Kian Tajbaksh
Iranian-born political scientist and academic who has worked on democratization and civil-society projects, was imprisoned in Iran for his reform work, and teaches at Columbia and NYU.
Top 3 podcasts with Kian Tajbaksh
Ranked by the Snipd community
14 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 26min
Can Iranians Rise Up? He Already Tried
Kian Tajbakhsh, Iranian-born political scientist who survived imprisonment and works on democratization, reflects on Iran's reform struggles. He recounts return-to-reform efforts in the 1990s, his 2007 arrest and interrogation, and how the regime pushed back. He discusses internet blackouts, fear versus anger among protesters, and why external strikes alone cannot produce democratic change.
Mar 26, 2026 • 47min
What to Know About U.S.-Iran Negotiations
William Christou, Beirut-based Middle East reporter for The Guardian, and Kian Tajbakhsh, Iranian-American scholar and former political prisoner, discuss U.S.-Iran negotiation dynamics. They compare divergent ceasefire plans. They explore Iran’s internal divisions and regional strategies. They talk about Gulf states’ aims and the humanitarian toll in Lebanon.
Mar 4, 2026 • 34min
Why regime change in Iran isn't so simple
Fatima Jamalpour, an Iranian journalist in exile who covers protests and human rights. Kian Tajbaksh, an international relations professor and former political prisoner who worked on civic projects in Iran. They discuss recent strikes, Iran’s deep security and intelligence infrastructure, how leadership losses may not collapse the system, and the limits of external military pressure.
