The FPA’s Must Reads (9/20-27)

The Iron Pipe of Swedish Neo-Fascism
By Daniel Strand
Vice

Once a political outlier, the Sweden Democrats have elevated themselves to be the third largest party in the country. Yet, given Sweden’s affluence and a lack of a promenant radical right-wing movement in the 20th century, the Sweden Dems xenophonic and nationalist agenda may seem out of place. Strand delves into the party’s history, how it’s tried to weave itself into the fabric of Swedish society, and the upswing of anti-immigrant sentiments in Europe.

Jailed in Iran: The Story of ex-Marine Amir Hekmati
By Azmat Khan
Al Jazeera America

Amir Hekmati, an Iranian-American and former Marine whose been imprisoned in Iran for over two years, arrived in Tehran on Aug. 29, 2011, only to disappear shortly thereafter. He was tried by an Iranian court and convicted of spying for the CIA. Khan looks into his family’s struggle to bring him home.

The Rise of the Rest of India
By Ruchir Sharma
Foreign Affairs

With India’s double-digit GDP growth dropping to five percent and talk of corruption, scandals and incompetence in the capital, India, on the surface, seems to be struggling. But as Sharma reminds us, “Things look bad in New Delhi, but the capital is not the whole of India.” Sharma explores the political and economic climate in other regions of the country and how New Delhi should approach the country’s newfound strongholds.

Letter from Kenya: Surviving Westgate
By James Verini
The New Yorker

Through the testamony of survivors from Nairobi’s recent Westgate Mall attack, Verini pieces together a concise and poignant story about the attack from a survivor’s perspective.

The New Terrorist Training Ground
By Yochi Dreazen
The Atlantic

As America has focused its counterterrorism efforts on the Middle East and South Asia, a new terrorist breeding ground has appeared. Even with the French intervention, now that AQIM — al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb — has managed to establish a foothold in northern Mali, more and more terrorist groups have started to move in.

Blogs:

Stopping terrorist attacks starts at home by Daniel Donovan
John Mearsheimer and Gary Sick on U.S.-Iran Relations by Arash Azizi
In Need of Moral Leadership for the Rights of Bahá’ís in Iran by Gissou Nia
It’s almost the same old story… by Tom Squitieri
Can Business Help Build International Harmony? by John Paluszek