Sunni vs Shia

To view this email as a web page, click [here.](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [undefined]( [Sunni vs Shia]( [Sunni vs Shia]( Top Picks What does Iran want? In this week's cover story, Michael Axworthy assesses the rise of the Islamic Republic and its ever more assertive presence in the Middle East. Though Axworthy concludes that Iran, and its powerful Revolutionary guard, are not seeking "dominance" of the region, he writes that "they are prepared to use ruthless methods to defend and preserve" their state - whether or beyond its borders. Plus: John Gray reviews Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker's new book Enlightenment Now , dismissing it as an "embarrassingly feeble" manual for "rattled rationalists". And Helen Lewis explains why Black Panther is smart and politically alert and has a border control system that would make Theresa May swoon. [SUBSCRIBE NOW]( - [Subscribe]( to New Statesman and receive a FREE book, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, worth £8.99 - Save up to 78% off the newsstand price, on insightful, award-winning journalism - Receive exclusive subscriber offers, discounts and priority tickets for New Statesman Events - Receive exclusive content as well as two weekly podcast - A risk-free subscription: cancel at any time Support independent journalism from world-class writers, today. Take a look at our other subscription offers, including digital bundles, [Sunni vs Shia]( [To unsubscribe, click here](