Iona Italia, PhD

Dan Schueftan on Gaza, Iran & the Future of Israel Israel faces not a solvable conflict but a permanent condition—one requiring deterrence, “violent maintenance,” and historic patience—while confronting both regional enemies and a cultural battle in the West.

Israel faces not a solvable conflict but a permanent condition—one requiring deterrence, “violent maintenance,” and historic patience—while confronting both regional enemies and a cultural battle in the West.

The Soft Disinformation Contagion How we learned to reason poorly with accurate data.

How we learned to reason poorly with accurate data.

The United Nations Is Going Broke Too often, the UN’s valuable field work is overshadowed by cynical political posturing. As a result, collecting annual dues from member states has become more difficult.

Too often, the UN’s valuable field work is overshadowed by cynical political posturing. As a result, collecting annual dues from member states has become more difficult.

Iran’s Risky Gamble The war with Iran is reshaping the entire Middle East from the Gulf States to Lebanon with surprising speed.

The war with Iran is reshaping the entire Middle East from the Gulf States to Lebanon with surprising speed.

Out on the Wily, Windy Moors... Emerald Fennell’s misbegotten adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’ destroys the very structure of Emily Brontë’s classic story.

Emerald Fennell’s misbegotten adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’ destroys the very structure of Emily Brontë’s classic story.

Letters to the Editor Friday 27 February – Friday 6 March

Friday 27 February – Friday 6 March

Musk Is Enticed by the Lunar Siren Elon Musk should remain focused on Mars; diverting to the Moon would be a mistake.

Elon Musk should remain focused on Mars; diverting to the Moon would be a mistake.

Collision with Reality The Supreme Court has just invalidated Trump’s tariff agenda. But the economics were already doing that.

The Supreme Court has just invalidated Trump’s tariff agenda. But the economics were already doing that.

Melania at the Mic The first lady’s surreal act of geopolitical theatre did little to explain how the ongoing US–Israeli military campaign against Iran’s brutal theocrats will make the world safer.

The first lady’s surreal act of geopolitical theatre did little to explain how the ongoing US–Israeli military campaign against Iran’s brutal theocrats will make the world safer.

Erasing the Word “Woman” The desexing of language in women’s health research and care is a story of the marginalisation of science, cultural imperialism, and abuse of power.

The desexing of language in women’s
health research and care is a story of
the marginalisation of science, cultural imperialism, and abuse of power.

Erasing the Word “Woman” The desexing of language in women’s health research and care is a story of the marginalisation of science, cultural imperialism, and abuse of power.

The desexing of language in women’s
health research and care is a story of
the marginalisation of science, cultural imperialism, and abuse of power.

Arrest and Moral Pageantry Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Mick Jagger, and the theatre of degradation.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Mick Jagger, and the theatre of degradation.

A Justified Assassination In this week’s column, I reflect on the death of Ayatollah Khamenei—and why it may be a moment for cautious celebration.

In this week’s column, I reflect on the death of Ayatollah Khamenei—and why it may be a moment for cautious celebration.

The End of Strategic Ambiguity The Islamic Republic’s assault on the Gulf will forge the new Middle East.

The Islamic Republic’s assault on the Gulf will forge the new Middle East.

Toppling a Tyrant The assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei has opened a narrow window for regime change in Tehran.

The assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei has opened a narrow window for regime change in Tehran.

Power Beyond Realpolitik In geopolitics, moral culture shapes whether influence is experienced as leadership or domination, cooperation or coercion.

In geopolitics, moral culture shapes whether influence is experienced as leadership or domination, cooperation or coercion.

Power Beyond Realpolitik In geopolitics, moral culture shapes whether influence is experienced as leadership or domination, cooperation or coercion.

In geopolitics, moral culture shapes whether influence is experienced as leadership or domination, cooperation or coercion.

An Hour of Reckoning Iran has never been weaker and America has never been more poorly led.

Iran has never been weaker and America has never been more poorly led.

Podcast #326: Catching a Serial Killer Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Maureen Callaghan about her book American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century.

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Maureen Callaghan about her book American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century.

After Trump’s Iran Decision The real dilemma is not between war and negotiation. It is between episodic action and sustained architecture.

The real dilemma is not between war and negotiation. It is between episodic action and sustained architecture.

Islamism: Shooting the Messenger The British establishment tends to deflect attention from the dangers of Islamism by attempting to silence those who point them out.

The British establishment tends to deflect attention from the dangers of Islamism by attempting to silence those who point them out.

Islamism: Shooting the Messenger The British establishment tends to deflect attention from the dangers of Islamism by attempting to silence those who point them out.

The British establishment tends to deflect attention from the dangers of Islamism by attempting to silence those who point them out.

The End of Australian Exceptionalism The surge in support for Australia’s populist right-wing party One Nation suggests that immigration restrictionism has become increasingly popular with voters: a political trajectory that echoes that of many other Western nations. 

The surge in support for Australia’s populist right-wing party One Nation suggests that immigration restrictionism has become increasingly popular with voters: a political trajectory that echoes that of many other Western nations. 

Ezra Klein’s Feeble Liberalism Liberals must act aggressively to uphold the values of free society.

Liberals must act aggressively to uphold the values of free society.

Trump’s Iranian Dilemma President Donald Trump must choose between a military strike on Iran, whose consequences no one can predict, and a deal that would leave the Islamic Republic still able to attack its own citizens, menace Israel, and export terrorism worldwide.

President Donald Trump must choose between a military strike on Iran, whose consequences no one can predict, and a deal that would leave the Islamic Republic still able to attack its own citizens, menace Israel, and export terrorism worldwide.

Podcast #325: Why We Need to Talk About Transgender School Shooters Jonathan Kay speaks with journalist Adam Zivo about the 10 February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia—a mass murder perpetrated by a trans-identified male gunman who was initially identified by police and journalists as a woman.

Jonathan Kay speaks with journalist Adam Zivo about the 10 February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia—a mass murder perpetrated by a trans-identified male gunman who was initially identified by police and journalists as a woman.

Nine Intellectual Virtues Either universities appoint and promote professors who display and disseminate intellectual vices, or they reward those who exemplify and cultivate intellectual virtues.

Either universities appoint and promote professors who display and disseminate intellectual vices, or they reward those who exemplify and cultivate intellectual virtues.

The Cost of Indifference The sad and curious case of the chronic fatigue syndrome. 

The sad and curious case of the chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Bertrand Russell’s Cancellation and the Ongoing Battle Over Campus Speech How religious conservatives cancelled philosopher Bertrand Russell in 1940, sparking academic freedom debates that echo today.

How religious conservatives cancelled philosopher Bertrand Russell in 1940, sparking academic freedom debates that echo today.

The Gender Identity Debate A selection of Quillette essays and interviews examining the cultural, scientific, and legal dimensions of gender identity.

A selection of Quillette essays and interviews examining the cultural, scientific, and legal dimensions of gender identity.