In this article, Arash Toupchinejad interviews Professor Marta Dyczok from Western University about the socio-cultural and economic implications of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the heightened tensions to better assess the status of the situation in Eastern Europe.
One year after the Nagorno-Karabakh war, regional security in the South Caucasus is once again at risk. This time, Iran and Azerbaijan are at odds as the countries exchange words and flex their military might in drills across their shared border. In this article, Arash Toupchinejad highlights the root causes of the increasingly sociopolitical dispute and how it could have significant implications for NATO.
Over the past year, the heightened tensions between China and Taiwan have led many to expect an imminent military invasion. But the dispute has grown increasingly sociopolitical in nature. In this article, Arash Toupchinejad explores the cultural undertones of the public perceptions towards cross-strait tensions and how China relies on a hybrid war strategy to suppress Taiwan’s desire for sovereignty.
The final departure of American troops from Afghanistan is set for September. This plan of withdrawal dates from the Trump Administration, which signed the bilateral Doha Agreement with the Taliban. It authorized the withdrawal of US and NATO forces if the Taliban agreed to prevent other terrorist groups from using Afghan soil. Although the Taliban has Read More…
Music embodies the best of cultures around the world. Like many aspects of human life, music has been closely linked to the culture of military. From martial music to anti-war protest songs, music has long impacted public perceptions of war. But it also has a deeper connection to this area: its role as a weapon. In this article, Arash Toupchinejad explores the bizarre history of the weaponization of music in a military capacity.
Despite Turkey’s fractured ties to NATO, which has increasingly alienated its people from the alliance over the past year, there seems to be a paradigm shift in Ankara’s foreign policy towards its allies. Arash Toupchinejad analyzes how NATO can capitalize on this shift in attitude to motivate Turkey’s rapprochement with the West under the auspices of the Framework Nations Concept.
As NATO finds itself at the center of the growing conflict over Ukraine’s potential accession to the alliance, Arash Toupchinejad examines the different state-led sociopolitical narratives concerning NATO and the implications for member state citizens as it navigates its emerging role in the conflict.