Politics in Modern Iran Stanford University Winter 2014 Abbas Milani amilani@stanford.edu Office hours: W.

12:30-2:00, Office Phone: (650)721-4052 Office: 210 Encina Hall West For special appointments, please contact, Ms. Pasang Sherpa psherpa@stanford.edu 6507240939 Modern Iran has been a smithy for a vast array of political movements, ideologies, and types of states. Movements including Nationalism, Constitutionalism, Marxism, Islamic Fundamentalism, Social Democracy, Islamic Liberalism, Authoritarian Modernization and even pseudo-totalitarianism have emerged over the last century. In forms of government, Oriental despotism, Authoritarianism, Islamic theocracy, and liberal democracy have been tried. All of these varieties, common in the West, have appeared in Iran in their local iteration, shaped by dictates of history and geography, the curse and purse of oil, proximity to the once powerful Soviet Union, and finally by the influence of Islamic culture, particularly Shiism. The goal of this seminar is to begin discovering the complexities of Iranian society and politics. Because in todays Iran an important part of politics are played out in the cultural and aesthetic domain, students will be asked to read a brief novella describing the plight and accomplishments of Iranian cultural activists. The students are asked to write a research paper, on a subject of their choice, but within the broad parameters of modern Iranian politics and culture. They are encouraged to use primary archival sources. They should submit to me before the end of the second week a brief, no more than two-page long, description of their paper before commencing their work. Each student will present to the seminar the results of their research. Each presentation is to last no more than fifteen minutes, allowing time for questions and queries. The last five meetings will be given partially to these presentations. I will be passing out a sign-up sheet. Papers are not due when the presentation is made, but on the last day the class meets (March 13). The heaviest load of readings are assigned for the earlier part of the quarter, allowing you more time to concentrate on your research in the last three weeks. Grades will be a function of the quality of the paper, the presentation and the quality of each students participation in the life of the seminar. In other words, your presence is appreciated, your absence noticed, and how much of the readings you are doing is hard to miss and an important part of your grade. The Iranian Studies Program sponsors a number of events this quarter. Some of them are relevant to our discussions. They are in the evenings. There is always a sign up sheet and students who attend can write their name. Participation in these programs is voluntary but will be considered as extra work. Milani, Abbas, The Shah (Palgrave, 2011), ISBN 9780230340381 Said Amir Arjomand, After Khomeini (Oxford, 2009), ISBN: 9780195391794 Lloyd Ridgeon, Religion and Politics in Modern Iran (IB Tauris, 2005), ISBN:9781845110727 Manouchehr Irani, King of the Benighted, Tr By Abbas Milani (Mage PublisherI, ISBN, 0934211442

Aside from these required books, there is a large collection of documents, all composed of archival material from the American and British archives, showing their respective embassys assessment of the domestic scene in Iran. The 1979 revolution was a serious intelligence failure of American and British agencies and these documents offer some hint about how the failure took place. The documents, now donated to the

Green Library, are organized in chronological order and students are expected to prepare for each seminar by reading the relevant documents. There are some required readings from my book, Eminent Persians (Syracuse University Press). The book is a heavy two-volume set, and thus I decided to spare you the agony of carrying them around. Copies of the book are available at the Reserve Desk. A few of my shorter articles will be available on Course Work. First and second Week (January 5, 112): Introduction to Iran: A geopolitical and historical survey; Theories about modern Iranian politics: From Asiatic despotism and sultanism to a Client state and divine rule; the question of modernity and its implications in Iran; four narratives of modernity; The Constitutional Revolution: 1905-1907, origins of modern political ideas in Iran; Origins of the Social Democratic and Communist movement and their role in modern politics; the First World War and its impact on Iranian politics; 1917 revolution and its impact; the Gilan Soviet Republic; the curse and grace of oil: Impact of oil on internal politics of Iran; impact of Russian culture and politics on Irans intellectual development; Rise of Reza Shah. (Please read Eminent Persians, Vol. 1, Purposes Mistook, and Calibans Curse; sections on Foroughi, Ali Asghar Hekmat; Shah, 1-88, and Religion and Politics, 1-71) Third and fourth Week (January19,26): Authoritarian modernization: 1925-1961: Nature of state, political parties, and elected institutions in the period; politics of Nomadic tribes; new role of women in Iranian society; Iranian army and Iranian politics; the democratic interlude; politics of oil; rise of Mossadeq and Iranian nationalism; rise of Pro-Soviet communist movement; Azerbaijan crisis; Mossadeq and the Nationalization movement; Ajax or national Resurrection; Qarani Affair. (Please read, in Eminent Persians,, sections on General Zahedi, Kashani, Qarani, Teymour Bakhtiyar, Roozbeh, Qashqai brothers; Shah, 89219;) Fifth Week (February5): Authoritarian Modernization: 1961-1979; the White Revolution and changes in the social fabric of society; Irans take-off and the Shahs eclectic paradigm of modernization; rise of Islamic radicalism; SOFA and its aftermath; Progressive Circle; Irans guided democracy, and oneparty-system; roots of revolution. (Please read, Eminent Persians, sections on Ayatollah Khomeini, Alam, Amini, Nasiri, Sabeti, Sharif-Emami, Ayatollah Shariat Madari, Shariati; Shah, 219-354;) Student Presentations Sixth Week (February 12): The roots of the revolution; stages of revolution in Iran; political ideas of Ayatollah Khomeni; the structure of power in the new Islamic constitution. Politics during the early years of the revolution: competing discourses on legitimacy and the consequences of their struggle; Rafsanjani and the Chinese Path, Hostage crisis, war with Iraq, (Please read; Shah, 354-430; After Khomeini,1-89; Religion and Politics, 139-279: )student presentations Seventh and Eighth Week (February 19, 26): Reform politics in Iran: Khatami presidency, 19972004); Recent trends and patterns; role of women in changing the Islamic Republic. The end of Reforms; Irans Nuclear Question? Prospects for the future: Democracy, civil society, and the role of Persian Diaspora: Recent trends and patterns; role of women in changing the Islamic Republic; After Khomeini, 90216; Irans; King of the Benighted (Entire book). Student Presentations Ninth Week (March 2): Reform politics and rise of Ahmadinejad; changing patters on power in the clerical structure; (Please read; my articles on Coursework or my website on Pious Populism, Irans Mandela?; Washington Quarterly, US Policy and the future of democracy in Iran; Letter to President Obama in Hoovers Caravan) Student Presentations:

Tenth Week (March 9): The failure of the Reform Movement? The Future of politics in Iran: (Several of my articles in New Republic and Washington Quarter will be made available on coursework.) Student Presentations; Papers are due