I have recently been reading more on Iran. It is a nation with a complex and rich history that has always been relevant in international relations. In class I have been reading and discussing the book Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi which offers a memoir recounting for life under the regime in the 1980s. In reading this book I have gained a new perspective and better understanding of Iran. Also because of this book, I became interested in expanding my perspective on Iran. I chose a much more modern issue to explore however; it was the issue of nuclear proliferation.
I recently read Can the World Tolerate an Iran with Nuclear Weapons? by Amos Yadlin, Charles Krauthammer, Fareed Zakaria, and Vali Nasr. This text was actually adapted from a series of debates called the Munk Debates which is a series of semi-annual debates that cover a wide range of topics both domestic and foreign.
This text was particularly interesting to me because it included the perspectives of four different individuals who all brought something different to the table. Yadlin is from Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies and was a former head of the Israel Defense Force's military intelligence. Krauthammer is a columnist for the Washington Post and a Pulitzer Prize winner. On the other side of the debate we have Zakaria who is the host of his own series on CNN called Global Public Square. Last but not least offering his own Iranian perspective is Nasr who is a dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
This text was rather digestible and easy to read because it focused on the debate over a single issue. I think that Krauthammer on the Con side and Zakaria on the Pro side were the two voices that stood out to me the most. I think because these two are not just dry academics but scholarly journalists that they were better able to convey their argument concisely and in a manner that is more accessible to people today.
On the Internet, Krauthammer and Zakaria are both two blogs that I follow (links included) and part of the reason that I was compelled to pick up this text. One of my favorite aspects about the Internet is its ability to convey a multitude of perspectives. Can the World Tolerate an Iran with Nuclear Weapons? shares this similar trait and is likely why it was perfect for me as someone who was searching to expand his own perspective on Iran.
Regarding the debate itself I found myself persuaded by the side of Zakaria and Nasr that the world could tolerate a nuclear Iran. The non-proliferation treaty or NPT seems now like a rather dated structure for governing the nuclear ambitions of a growing number of nations. The threat of hyper proliferation and induced instability also seem hyperbolic to me after reading the text. Ultimately though, the text conveyed both sides adequately and the coverage was excellent and definitely worth reading.
Personally, I was happy to gain the insights on this debate especially since this is part of an ongoing current discussion in foreign policy today. There have been discussions back and forth between the US, Iran, and other world powers regarding the nuclear status of Iran and reaching a resolution is believed to be critical to all parties involved. With my newly gained perspectives this is also an issue that I will continue to follow more closely in the coming months. Who knows, it might even be worth a blog post.
I recently read Can the World Tolerate an Iran with Nuclear Weapons? by Amos Yadlin, Charles Krauthammer, Fareed Zakaria, and Vali Nasr. This text was actually adapted from a series of debates called the Munk Debates which is a series of semi-annual debates that cover a wide range of topics both domestic and foreign.
This text was particularly interesting to me because it included the perspectives of four different individuals who all brought something different to the table. Yadlin is from Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies and was a former head of the Israel Defense Force's military intelligence. Krauthammer is a columnist for the Washington Post and a Pulitzer Prize winner. On the other side of the debate we have Zakaria who is the host of his own series on CNN called Global Public Square. Last but not least offering his own Iranian perspective is Nasr who is a dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
This text was rather digestible and easy to read because it focused on the debate over a single issue. I think that Krauthammer on the Con side and Zakaria on the Pro side were the two voices that stood out to me the most. I think because these two are not just dry academics but scholarly journalists that they were better able to convey their argument concisely and in a manner that is more accessible to people today.
On the Internet, Krauthammer and Zakaria are both two blogs that I follow (links included) and part of the reason that I was compelled to pick up this text. One of my favorite aspects about the Internet is its ability to convey a multitude of perspectives. Can the World Tolerate an Iran with Nuclear Weapons? shares this similar trait and is likely why it was perfect for me as someone who was searching to expand his own perspective on Iran.
Regarding the debate itself I found myself persuaded by the side of Zakaria and Nasr that the world could tolerate a nuclear Iran. The non-proliferation treaty or NPT seems now like a rather dated structure for governing the nuclear ambitions of a growing number of nations. The threat of hyper proliferation and induced instability also seem hyperbolic to me after reading the text. Ultimately though, the text conveyed both sides adequately and the coverage was excellent and definitely worth reading.
Personally, I was happy to gain the insights on this debate especially since this is part of an ongoing current discussion in foreign policy today. There have been discussions back and forth between the US, Iran, and other world powers regarding the nuclear status of Iran and reaching a resolution is believed to be critical to all parties involved. With my newly gained perspectives this is also an issue that I will continue to follow more closely in the coming months. Who knows, it might even be worth a blog post.
