Latest news with #Axworthy
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
5 must-read books to understand Iran: Revolution, resistance & rivalries
After Israeli and US warplanes struck deep inside Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, government compounds, and military bases, the Islamic Republic retaliated with missile barrages and drone swarms aimed at Israeli cities. Now, an uneasy ceasefire has been announced. But, how did we get here? These five books unravel Iran's journey from its revolution to becoming a regional powerhouse and how a regime born in 1979 became the architect of an anti-Western 'Axis of Resistance.' With live explosions making headlines, these reads offer what news cycles cannot: the deep history and strategic logic behind the Islamic Republic's defiance. Understand these books, and you'll understand why this fight won't end with one night of airstrikes. Milani's book examines Iran's ascent as a regional power, challenging the US and its allies through proxies and strategic alliances. From Syria to Yemen, Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' has reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics. Milani, an Iranian-American scholar, traces Tehran's strategy: exploiting power vacuums, backing militant groups, and leveraging Shia ties. He also explores internal tensions (economic woes, protests, and elite infighting) that could undermine its ambitions. The book's key insight? Iran's rise isn't just ideological but tactical, exploiting US missteps in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet overreach risks backlash, as seen in Arab Gulf states' countermoves. Michael Axworthy's Revolutionary Iran is the most comprehensive English-language history of the Islamic Republic, tracing its evolution from the 1979 revolution to today. Axworthy argues that the regime has proven remarkably resilient, surviving war, sanctions, and internal dissent. He examines the Iran-Iraq War's brutal legacy, the ideological battles between reformists and hardliners, and Iran's nuclear ambitions. Axworthy avoids caricature, presenting Iran as neither a rogue state nor a victim but as a complex player with its own strategic logic. The book explores how revolutionary fervor gave way to pragmatic governance, yet how anti-Western rhetoric remains central to Iran's identity. Updated in 2019, it includes the impact of the Trump administration's 'maximum pressure' campaign and Iran's regional proxy wars. How has Iran outlasted decades of isolation and internal turmoil? Amin Saikal's Iran Rising answers this by dissecting the regime's adaptability. Unlike predictions of collapse, Iran has expanded its influence, through proxies such as Hezbollah, nuclear brinkmanship, and shrewd diplomacy. Saikal, a seasoned Iran scholar, explains how the Islamic Republic balances revolutionary ideology with realpolitik. He analyzes key moments: the hostage crisis, the Iran-Iraq War, the nuclear deal, and Syria's civil war. The book also highlights Iran's unique hybrid system, where elected leaders coexist with uneclerical rulers, allowing flexibility in foreign policy while suppressing dissent at home. The book's strength lies in its forward-looking perspective. Can Iran sustain its regional power amid economic distress and youth discontent? Saikal suggests that internal pressures, not external threats, may force change. A must-read for understanding Iran's endurance and what comes next. Ray Takeyh's Hidden Iran dismantles Western misconceptions, arguing that Iran is neither an irrational theocracy nor a monolithic regime. Instead, it's a battleground of competing factions, hardliners, reformists, and pragmatists, each shaping policy in unpredictable ways. Takeyh explores Iran's 'dual containment' strategy: confronting the US while engaging Europe and Asia. He unpacks Tehran's nuclear calculus, showing how domestic politics drive defiance rather than mere ideological zeal. The book also critiques US policy failures, advocating engagement over isolation. Though published in 2006, Hidden Iran remains relevant for its insights into Iran's decision-making. Stephen Kinzer's gripping All the Shah's Men recounts the 1953 CIA-backed coup that ousted Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, a pivotal event poisoning US-Iran relations for decades. Kinzer blends spy thriller pacing with sharp analysis, showing how British oil interests and Cold War paranoia led America to overthrow Mossadegh, reinstating the Shah. The backlash fueled anti-Western resentment, paving the way for the 1979 revolution. More than just history, the book explains why Iran distrusts America, and how blowback shapes today's conflicts. Kinzer's warning about interventionist folly resonates as the US and Iran remain locked in hostility.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg conference explores need for fostering hope
How can we tackle the challenges facing the world today and work towards a more positive future? How do we find hope to promote and sustain collective action? What role can diverse faith traditions play in helping Canada face the most pressing demands of our time? Those were topics addressed at the June 15-17 Our Whole Society Conference at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights here in Winnipeg. The theme of the conference, which was sponsored by the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, was Fostering Hope in a Divided World. For Héctor A. Acero Ferrer, one of the conference organizers, the event was an opportunity 'to build robust dialogue between religious traditions about their role in society' and a way to 'build connections across divides in the world.' Rocky Baronins is the community relations committee chair for the Manitoba Multifaith Council and one of the supporters of the conference. For him, the conference was a way to bring thought leaders from across Canada together for 'deep conversations about the challenges facing the world today.' One of those thought leaders was Payam Akhavan, a Canadian human rights lawyer. Speaking at the opening plenary, Akhavan said the world is facing an onslaught of rage that is imperiling a 'vision for a shared humanity.' Despite this, Akhavan said he sees hope as people work together to defuse anger and resist efforts to dehumanize others. These 'actions on the ground,' where people actively reach out to others, can counter fear about the future — despite how challenging the situation seems to be. 