

Narratives of 'the Oppressed'—The Dialectic of Resistance Behind the Axis — Iranian Ambassador in Syria Mohammad Hassan Akhtari (2nd L) and Ahmed Jibril (2nd R), the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), lead a demonstration January 23, 1998, at the Yarmouk Palestinian camp, near Damascus to mark International Quds Day in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Louai Behsara/AFP via Getty Images

MER Article

Narratives of 'the Oppressed'—The Dialectic of Resistance Behind the Axis

Since its formation, the Axis of Resistance has embodied a defiant stance against imperialism and Zionism. The phrase itself first circulated in the English-language media, in the early 2000s—a response to then-President George W. Bush’s ominous talk of the “axis of evil.” By 2010, at the latest, the

Olmo Gölz, Ruth Vollmer • 10 min read

Balancing Ideology and Responsibility in Iran’s Battle Against COVID-19 — An Iranian man takes a selfie with his vaccination card at a vaccination center in Tehran, Iran September 20, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA/ReutersFig. 1 Health advocates confronting COVID-19 juxtaposed with Iranian soldiers. ISNAFig. 2 “For protecting our health, spend this year’s holiday at home.” Tasnim News Fig. 3 The difference between Islamic-Iranian culture and the materialism of the West. Office of the Supreme LeaderFig. 4 “Cowboy Trump” stealing masks. Office of the Supreme Leader Fig. 5 The winding road of technological achievements. Office of the Supreme Leader Fig. 6 “Heroic Nation.” Khattmedia Telegram channel

Covid-19 Coverage

Balancing Ideology and Responsibility in Iran’s Battle Against COVID-19

Like all governments, Iran’s response to the coronavirus pandemic combines public health measures with ideological messaging. Schwartz and Gölz analyze Iran’s visual iconography and the politics of the state’s early narratives of self-reliance and resistance and why these shifted when vaccines becam

Kevin Schwartz, Olmo Gölz • 11 min read

Going to War with the Coronavirus and Maintaining the State of Resistance in Iran — Fig. 1. “Doctors and Nurses! Your reward is with God.” Source: Office of Supreme Leader.Fig. 1. “Health Defenders.” Source: Student News Network.Fig. 2. “The Sacrifice Continues.” Source: Navid Shahed Gilan.Fig. 3. “The Nation’s heroes are always in the field,” original design and postage stamp. Source: Tehran Times.Fig. 4. “War, work until victory.” Source: Yanon Design.Fig. 5. A war medic and health care professional collapsed into one figure. The slogan reads, “The holy warriors of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” Source: Office of Supreme LeaderFig. 6. Source: Public Relations Office of Dezful Governorate.Fig. 6. “The trench is the same trench, the people are the same people.”Fig. 7. “Like Avini.” Source: Office of Supreme Leader.

Covid-19 Coverage

Going to War with the Coronavirus and Maintaining the State of Resistance in Iran

The Iranian government is fighting against the coronavirus pandemic not only with travel restrictions and social distancing rules, but also with ideological tools that promote unity and resistance. Through the production of posters and other media, Iran is creating connections between earlier battle

Kevin L. Schwartz, Olmo Gölz • 15 min read