The primary duty of a politician is to propose, vote on and enact laws and policies that will determine how a government functions. Examples of politicians include members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, state legislators, city councilors, governors and mayors. For analysts of Iranian foreign policy and communication strategy, Ashna demonstrates how uses “soft power,” cultural diplomacy, and communications thinking (not just missiles or nuclear programs) as part of its toolbox. He also exemplifies the interplay between academia and statecraft in —how thinkers become policymakers and vice versa.
His career arc provides insight into the Rouhani era (2013-2021) and how that administration sought to project a more open, communicative profile for—though with internal constraints. For students of media, communication, and politics, Ashna’s combination of work in radio, academia, strategic research and advisory roles is a useful case of a multi-faceted career. Politicians play an important role in local, state and federal levels of public service. From creating and implementing laws to establishing policies that govern society, politicians can greatly impact how the government is run.
