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A Guide to the Middle East, for Western Audiences

JL;DR SUMMARY Joshua Hoffman's article reveals how Western analyses often misinterpret Middle Eastern unrest, citing Iran as a prime example. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Middle EastIranProtestsCultural MisunderstandingsReligion And PoliticsWestern PerspectivesIlliberal SocietiesMinority TreatmentStructural Stagnation

Places mentioned

Iran
"Western reactions to the latest unrest in Iran reveal a familiar misunderstanding that has distorted Western analysis of the Middle East for decades."
Lebanon
"investing in ideology, exporting revolution, and funding proxies across the region from Hezbollah in Lebanon, to militias in Iraq and Syria."
Iraq
"investing in ideology, exporting revolution, and funding proxies across the region from Hezbollah in Lebanon, to militias in Iraq and Syria."
Syria
"investing in ideology, exporting revolution, and funding proxies across the region from Hezbollah in Lebanon, to militias in Iraq and Syria."
Gaza, Palestinian Territories
"to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza over investing in its own people."
Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories
"Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, was a city of Arab Christians who made up about 86 percent of the population through 1950, but under the Palestinian Authority, Christians have been pushed out."
Morocco
"Morocco alone had roughly at least 250,000 Jews, while Algerias population numbered around 140,000 and Tunisias around 100,000."
Algeria
"Morocco alone had roughly at least 250,000 Jews, while Algerias population numbered around 140,000 and Tunisias around 100,000."
Tunisia
"Morocco alone had roughly at least 250,000 Jews, while Algerias population numbered around 140,000 and Tunisias around 100,000."
Egypt
"In the Arab heartlands, Iraq counted approximately 135,000 Jews, and Egypt had approximately 75,000."
Israel
"Israel, in particular, serves as a uniquely useful scapegoat: close enough to personalize resentment, successful enough to provoke humiliation."

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Cairo Item ID 72791
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Retrieved 2026-01-15 05:30:51 UTC
Curated 2026-01-15 08:31:25 UTC