Prof. A. Ashraf V53.0545
Spring 2002 Wednesday 4:50-7:20
Course Syllabus
Scope and Objective of the Course:
The objective of this course is to provide an analysis of the trends and transformations in the political system and social structure of Iran in the 20th century. Beginning with a critical review of major perspectives on political authority, challenges of modernity in traditional communities, and dynamics of social movements, the course will examine the tension between state and society in contemporary Iran and the revolutionary coalition of different social forces in major political movements of the 20th century. Particular emphasis will be placed on the following topics: the historical roots of political Islam, Islamic fundamentalism in comparative perspective, the cultural roots and the socio-structural causes of the Iranian Revolution of 1977-79; economic, political, and cultural developments in Iran since the revolution and Iran’s recent Reform Movement. Also discussed will be the global impact of Iran’s Islamic Revolution and US-Iran relations since the revolution. The course will be concluded with an analysis of Iran’s relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan and her concerns in the current regional crisis.
Books for the Course:
Ashraf, A. & Banuazizi, A. Modern Iran: A Social History (forthcoming book, to be distributed in draft form as pdf files).
Sciolino, Elaine. Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran. New York: The Free Press, paperback, 2001 (available at NYU bookstore).
Course Requirements:
There will be two tests and a final examination, covering materials from both the readings and lectures. The two tests and the final will be non-cumulative, i.e., the second will cover the material since the first, and the final will cover the material since the second test. The contribution of the various requirements to the final grade will be as follows: The first and second tests count for 30 percent each, and the final will count for 40 percent of the final grade. Please note that this class meets only once a week, and therefore regular attendance in class is mandatory and your final grade will be subject to change in cases of excessive absenteeism.
Exam schedule:
First test: Wednesday, Feb. 27th
Second test: Wednesday, March 27th
Final exam: Wednesday, May 15th
TOPICS AND READINGS
I. INTRODUCTION
An introduction to the course and an overview of major political, social, and economic developments in 20th century Iran, from the Tobacco Rebellion of the late 19th century and the Constitutional Revolution of the early 20th century, to the formation of a central modern state under the Pahlavis (1921-78) and political movements of the 1940s-early 1950s to the White Revolution of the 1960s-70s followed by the Islamic Revolution of the late 1970s.
Required Readings
Ashraf & Banuazizi, "The Land the People" (will be emailed to you as a .pdf file)
Ashraf, A. “Iran” in the Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East, Macmillan, New York, 1996: 866-74.
II. Perspectives on Traditional authority, Modernity, and Social Movements
A critical review of the Weberian concept of patrimonial authority and problems of tradition and modernity in radical religious movements within world religions, and the question of the driving force of secular and religious rebellious movements.
Required Readings
Ashraf, A. “Pahlavi, Mohammad Reza,” in Encylcopedia of Modern Middle East, New York,
Macmillan, 1996: 1398-400.
Bill, J. and Springborg, R. “Patterns of Patrimonialism in the Middle East,” in Idem, Politics in the
Middle East, New York, 2000: 112-30.
Guerra, F. “The Paradoxes of Modernity,” in McInerny, R. ed., Modernity and Religion, Notre Dame, 1994: 19-29.
Skocpol, T. and J. Campbell, “Perspectives on Social Movements and Collective Action,” in Idem,
eds., American Society and Politics, N.Y., 1995: 284-87.
Suggested Readings
Jenkins, C. “Resource Mobilization Theory and the Study of Social Movements,” in Ann. Rev.
Sociol., 1983 527-53.
B. Lawrence, “The Making of a Construct: Modernism and Fundamentalism,” in Idem,
Defenders of God, New York, 1995, Chap. 1.
Tilley, C. “Does Modernization Breed Revolution?" in Comparative Politics, April 1973: 425-33.
III. THE 1890-92 Religious Rebellion and The 1905-1909
CONSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTION AND ITS AFTERMATH
An examination of the causes and consequences of the 1890-1892 Tobacco Rebellion and the 1905-1909 Constitutional Revolution and the role of bazaar-mosque alliance resisting any changes in its routine practices, the modernizing notables and emerging intelligentsia aspiring for a modern nation-state and constitutional government in the making of the above movements. Also discussed will be the impact of Anglo-Russian political and economic interests in Persia, their constant influence peddling, intrigues, and rivalry in the above movements and in developments, which occurred during the post-constitutional period and World War I.
Required Readings
Ashraf & Banuazizi, "From Revolt to Revolution, 1890-1909" (will be emailed to you as a .pdf file)
Ashraf, A. "Bazaar-Mosque Alliance: The Social Basis of Revolts and Revolutions," Politics, Culture, and Society," Vol. 1 (1988), 538-67.
