In 2011, violence erupted across the Middle East in the form of revolts against authoritarian regimes. Across the region, from Egypt to Syria, thousands fought and died to push out despots, some successfully and others unsuccessfully. Yet despite this historic violence, much of the world's foreign policy focus has been on Iran's nuclear program, and the potential for war between Iran, Israel, and the West. Although Iran had peaceful nuclear programs with Western cooperation before the Islamic revolution, it's widely believed that the regime, headed by Ayatollah Khomeini and now Ayatollah Khameini, began to work in earnest toward a nuclear program that could result in bombs around the late '90s. Still, it was (and remains) unclear the extent to which Iran's nuclear program has progressed, with the potential date of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons constantly changing. As Graham Allison, a Harvard professor and leading security strategist, put it in November 2011, the Iranian nuclear program is a "Cuban missile crisis in slow motion."
People may know what's going on in Iran today, but the obsession over its nuclear program often overlooks the unique intricacies of the nation and its people, particularly the long, illustrious history of the Persian Empire. Iranians have long been proud of their history and culture, to the extent that foreign negotiators who do not entirely understand the history and culture have referred to a "Persian psyche".
How did Iran get to where it is today, at the forefront of global affairs? The history of Iran and the theme of Persian conflict with the West stretches back thousands of years, and it is a unique history of empire, culture, art, pride, and religious nationalism. This ebook comprehensively and descriptively covers this history, progressing through a timeline dating back to antiquity and examining all of the different religious, political, foreign, and military issues that affect Iran and are affected by Iran today.
As one of the hottest political topics in the world today, nearly everyone is aware of the ongoing violence in Syria, between forces loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad and opposition looking to overthrow the regime. Within that narrative are a number of sensitive issues, including sectarian strife between the majority Sunni population and the Alawites, not to mention Christians.
People may know what's going on in Syria today, but how did Syria get to where it is today, at the forefront of the Arab Spring? The history of Syria in the last century is one of turbulence, violence, and political intrigue, with local religious sects battling for control of the land while foreign powers vied to maintain influence over the region. What resulted was a toxic and twisted mess that has precipitously affected the entire region, from Israel and Lebanon to Iran and Iraq.
