Why We Fight
Why We Fight
Podcast Description
A 'Dictators v Democrats' program. Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues. From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault. But, there are those who resist. In 'Why We Fight' we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that's everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians. We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on the defense of democracy against authoritarian regimes, highlighting personal accounts of resistance with episodes featuring topics like activism in Ukraine, the role of religious leaders in democratic movements, and the impact of populism on political systems, exemplified by the episode with Sheikh Said Ismagilov discussing his experiences in battle and faith.

A ‘Dictators v Democrats’ program https://tamullis.substack.com/
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Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues.
From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault.
But, there are those who resist.
In ‘Why We Fight’ we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that’s everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians.
We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.
In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We speak with Iranian human rights activist Zolal Habibi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
Born into a family shaped by repression Habibi has spent her life advocating for a democratic alternative to the Islamic Republic.
Amongst the backdrop of America and Israel's war on Iran
They discuss:
- The reality of resistance inside Iran
- Why repeated uprisings haven’t yet toppled the regime
- The role of women at the forefront of protest movements
- The controversy and vision behind the NCRI
- The lack of nuance among Western commentators
- Why she argues the solution is “neither war nor appeasement”
And ultimately, what a free Iran could look like — and whether it’s closer than we think.

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