'We discover resilience when we confront despair,' he said, noting people must resist messages that dehumanize others like refugees and immigrants, or those who have different political opinions. This dehumanization 'needs to be confronted more than ever,' Akhavan said. A member of the Baha'i faith, Akhavan added that spirituality is an important part of that confrontation — through service. 'We must show compassion and concern for others,' he said, adding that by serving others we can 'save our own souls.' Lloyd Axworthy, long-time federal politician and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996-2000, spoke the following day about finding hope in a fractious world. For him, hope is a 'moral summons, an imperative' that grows out of core beliefs such as his Christian faith as a member of the United Church of Canada. One of those core beliefs for Axworthy is the requirement to serve others and seek the best for them — something that helped guide him when making difficult decisions on the international stage. When it comes to bringing faith into politics, Axworthy said he was not 'naïve' about how challenging that can be. But, he said, 'we need courageous people' who are willing to go into politics and 'make choices based on their faith or spirituality.' Despite the challenges facing the world today, 'we still have to commit to building a better future,' he stated, adding it is an unsettling time for many since the old world order is disappearing, partly due to the actions of Donald Trump, 'while the new one is not yet born.' It won't be easy to see this new order be born, Axworthy said, but he believes it can be done as people 'exercise their faith and hope in a risky way.' The final keynote speaker was Elin Kelsey, author of the book Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis. She spoke about finding hope despite the current environmental crisis. Citing a survey that showed nearly half of people 16 to 25 reported feeling distressed or anxious about climate change in a way that was affecting their daily lives and functioning, Kelsey placed fault at the feet of the media for mainly reporting on the detrimental effects of climate change while ignoring the many ways people around the world are addressing it and finding solutions. 'Less than three per cent of media stories about climate change even include a mention of a solution,' she said, adding this kind of reporting can lead to anxiety, cynicism and apathy. For her, the climate crisis is as much a 'crisis of hope' as it is about the actual challenges posed by a changing climate for the planet. And, she added, when people feel hopeless they then feel disempowered. But, Kelsey said, when people are offered stories about positive ways climate change is being addressed, they feel hopeful about the possibility of change. This doesn't mean ignoring what she called 'pain stories' about the negative impact of climate change. 'We can tell those stories, but we don't need to stop there,' Kelsey said. 'We should also look for stories about where things are moving in a positive direction.' At the same time, Kelsey didn't minimize the nature of the climate crisis. But she chooses to be hopeful. 'It's a choice,' she said, that can translate into action. 'Hope is not complacent. It is a powerful political act.' faith@ The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER John LonghurstFaith reporter John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Al Jazeera
20-03-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Why Canada should not cancel – for now – the American-made F35 warplanes
To cancel or not to cancel. This is the conundrum that Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney, confronts while poised to call a federal election that will likely be defined by and fought over one question: Who do Canadians trust to take on a bully American president intent on turning a sovereign country into, officially, a US state? Beyond the tit-for-tat tariffs being imposed in what threatens to be an escalating and punitive trade war between Canada and the United States, another prickly flashpoint has emerged. It constitutes the first 'test' of Carney's promised commitment to weaning the nation he hopes to lead for years, not weeks, from its long, ingrained dependence on a dominant southern neighbour. Carney is being pressed by usually disparate and antagonistic forces along Canada's narrow political spectrum to abandon the remainder of a $19bn deal – engineered belatedly by his predecessor, Justin Trudeau – to buy an additional 62 US-made and maintained F-35 fighter jets. Canada has already paid for 16 warplanes, which are due to be delivered by early next year. Conservative pundits writing for conservative newspapers have joined former Liberal foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy, and peace and disarmament groups in urging the prime minister to 'stand up to' America's mercurial commander-in-chief, Donald Trump. To wit, they are demanding Carney follow Portugal's lead and axe the planned purchase of the extra technically troubled jets as a tangible expression of Canada's rejection of Trump's imperial designs, as well as a stinging financial and diplomatic defence of the besieged confederation's autonomy. Axworthy told a television interviewer recently that it would 'be a mistake to continue' with the acquisition of F-35 jets. Instead, he argued, Canada should 'push back' against a belligerent president who has 'kicked us in the teeth'. 'I think this is an opportunity for us to say,' Axworthy suggested. 