Middle East Research and Information Project

Critical Coverage of the Middle East Since 1971

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resistance

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