wHERE IS HOMELAND – PART II It was May 2022—eight years after my return. Looking back, I could see little but ruins: a country in decline, a people sinking into misery. Iran had once been great, yet it had not been treated well. Something had changed in me, though. Upon my return, I began to […]
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Diaries
Iran appears ripe for revolt: the economy is broken, society is exhausted, and the regime’s legitimacy is eroding. And yet, the streets remain largely quiet. This article examines the structural, psychological, and political barriers that have so far prevented collapse—and why waiting for spontaneous uprising misunderstands how authoritarian systems actually fall.
Why Iranians Aren’t Rising – Yet Read More »
Ideas in Print
Once convinced that belonging was a limitation, I imagined myself a citizen of the world. Yet, at the end of my Ph.D., an unexpected longing took hold—a quiet pull toward home. This is a reflection on return, memory, and the uneasy question of where homeland truly resides.
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Diaries
An examination of Marco Rubio’s emerging foreign-policy doctrine and his dual role as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, including comparisons to Kissinger and the strategic direction of Trump’s second term.
In Search of a Rubio Doctrine Read More »
Contemplations
The Future of Warfare: National Positions on the Governance of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems by Benjamin Perrin, Masoud Zamani | Feb 11, 2025 Lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), such as drones and autonomous missile systems, are no longer a theoretical concern. Indeed, they are finding their way onto the battlefield. Amid growing international concern, States have articulated a range of
Algorithms, Automation and Accountability: Imagining Responsibility for the Crimes of Machines Posted on August 6, 2025 by Mark Kersten The following is a guest post by Masoud Zamani is a lecturer in international law and international relations at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies and international legal accountability. (Image by Tavis Coburn
This essay examines whether “meaningful human control” offers a viable legal and ethical standard for regulating lethal autonomous weapons, or whether it masks deeper structural gaps.
How Meaningful is “Meaningful Human Control” in LAWS Regulation? Read More »
Ideas in Print
This piece examines how Iran and Israel use force—military strikes, covert operations, and symbolic actions—to signal intent, calibrate escalation, and redefine deterrence in the region.
Missiles and Messages: Characterizing the Use of Force between Iran and Israel Read More »
Ideas in Print
A Conflict in Suspense: General Close of Military Operations in the Iran-Israel Conflict by Masoud Zamani, Amirabbas Kiani | Nov 13, 2024 In April 2024, hostilities between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran intensified significantly, with both sides engaging in direct military operations within each other’s borders. A bombing near the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1st triggered this
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Ideas in Print
Dilemmas of Defense: The U.S. Role in the Iran-Israel Conflict by Masoud Zamani, Amirabbas Kiani | Jan 24, 2025 On April 13, 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out an unprecedented operation, launching hundreds of drones and cruise missiles toward Israel. Reports indicate that Israel intercepted the majority of these drones and missiles with assistance from the United States, Britain, and Jordan.
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Ideas in Print