Abrahamian, E. "The Causes of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran," International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 10 (1979): 381-414.
Suggested Readings
Algar, H. "The Oppositional Role of the Ulama in Twentieth-Century Iran," in N. R. Keddie, ed., Scholars, Saints, and Sufis. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press,
1972: 231-55.
Bayat, M. Iran’s First Revolution: Shi’ism and the Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1909. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
Lambton, A. K. S. "The Tobacco Regie: A Prelude to Revolution," and "The Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1905-6," in Idem, Qajar Persia. London: I. B. Taurus, 1987: 223-76 and 319-29.
IV. Modern State-Building In the Pahlavi Era (1921-78)
An analysis of political decay of the period of 1900-1920, which was followed by the 1921 coup d’état and the rise of Pahlavi dynasty and the formation of centralized modern state in Iran. Also discussed will be the political movements of 1941-53 when the country was occupied by Allied forces from 1941-45, followed by the Oil Nationalization Movement of 1950-53 and the coup d’état of 1953. Emphasis will be placed on political, economic, and societal changes, which occurred in the fabric of Iranian society and polity in the course of 1960s-70s White Revolution, which prepared the ground for the 1977-79 Revolution and the rise of an Islamic State in Iran.
Required Readings
Ashraf & Banuazizi, "Iran under the Pahlavis, 1921-1979" (will be emailed to you as a .pdf file)
Ashraf, A. “From the White Revolution to the Islamic Revolution,” in Iran After the Revolution: Crisis
of an Islamic State, S. Rahnema and S. Behdad eds., London, I. B. Tauris, 1995: 21-44.
Ghani, C. Iran and the Rise of Reza Shah: From Qajar Collapse to Pahlavi Power. London:
I.B. Tauris, 1998, selections.
Issawi, C. "The Iranian Economy 1925-1975: Fifty Years of Economic Development," in G. Lenczowski, ed., Iran under the Pahlavis. Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Institution Press, 1978: 129-66.
Suggested Readings
Banani, A. The Modernization of Iran, 1921-1941. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1961.
Wilber, D. Riza Shah Pahlavi. Hicksville, N. Y.: Exposition Press, 1975.
Upton, J. The History of Modern Iran, An Interpretation, Cambridge, Mass., 1965: 16-80.
V. Islamic Revolution 1: Religion and politics in Islam,
A historical overview
An overview of major trends in the relationship between state and religion in Islamic societies from the advent of Islam and the question of legitimacy of temporal authority in Sunni and Shiite Islam. A critical analysis of major ideological currents in Islam, including traditionalist and orthodox, populist, and liberal, militant fundamentalist and radical (leftist).
Required Readings
Lapidus, Ira. “Islam and Modernity,” in S. Eisenstadt, ed. Patterns of Modernity. Vol. II, London, 1987: 89-115.
Mortimer, E. Faith and Power in Islam, New York, 1982:1-56.
Sivan, E. Radical Islam, New Haven, second ed. 1990:1-15, 83-129.
Suggested Readings
Kepel, G. The Prophet and Pharaoh: Muslim Extremism in Contemporary Egypt. London,
1985: 211-21.
Mardin, S. “Religion and Politics in Modern Turkey,” in J. Piscatori, ed. Islam in the
Political Process. Cambridge, 1983: 138-59.
Rodinson, M. “Islam Resurgent?” in Gazelle Review, London, 1979: 1-17.
VI. Islamic Revolution 2: Islamic Fundamentalism
in Comparative Perspective
An examination of the response of fundamentalist movements towards modernity in order to restore God to the center of universe. The focus will be on reactivity and defensive mode of fundamentalist movements toward the process and consequences of secularization and modernization, i.e., the adaptive established religion, secular state and civil society in all fundamentalist movements and anti-imperialism of Islamic movements.
Required Readings:
Marty and Appleby, “The Fundamentals of Fundamentalism,” in The Glory and the Power,
Boston, 1992, chap.1.
Beinin, J. and Stork, J. “On the Modernity, Historical Specificity, and International Context of
Political Islam,” in Idem, Political Islam: Essays from Middle East Report, Berkeley,
1997., chap.1.
Kepel, G. “Religions in a Confused World,” and “Re-conquering the World,” in Idem,
The Revenge of God, 1994: 1-12 and 191-203.
Suggested Readings
Burke, E. III, “Islam and Social Movements: Methodological Reflections,” in Idem and I. Lapidus,
eds. Islam, Politics, and Social Movements. Berkeley, 1988: 17-35.
