What to Read in The Hindu Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

 

Editorial 1: ​​At a crossroads

Context

Iran needs to undertake reforms and renew its engagement with the international community.

Introduction

Iran is witnessing a renewed wave of unrest triggered by a deepening economic crisis, rapid currency collapse, and rising cost of living. What began as a localized strike has expanded into nationwide protests, exposing the fragile balance between economic distress, political rigidity, and external pressure confronting the Islamic Republic at a critical moment.

Trigger and Spread of Protests

Initial spark: A strike by shopkeepers in Tehran on December 28, protesting the sharp fall of the Iranian rial

Escalation: The strike snowballed into nationwide protests, the largest since the 2022–23 unrest

Historical parallel: Comparable in scale to protests after the custodial death of Mahsa Amini

State response:

Assurances on addressing traders’ economic grievances

Warnings of harsh action against “rioters”

Human cost: At least 12 deaths reported within a week as protests spread

Geopolitical Backdrop

Timing matters: Unrest comes six months after Iran survived a 12-day war with Israel

Foreign involvement claims heighten regime anxiety:

Mossad claimed its operatives were “in the field” with protesters (Dec 29)

Donald Trump warned the U.S. was “locked and loaded” if protesters were killed (Jan 2)

Perception problem: Rulers see protests as economic dissent plus externally fuelled instability

Economic Crisis at the Core

Inflation shock: Food inflation at 64% (October), second highest globally

Currency collapse: Rial down ~60% since the June war

Energy stress: Daily power outages

Oil exports: ~7% decline in 2025 compared to 2024 average

Official admission: President Masoud Pezeshkian said the government was “stuck” and couldn’t perform “miracles”

Key Economic Indicators

Indicator	Status	Implication
Food inflation	64%	Severe cost-of-living stress
Rial value	−60% since June	Loss of savings, import shock
Oil exports	−7% (2025)	Reduced state revenues
Electricity	Daily outages	Industrial & household disruption

Governance Constraints and Contradictions

Social easing: Some relaxation of morality police enforcement

Hard limits: Economy and national security remain tightly controlled

Repression loop:

Economic decline cause public anger

External threats cause greater repression

Repression cause deeper crisis

Role of External Pressure

Washington’s approach: Economic squeeze and threats

Domestic impact: Ordinary Iranians suffer, regime grows more paranoid

Policy alternative: Engage and empower Pezeshkian rather than escalating threats on Israel’s behalf

Why the Old Narrative Is Failing

Default blame: Crises attributed to foreign conspiracies

Structural reality: Shrinking opportunities and eroded freedoms

Societal shift: Religion and nationalism may no longer offset economic despair

What Needs to Change

Initiate genuine reforms

Tackle corruption

Restore economic opportunity

Re-engage with the world

Acknowledge public anger as structural, not merely external

Conclusion

The protests reflect not merely foreign interference but a structural crisis rooted in economic mismanagement, shrinking freedoms, and public disenchantment. Without meaningful reforms, efforts to curb corruption, and re-engagement with the world, reliance on repression, religion, and nationalism will prove insufficient, risking recurring instability and deeper erosion of state legitimacy.

 

Editorial 2: ​​Dangerous paradigm

Context

Trump has weakened established norms governing conduct on the global stage.

Introduction

The forcible abduction of a sitting head of state, carried out through unauthorised military action, marks a profound rupture in international norms. Under Donald Trump, U.S. foreign policy appears to be embracing neo-imperialist coercion, openly threatening sovereignty, multilateralism, and the rule-based global order, while signalling a readiness to reshape geopolitics through force and intimidation.

Unprecedented U.S. Military Action

Kidnapping and transfer of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to U.S. soil

Operation conducted without U.S. Congressional authorisation and without UN approval

Overnight strike on Caracas, reportedly involving artillery and special forces

Objective: To extract the Maduros to face drug trafficking and weapons charges, which Mr. Maduro denied

Expansionist Signals from Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a broader neo-imperialist posture

Explicit or implicit threats directed at Colombia, Greenland, Mexico, Cuba, and Iran

Remarks suggesting:

Regime pressure on Colombia, targeting President Gustavo Petro

A “national security need” to control Greenland

Possible military or coercive action against Mexico to combat drug cartels

Cuba’s vulnerability due to reduced Venezuelan oil support

Severe retaliation against Iran if protests were forcefully suppressed

Break from International Norms

Trump administration has consistently diluted global norms governing state conduct

Sharp departure from bipartisan U.S. foreign policy traditions

Open unauthorised intervention and regime-change tactics mark a new low in hemispheric politics

Disregard for international law, sovereignty, and multilateral institutions

The “Donroe Doctrine” and Its Risks

So-called “Donroe Doctrine” rooted less in democracy promotion and more in strategic resource capture, especially Venezuelan oil

Sets a dangerous precedent for other powers inclined toward unilateral military action

Risk of normalising force-based regime change, encouraging global instability

Global Domino Effect

Venezuela today, Ukraine yesterday, and potentially Taiwan tomorrow

Such a paradigm could trigger cross-border conflicts and major power confrontations

Autocrats elsewhere may feel emboldened to act aggressively under similar pretexts

Need for Collective Global Response

UN leadership and targeted states have voiced opposition

Effective deterrence requires collective resistance

India, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Latin America must speak in one voice

Unified action is essential to halt the spread of this destabilising doctrine and restore international restraint

Conclusion

If left unchecked, this dangerous precedent risks legitimising unilateral aggression, encouraging authoritarian adventurism, and accelerating global instability. Preventing the spread of this norm-breaking doctrine demands a collective international response, where major powers reaffirm international law, resist regime-change by force, and uphold the principle of sovereign equality in global affairs.