Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Healthcare Policy

Iran's Drug War: How the Islamic Republic Masters Chaos with Contradiction

Drugs Politics: Managing Disorder in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Maziyar Ghiabi

Iran has one of the highest addiction rates in the world, yet it runs one of the most progressive harm reduction programs—offering free methadone and needle exchanges in prisons. How does a conservative Islamic state justify such a liberal policy? This video dives into the hidden logic of Iran's drug politics, revealing how the government uses 'managed disorder' as a tool of governance. From the 1955 ban that created heroin to the 2005 decriminalization of addiction, and the rise of methamphetamine in the 2010s, we explore the surprising flexibility of a regime often seen as rigid. Based on Maziyar Ghiabi's groundbreaking book *Drugs Politics: Managing Disorder in the Islamic Republic of Iran*, we uncover how the Expediency Council bypasses religious law to prioritize public health, how NGOs act as state proxies in grassroots authoritarianism, and why Iran's approach mirrors Western security states more than you'd expect. Watch to understand the art of ruling through crisis—and why Iran's drug war is a mirror for global governance.