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Protests in Iran: Hope and Self-Sacrifice
“The Iranian people have become the vanguardists of not just their democracy movement, but the global democratic movement across the world. As they courageously leave their shops, businesses and universities to face live ammunition, these brave Iranians have become martyrs for not just their country, but also for humanity.”
Jan 14, 2026
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Protests in Iran: Hope and Self-Sacrifice
Like those who dreamed of one day seeing the Berlin Wall torn down, one of my long-time dreams has been to see the collapse of the Iranian regime in my lifetime. The idea of the Iranian people finally overthrowing the clerical dictatorship and establishing the democracy that they should have had in 1979, is something that those of us who have supported the democracy movement in Iran have anticipated for a very long time. Though there have been many serious anti-government protests in the past, none have had the inertia that this one has, and as international pressure mounts, it’s beginning to look like the last days of Ali Khameini’s Islamist regime.
This has not been without risk. Since the protests broke out toward the end of 2025, the cold-blooded use of lethal force by the Iranian security forces has been fully deployed. While the regime claims over 2,000 have been killed, anti-regime news website Iran International estimates the murder of over 12,000, along with another 10,000 people arrested. The internet blackout has smothered the massacre, cutting Iranians off from the rest of the world, and the international community have been forced to speculate about what dystopian horrors are happening.
Somaliland: The Idea of Earning Recognition
Israel's Boxing Day recognition of the breakaway African state of Somaliland has been followed by widespread condemnation. Despite being, in my opinion, a foreign policy masterstroke on the part of Netanyahu, it does open up an uncomfortable idea when it comes to self-determination struggles: is statehood a right or is it earned? Indeed, for many of us who are strong supporters of oppressed groups who are candidates for self-determination, the real aspect of both democracy consolidation and institution building can affect the likelihood of the state becoming independently recognized.
Sharp Power to Oust Maduro?
We've seen this pattern before many times with President Trump. First, he ramps up the pressure to the maximum; then conflict looks to break out any day; then he does a deal in the very last moment on his terms. It's a method he's already applied with North Korea, China, and Hamas to secure ends that benefit the United States while still making compromises to avoid overt action. And it looks like he's trying to do the same to oust Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
A New Approach?
Given the failed attempts at regime change and nation-building in both Iraq and Afghanistan, a new approach for forwarding the cause of democracy might be appealing to democratic realists (like myself). Though remaining firmly committed to the principles of democracy as a combined moral and strategic necessity against the forces of totalitarianism, we shouldn't kid ourselves into believing that advancing those principles doesn't often require direct confrontation. Action and force against tyrants are often the only route to removing them for good. We are, as Christopher Hitchens once quipped, not "looking for a quiet life for liberalism."
Back to Square One
Hamas’s genocidal assult on southern Israel has prompted the Jewish state to act against the terror group, but the concerns of Israeli unilateralism persist.
From Russia with Destabilization
Putin’s continuous brinkmanship has finally culminated in a full-on invasion of Ukraine, while Western voices attempt to apologize for it.
A Very Afghan Threnody
The Taliban’s victory after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan signals the beginning of a darker world in which human rights will diminish.
Hello? Internationalism?
The tentacles of the CCP tighten over Hong Kong in plain violation of international agreements, but everyone is looking the other way.
Future of UK Politics
Boris Johnson’s premiership heralds an era in British politics beyond Conservative vs. Labour.