Sep 22, 2026 · 52 min · 9 segments
In this episode of ATTRITION, Ammar Kazmi speaks with Dr Shahab Esfandiary about the strengths and weaknesses of Iranian cultural capital and propaganda, as well as the need to create an Islamic…
Shahab EsfandiaryGuestOmar GhazmiHostDo you think that the Islamic Republic is suffering from what's called Westoxification or gharbzadegi in its propaganda? Some critics from inside our movement say that the Republic is too geared towards pleasing and appeasing the enemy.
It puts Jewish and white people on a pedestal in terms of using them to talk through them.
I wouldn't deny that, you know, colonial mentality, I would put it more in this term, I think it is a term which is more precise in, you know, defining what we're dealing with.
The problem with colonial mentality is that you assume that they are people who are superior so they have the right to run the world, they have the right to tell you what to do, how to live, they have the right to define a lifestyle which you can follow and things like that.
And, I mean, Jalal al-Ahmad, the famous Iranian author who wrote the book Qarb Zadegi or West Toxification, he had this in mind, of course.
Today in academic studies, you know, post-colonialist studies post-colonialist theory deals with these issues and so yes obviously we have in Iran in some parts of Iranian politics views and minds which are defined by this mindset by this outlook and even in those who perhaps you don't expect because they are they look like you know strong revolutionaries who they they might have some of this may have impacted their views and so they may have made choices as you mentioned that for someone looking from outside will I think a few years ago we had one of the European Union's diplomats come and visit Iran for a session in parliament.
Some of our MPs were taking selfies with, I think it was Federica Mogherini.
So I think, yeah, it is a problem, but because of the long, long years of Western propaganda in Iran and colonial propaganda in Iran and in different countries in the region, Yeah, there is still an impression that if you hear something from a white, blue-eyed person, that will be more authentic or more impressive.
But I have seen that we have made some progress as well and Iran's international media have facilitated the participation of people from a range of different backgrounds and I think we should, you know, do better in that as well.
Do you think that the Islamic Republic is suffering from what's called Westoxification or gharbzadegi in its propaganda? Some critics from inside our movement say that the Republic is too geared towards pleasing and appeasing the enemy.
It puts Jewish and white people on a pedestal in terms of using them to talk through them.
I wouldn't deny that, you know, colonial mentality, I would put it more in this term, I think it is a term which is more precise in, you know, defining what we're dealing with.
The problem with colonial mentality is that you assume that they are people who are superior so they have the right to run the world, they have the right to tell you what to do, how to live, they have the right to define a lifestyle which you can follow and things like that.
And, I mean, Jalal al-Ahmad, the famous Iranian author who wrote the book Qarb Zadegi or West Toxification, he had this in mind, of course.
Today in academic studies, you know, post-colonialist studies post-colonialist theory deals with these issues and so yes obviously we have in Iran in some parts of Iranian politics views and minds which are defined by this mindset by this outlook and even in those who perhaps you don't expect because they are they look like you know strong revolutionaries who they they might have some of this may have impacted their views and so they may have made choices as you mentioned that for someone looking from outside will I think a few years ago we had one of the European Union's diplomats come and visit Iran for a session in parliament.
Some of our MPs were taking selfies with, I think it was Federica Mogherini.
So I think, yeah, it is a problem, but because of the long, long years of Western propaganda in Iran and colonial propaganda in Iran and in different countries in the region, Yeah, there is still an impression that if you hear something from a white, blue-eyed person, that will be more authentic or more impressive.
But I have seen that we have made some progress as well and Iran's international media have facilitated the participation of people from a range of different backgrounds and I think we should, you know, do better in that as well.
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