Iranian Propaganda

Iranian Propaganda of the Iran Iraq war

The reasons countries go to war can be numerous and fiercely debated, however the reason people go to war is easier to pinpoint. Every soldier needs a case that can shape his identity and motivated him to fight. This cause can be easily found in artwork, recruitment, and propaganda of the region.


Many of the wartime posters and artwork glorified the solder and war. 

This poster displayed Iranian soldiers, of various military branches and ethnicity, valiantly marching to battle. Overlooking the soldiers is the image of Ayatollah Khomeini, who was the head of the Iranian revolution and leader of Iran. This picture seems to depict Khomeini in a benevolent guardian angel type role, also guiding the battle, and watching over his men.

 

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/iranianposters/holydefense.html

Despite the previous image many posters, did not shy away from brutalities of war, but embraced them and emphasized the heroics of martyrdom and sacrifice.

 This picture shows a lone soldier staying vigilant. The green haze acknowledges the massive chemical attacks that where taking place, and helps to demonize the enemy Iraq for using such weapons.

  

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/iranianposters/holydefense.html

  
Here a captured Iranian soldier is executed. This harsh, brutal poster is accompanied by figures of Islamic scripture to seemingly glamorized death in the name of the Iranian cause. Figures such as Imam Husayn, who would accompany the executed solder into the glorious afterlife, as well as three headless men who represent fellow martyrs.

 

 http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/iranianposters/newkarbala.html 

In addition to these two takes on capturing a could be soldiers will to fight there were also more generic propaganda. 

Here is a more generic wartime poster. Having various groups ethnicity’s and religious figures all calling for war, this shows a united Iraq unafraid and assured of victory.

 

 http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/iranianposters/holydefense.html

This last poster I want to highlight shows a mousetrap, with a dead mouse, over the country of Iran.  This conveys a few ideas. First is paints Iraq as an antagonizing invader and aggressor of the war (the mouse).  Second it says that Iraq will easily be defeated by the defending and strong Iran.

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/iranianposters/holydefense.html

Note: many of these posters have layers of meaning and are obviously up to interpretation, for many more posters, and art work, or a more in-depth look at any of the posters I put here. Follow any of the posted links or this one here.  http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/webexhibits/iranianposters/index.html

 

Water

Water

            As a middle class American I don’t think I have ever worried about water in my life. Aside from excursions, I have never really been far from a faucet with seemingly unending water. The reality is this is a luxury taken for granted.  Looking into my own water footprint was actually quite difficult. As a boarding college student, facilities, transportation, dining service provided, and with no real income, many of the categories did not really apply or were up to interpretation when calculating my water usage.  With this in mind the only accurate statistic I could look at was my diet.

According to National Geographic I came in at 164 gallons/day over the American average

My score: 1,164

American average: 1,056

This did not really surprise me; to be frank as an athlete and food lover I eat a lot of food. However what did cause a shock was the comparison of general American consumption of water in one year to that of some MENA states.

https://infogr.am/app/#/edit/699623721_1381456697

Average water footprint of United States of America: 

2842 m³/yr per capita

Average water footprint of Iran, Islamic Rep of: 1866 m3/yr per capita

Average water footprint of Turkey: 1642 m3/yr per capita

Average water footprint of Syrian Arab Republic: 2107 m3/yr

From looking at this graph you can clearly see the dramatic difference between what the average American uses and some of the MENA states. Having access to more water as a state can have many implications. Water as essentially the most important resource on the planet affects the culture, politics and security of a state. Many academic thinkers have argued over the role water plays in International relations. I agree with the idea that water is simply too important to be fought over. It has more of a unifying effect than a disjoining one. Water is one of the very few things we cant live without, it’s something we all need and have in common. Something this important and crucial can be manipulated for selfish state reason, but by its basic nature I believe water is a force of unification above all else.

Are all politics local? Reflection on activism.

As globalization progresses farther and farther, localization matters less. Though localization will always have an impact on identity, as communication and travel become easier, location will not matter as much. Already the definition of local has changed, with developments such as the European union, and united nations it wouldn't be crazy to identify with a larger group, other than a country. It may seem a little corny to say, we could all be citizens of the world, but that is the direction the political systems are heading. Organizations Like the UN create rules many cultures all agree on, this allows for peoples of different cultures to identify together. With common Identity common politics should follow. If politics can be more encompassing less conflicts could follow. This is because there is more to bind country's together than Pitt them against each other. I think globalization is a natural trend, that will likely occur despite protests or resistance, and hopefully will be a political change for good.

My Political Identity

"Others"

I have always prided myself on my Identity. It never mattered how ruff things got, bad grades, played a bad game, social standing, discomfort, anything at all, I always found comfort in my Identity. This concept of my Identity came into being when I found Hero's. Form about 13 years old till today my three hero's and largest contributors of my Identity have been, Indiana Jones, James Bond, and the most interesting man in the world (from dos equis commercials). Its never bothered me that they are all fictitious, and one is from a beer commercial, They where important to me. You probably read this an laugh, as I do at myself, but I have tried to live my life, to the best of my ability, in the vain of these fictional characters.


My hero' are important because when asked who I regard as "others" or the opposite of my Identity, the first thing I thought of where my three hero. Mainly because that's always my starting point of self examination. I realized that I am members of many groups of people, I am on the Swim team, I am in Kappa Sigma, I go to Dickinson College. However when asked what group I Identify with I would never say I am a Swimmer, Frat Star, or College student. The group I would Identify with is a small group of friends some, just acquaintances, who represent living characteristics of my Hero's. That being said
I suppose I identify with the small group of people Ive meet whom I admire, and my "others" I use to gauge myself is everyone else.

Everything I do I do because of my Identity. I think its a huge factor in every persons life, this is why I am so interested in the "IR theory" Identity perspective. Not everyone Identify;s as I do, many see themselves as, Americans, Arabs, Christians, Athletes, Muslims, Race car drivers ect. ect. What interests me is how a large common Identity effects state decisions. Even though I fancy myself a British spy, I also identify as an American. In many ways consciously or unconsciously, I would probably make decisions like an American to. Dose this mean Barack Obama makes his decision Identifying as an American, as an African American, or some unknown personal hero, or none of the above. What about Assad, Dose his Identity as a minority in his country play a role in his decision making. Honestly I don't know. Questions about decision making are always hypothetical. What dose all this mean? I'm not really sure but its all very interesting.

Discussion

I just came back from a group discussion of various experts on the Syria situation.  This discussion above all else highlighted how chaotic the world of international relations is. The major facts on Syria I had, for the most part known, but the perspective where new and enlightening for me. For example, I thought the similarity's in the US military view, and Israeli view to be interesting. Both while acknowledging the moral, and political situation put little stock in ether. It was all about the red line. Syria has crossed over that red line and now US deterrence and defense is at risk in the form of credibility. It seems from this discussion that action must be and will be taken. The decision of president Obama to consult congress was also very interesting. It seems if congress agrees that it provides a safety blanket for decision makers, as well as showing the world a shining example of democracy in action. However if it dose not work I feel it risks undermining our government as action in Syria will likely happen ether way. In short I think asking congress is a good idea if congress agrees, but a bad idea if they don't because action is required to sustain our credibility. This discussion showed me how lawless the international community can be, and in a lawless community you are only as good as your word. Unfortunately this concept has put the US in a precarious position.