'Do we … want our military so entangled with the American military that our discretion and independence of movement are limited?' It is odd that, in 2025, Axworthy would challenge Canada to embrace the 'opportunity' to distance itself from the US militarily when a succession of Liberal and Conservative prime ministers has, from 1945 on, fused the continental 'junior partner's' armed forces to the Pentagon's sprawling defence infrastructure like conjoined twins. In any event, a suddenly liberated Axworthy also pointed out that the 'digital box' housing the operating software for the warplanes is controlled by the giant US arms manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. The fear is that a vindictive Trump could order the aerospace and 'defence' contractor to deny Canada access to any software upgrades that would enable the jets' lethal capabilities in flight. These appeals, anchored as they are in guarding the Maple Leaf and all the emotions Canada's distinctive red and white national flag conjures up, have struck a nationalistic chord with many Canadians who have been seized by a 'buy home-made' movement that is gathering enthusiasm and momentum. Carney, the former central banker turned politician, has been obliged, of course, to respond to the prevailing patriotic winds in the hopes that they propel him and the Liberal Party to victory. So, it was hardly surprising when Defence Minister Bill Blair announced late last week that Ottawa would 're-examine' its contract with Lockheed Martin and look for European alternatives to the F-35 jets. The 'review' of the existing deal has allowed Carney to claim the 'Canada first' ground and has afforded him time to consider the possible implications and consequences of cancelling it outright. At the risk of offending loyal readers and startling my easily agitated detractors, I think Carney's predictable, carve-out-some-convenient-time gambit is, in light of the uncertain geopolitical circumstances, the prudent thing to do. Let me share two other observations that are meant to provide some useful context for the prescriptions I am about to offer Carney on how he should address this delicate and potentially combustible cross-border dispute. First, if I had my druthers, I would forgo acquiring warplanes that, in a generation or so, will become obsolete, and spend the mountain of money improving young Canadians' fast-fading prospects of buying a home on the not-so-distant horizon and burnishing the paltry pension that seniors receive every month. But I know that any future Liberal or Conservative government will be dedicated – as institutional gospel – to replacing Canada's ageing roster of CF-18 fighter jets. The question now, in light of Trump's oafish and disrespectful threats, is whose name will be on the big cheque to supply those warplanes? Second, I doubt that Carney and his pared-down cabinet are going to be swayed by my advice – if they read it at all. The Bank of Canada's ex-chairman has spent much of his career tuning out the loud, often ill-informed noise, produced by members of the know-it-all commentariat, including me. Still, since this is an 'opinion' column, here is my view of how Carney ought to navigate the fraught quandary he faces. I believe that Carney – and by extension, Canada – should keep our valuable chips close by rather than going all in. Trump may enjoy a strong hand, but, despite his bluster and bravado, he is a bad poker player – prone to making short-sighted and impulsive bets that do more damage than good to US interests. Carney must be patient and exploit the long game to his advantage by using the pending F-35 procurement as leverage during rancorous tariff negotiations that could well prevail throughout Trump's chaotic, four-year term as president. As a necessary corollary, Carney needs to rebuff myopic writers and historians demanding that he nix, forthwith, the F-35s in favour of the Swedish-built Saab Gripen to mollify his chirping critics inside and outside Parliament and editorial boards more interested in 'decisive' acts than calm rejoinders. Given Trump's coercive modus operandi and impetuous nature, there are no guarantees that this more cautious approach will be persuasive or dampen the president's retributive instincts. It is worth a try. And, to bolster the chances of success, it should be coupled with a deliberate and sustained effort to tamp down the chest-thumping rhetoric that only serves, apparently, to trigger a petulant president. Then there are the impracticality and prohibitive costs associated with opting for a mixed fleet of jets in Canada's airborne arsenal. Reportedly, Canadian defence planners have insisted for decades that this cockeyed strategy would prove too expensive. Two warplanes would require two training regimes, two supply chains, and separate hangars. Keep your Cheshire-like cool and hold on to your shiny, expensive bargaining chips, Prime Minister Carney, until you, not temperamental Trump, can win the lucrative pot.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Liberal foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy wants a diplomatic reset for Canada
OTTAWA — Former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy says Ottawa's current approach to foreign policy has run out of road. Axworthy says this year's election offers a welcome chance to shift Canada back toward a role of identifying issues that concern multiple countries and finding ways to address them. He says that could mean working with peer countries to advance shared interests that don't align with those of U.S. President Donald Trump — by, for example, using the Arctic Council to fight climate change. He also says Canada needs to reform its electoral system so that Parliament better reflects the Canadian public, because the current structure doesn't align with Ottawa's advocacy for democracy abroad. Axworthy has warned recently that "a revolving door of ministers" in charge of foreign policy is undermining Ottawa's ability to build alliances and influence on the world stage. Axworthy told a Monday panel discussion held by the Canadian International Council that this work will require going beyond sloganeering and rebuilding the strong ties Canada once had with developing countries. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
