To compete and thrive in the 21st century, democracies, and the United States in particular, must develop new national security and economic strategies that address the geopolitics of information. In the 20th century, market capitalist democracies geared infrastructure, energy, trade, and even social policy to protect and advance that era’s key source of power—manufacturing. In this century, democracies must better account for information geopolitics across all dimensions of domestic policy and national strategy.
Ali Fathollah-Nejad (Associate, Iran Project, HKS; Associate Fellow, German Council on Foreign Relations) will discuss the main intellectual pillars underpinning the current Iranian administration and its school of thought, with a focus on issues pertaining to economic development as well as international relations.
The talk will provide systematic analysis of the key writings published prior to the Rouhani administration taking office. These themes include globalization, foreign affairs, the distribution of international power, economic development models -- with special attention to the ‘2025 Outlook’ document setting out the country’s grand-strategic vision and the concept of a ‘developmentalist foreign policy.’ Against this backdrop, it will close by providing a balance sheet of President Rouhani’s first term in office and prospects for the future.
The event will be moderated by Iran Project Director Payam Mohseni.