
About this episode
The episode explores the relationship between Persian poetry and political legitimacy among leaders in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
How poetry is used by Persian speaking leaders to build legitimacy and shape the political narrative. Across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, millions share a language - and a passion for poetry. But with its abundance of lovers and wine, Persian poetry sits uneasily with Iran’s theocratic leaders. We explore their complicated relationship with this facet of Persian identity, and how they occasionally turn to verse to secure popular appeal. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
People in this episode
Hosts: Krassi Ivanova Twigg, Kriszta Satori
Topics covered
- Persian poetry
- politics
- cultural identity
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- Tajikistan
Keywords
- Persian poetry
- politics
- Iran
- cultural narrative
- legitimacy
- theocracy
- Afghanistan
- Tajikistan
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan
More episodes of The Global Jigsaw
- Caucasus: Armenia’s new chapter · May 28, 2026 · 41 min
- Russia’s 'nyet' to the internet · May 7, 2026 · 36 min
- The battle for Hungary · April 8, 2026 · 41 min
- Iran's media at war · March 19, 2026 · 36 min
- The women of IS: Part three · March 12, 2026 · 31 min
- The women of IS: Part two · March 5, 2026 · 30 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Global Jigsaw podcast page.