Arash Toupchinejad Society, Culture, and Security

The Foreign and Domestic Perceptions of the Allied Presence in Afghanistan

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…

China China Film Reviews Society, Culture, and Security Wu Xiao

The Wandering Earth: China’s Cinematic Space Race

The Chinese science fiction film The Wandering Earth (Liu Lang Di Qiu) shattered boxes offices in 2019. Directed by Frant Gwo, the movie follows the Liu family’s post-apocalyptic space mission to save Earth from Jupiter’s gravitational orbit. The film’s thematic statements and successful public reception are a reflection of China’s increasing confidence in its space exploration program.

Society, Culture, and Security

The Real Housewives of ISIS: An Actual Online Threat

On January 3 2016, Revolting, a BBC 2 sketch-comedy show, released an online skit called, “The Real Housewives of ISIS.”   The skit introduces four wives of ISIS fighters, fulfilling their duty as “average” housewives. One scene shows two women awkwardly wearing the same suicide vest. Another depicts a woman chained to her oven, excited Read More…