Apr 25, 2010
Iran is never far from U.S. news headlines. Nuclear threats, unfair
elections, captive reporters, a lack of religious freedom, all seem
to demand that we do something. But what is to be done? What are
the actual conditions in Iran, and what kind of leverage do we in
the Western world, and particularly in the U.S. have to effect
change? Last summer, Stephanie Zvan was privileged to chat with Dr.
William Beeman, professor of anthropology at the University of
Minnesota and a leading Western scholar of Iran. They discussed the
intersection of religion and politics in Iran, U.S.-Iranian
relations, and the culture of Iran, including conditions for women.
Some of what she learned surprised her. It may surprise you
too.