LaDotta Masterclasses
Iran Stories — Iran's Defence and Foreign Policy explained
NAM, the Global Majority and the quiet in-the-shadows organising of decolonisation
Reality Check: Kant and the very real testing of his theory
Masterclasses offered by LaDotta
Masterclasses are deep-dives into particular subjects, issues, events or actors. Some of these masterclasses will be prompted by what is presently happening, or be a response to a general lack of knowledge in the reporting on a conflict, a peace process or an actor. A masterclass can also be requested by LaDotta Community members.
Some of the masterclasses concern questions of general importance from a pro-peace perspective and will therefore be available free of charge. The first LaDotta Masterclass — on Iran's foreign and defence politics — is deemed of such importance. Knowledge about Iran is exceptionally wanting and at the present time this lack of insight and understanding is potentially dangerous not only to people and states involved in the conflicts in West Asia but to peace and stability globally.
Iran Stories — Iran's Defence and Foreign Policy explained
There is too much fantasy and too little reality involved in journalistic interpretations and policy decisions regarding Iran. This lack of understanding is not only regrettable — it is dangerous to all of us. Likewise, realising the potential for peace involved in recognising the power of decolonising our minds through the Iranian example are immense, particularly as the world is currently shifting from a western dominated to a multipolar and decolonising system.
This masterclass helps disentangle the major misunderstandings and misreadings regarding the defence and foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the resistance discourse and practices it is based in.
NAM, the Global Majority and the quiet in-the-shadows organising of decolonisation
The Non-Aligned Movement is at the roots of the tectonic shifts we are currently witnessing in the interstate system. Never heard of it? Well, then it's time to plug this Masterclass into your ears and settle in for some backgrounding on what made BRICS+ happen, why the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Belt and Road Initiative suddenly seems to pop right out of the blue like a witch on a broomstick.
Reality Check: Kant and the very real testing of his theory
Kant's paper on perpetual peace was laughed into oblivion when it was published in the late 1700s, only to be dusted off in the aftermath of the first 'great' war among the European empires. It came to form the basis of the League of Nations, which after the second war among the crumbling European empires moored into the United Nations. One of Kant's main arguments was that states bound up in trade in essential goods would be much less prone to war, because the cost to the state and society would be too great. The question we ask in this masterclass is: was he right?
We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.
M. K. Gandhi (from Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule, chapter 18 on education
Mini-course
Build Your Own Media Network
LaDotta offers hands-on practical courses for pro-peace personal and professional transformation of everyday life from frustrated consumer to educated citizen helping you become the change you want to happen.
This course stays true to that idea, and aims at helping you begin your journey from frustrated news consumer to an active news analyst creating your own network of reliable news, analyses, facts and information.
However, LaDotta also offers academic level courses in peace theory, peace journalism, resistance, post- and decolonial theory, social science methodology, from archaeology & genealogy, to narrative analysis and content analysis.
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