Misztal. and Shupe, “Making Sense of the Global revival of Fundamentalism,” in Idem, Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective, Westport, CT, 1992, chap. 1.
Almond, Sivan, and Appleby, “Fundamentalism, Genus and Species,” in Marty and Appleby, eds.,
Fundamentalisms Comprehended, Chicago, 1995, Vol. V, chap. 16.
VIi. Islamic Revolution 3: Iran’s 1977-79 REVOLUTION
A critical examination of major interpretive paradigms employed to explain the 1979 Revolution in Iran. The historical roots and cultural context of religious experience and modes of religious expression in the Persian Shiism. The state, society, and religious establishment in Iran since the mid-century, and the role of major social forces in the revolution. Also discussed will be the role of the Shah, Ayatollah Khomeini, and President Carter in the Revolution.
Required Readings
Ashraf & Banuazizi, "The Revolution of 1977-79" (pdf file)
Amuzegar, J. The Dynamics of the Iranian Revolution: The Pahlavi’s Triumph and Tragedy, Albany, 1991, part 5.
Keddie, N. “Iranian Revolutions in Comparative Perspective,” in E. Burke and I. Lapidus, Islam, Politic, and Social Movements, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1988: 298-313.
Suggested Readings
Akhavi, S. Religion and Politics in Contemporary Iran, Albany, SUNY Press, 1980.
Fischer, M. J. Iran: From religious dispute to revolution. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1980.
Kazemi, F. Poverty and Revolution in Iran. New York: New York University Press, 1980.
Schirazi, A. The Constitution of Iran: Politics and the State in the Islamic Republic. London: I.B. Tauris, 1997.
Shari’ati, A. On the Sociology of Islam, translated by H. Algar, Berkeley, 1979: 39-69.
Sick, G. All Fall Down: America’s Tragic Encounter with Iran. New York: Random House, 1985.
VIii. Islamic Revolution 4. Postrevolutionary Iran: 1980s-1990s
An examination of the formation of the Islamic state and the rise of a radical leftist faction in the course of the hostage crisis and Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, and the developments in the post Khomeini era of the 1990s towards a more pragmatic and conservative Islam. Also discussed will be the recent Reform Movement and Iran’s tortuous path towards ‘Islamic Liberalism.’
Required Readings
Ashraf & Banuazizi (two pdf files): "The Islamic Republic, 1979-1997" "Contemporary Iran: Reform and Reaction"
Ashraf, A. “Charisma, Theocracy, and Men of Power in Post-revolutionary Iran,” in M. Weiner and A. Banuazizi, eds., The Politics of Social Transformation in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1994: 101-55.
Ashraf and Banuazizi, “Iran’s Tortuous Path Towards ‘Islamic Liberalism,’” in International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, vol. 15, no. 2, 2001:237-56. Idem, “Guest Editors Introduction,” Special Issue on Iran, International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, vol. 15, no. 2, 2001: 233-36.
Suggested Readings
Afkhami, M. and Friedl, E. eds., In the Eye of the Storm: Women in Post-Revolutionary Iran. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1994.
Mir-Hosseini, Z. Islam and Gender: The Religious Debate in Contemporary Iran. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999.
Nowshirvani, V. F. and Clawson, P. “The State and Social Equity in Post-revolutionary Iran,” in M.
Weiner and A. Banuazizi, eds. The Politics of Social Transformation in Afghanistan, Iran, and
Pakistan. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1994.
Schirazi, A. The Constitution of Iran: Politics and the State in the Islamic Republic. London: I. B. Tauris, 1997.
IX. Islamic Revolution 5: Iran AND the Current Regional Crisis
An examination of impact of Iran’s Islamic revolution on Islamic movements in the Middle East, including Lebanese and Palestinian movements. Also discussed will be Iran’s relation with the West in general and with the United States in particular. Special emphasis will be placed on Iran’s relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan and her concerns in the current regional crisis.
Required Readings
Chubin, S. Iran’s National Security Policy: Capabilities, Intentions and Impact. Washington: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1994, selections.
Sick, G. "The United States and Iran: Truth and Consequences," Contention, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Winter 1996): 59-78.
Suggested Readings
Bill, J. A. The Eagle and the Lion: The Tragedy of American-Iranian Relations. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1988.
Hunter, S. T. Ch. 4 (“Foreign Relations: Continuity and Change”) in Iran after Khomeini. New York: Praeger, 1992: 101-138.
Esposito, J. L. ed. The Iranian Revolution: Its Global Impact. Miami: Florida International University Press, 1990.