Order the spring issue here

Iran

PDF her.

The guardianless faces

Ali Abbasi: holy spider

IRAN: This is a political film that has chosen the thriller genre to exercise sharp social criticism against Iran. Like many of today's protesters in the country, the people behind the film were met with death threats and hate messages from the Iranian regime.
Ellen Lande -

Actual and imagined boundaries

Jafar Panahi: No Bears

FILM FROM THE SOUTH: Jafar Panahi's "No Bears" is a strong film in itself, but gains even greater impact in light of the situation the now imprisoned Iranian filmmaker is in.
Aleksander Huser -

Profession: reporter

Natalie Chief: Between the worlds. Of power and powerlessness in Iran

Iran: In Iran, women can at any time end up in the clutches of the increasingly powerful and erratic Revolutionary Guard. It has a decisive influence on all public areas, from culture and the environment to the economy, politics and justice. And: Ebrahim Raisi was the name of the man who was responsible for the "death committee" – now he is Iran's future president.
Ranveig Eckhoff -

"Dealing with illiberal states is a chronic problem"

John Ikenberry: Power, Order and Change – in World Politics

USA: We talk to John Ikenberry about «after victory moments». Is there any real incentive for the powerful state to spend money to rebuild and foster a better order? The liberal international vision is not globalism, it is intergovernmentalism.
Hans Henrik Fafner -

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cutting international cooperation

MIDDLE EAST: What significance does it have that the authorities have cut cultural support for a number of Norwegian actors working internationally? For example, Kirkelig Kulturverksted i Midtøsten?
Pinar Ciftci -

All against all

Translated from English by Signe Prøis: Behrouz Boochani: Only the mountains are my friend

REFUGEES: Cohesion is pulverized, everyone just thinks about managing on their own, surviving, tearing up an extra snack, a place in the food queue or the phone queue.
Kurt Sweeney -

THE BATTLE BETWEEN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA: The Middle East tragedy

Kim Ghatta's: Black Wave. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry that Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East

ISLAMISM: The traditional explanation for the conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims is too superficial. A new, well-written analysis interprets the Middle East's major changes as a showdown between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Hans Henrik Fafner -

When killing is the only solution

Mehrdad Oskouei: Sunless Shadows

ABUSE: In an Iranian youth institution, a group of teenage girls are zoning. They have all killed a father, a brother or a spouse.
Carmen Gray -

Religious notions

Laurence Louër Translated by Ethan Rundell: Sunnis and Shi'a: A Political History

SUNNI AND SJIA: The religious contradictions between the two main directions in Islam are not so great. But in conflicts between countries and groups, they are used for all they are worth.
Kjetil Korslund -

When viruses go viral

INFODEMIC: A study of the coronavirus, conspiracy theories and fake news in the disinformation ecosystem.
Péter Krekó -

The illiteracy of Pakistan

READING AND WRITING DIFFICULTIES: Pakistan needs to prioritize citizens' inadequate literacy skills and should implement a nationwide program that takes into account the country's multicultural and foreign language communities.
Zara Kayani -

The war reporter close to the truth

Yung Chang: This Is Not A Movie – Robert Fisk And The Politics Of Truth

PORTRAIT MOVIE: War reporter Robert Fisk has the courage to monitor and challenge. He is known for reporting from the front lines contrary to the official line of politicians and people in power.
Carmen Gray -

The people of Lebanon do not give up

LEBANON"We will go home when the government goes home," said protesters at Riad al-Solh in Beirut.
Francesca Borri -

Full 100-page MODERN TIMES including the appendix Orientering and Modern Times Review comes out quarterly in early March, June, September and December) with international book reviews (non-fiction) and comments / essays. According to the physical newspaper (and PDF), the articles are published regularly online (see the newsletters).

© MODERN TIMES & Orientering AS. PO Box 3113 Elisenberg, 0207 Oslo. Chief editor: Truls Lie

Newsletters