Iran’s Protests: All About the Economy?

by Gareth Smyth In 2007, when the Iranian government introduced gasoline rationing, increasing the price to 11 cents a liter, some angry motorists torched gasoline stations. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that it showed “economic sanctions are working increasingly… Continue Reading

Rentierism and Rivalry Between Riyadh and Tehran

by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj In response to the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the United States has long pursued a strategy of counterbalancing, extending its security umbrella to cover the kingdom and the GCC states. But as promises of security… Continue Reading

Rouhani’s Challenges to Form His New Cabinet

by Adnan Tabatabai Hassan Rouhani will be sworn in for his second term as president of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the official inauguration scheduled for August 5, 2017. The tahlif ceremony will take place in parliament, symbolizing the… Continue Reading

YOLO Economics

by John Feffer The economy, we have been taught, is a cat with considerably more than nine lives. The bottom might drop out of the stock market, but it will rebound — again and again. The Chinese were on top… Continue Reading

Kyrgyzstan Hopes Chinese Investment Can Produce Industrial Breakthrough

by Anna Lelik When China’s top diplomat visited Kyrgyzstan last month, he heard some bold proposals. Why, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was asked by Kyrgyz economic officials during his visit to Bishkek on May 22, did Beijing not consider relocating 40… Continue Reading