J-TERM JANUARY 2017

ACS-AD 207JX
NYU-Abu Dhabi

HISTORY OF MODERN IRAN

Credit Hours (4)
Sun-Thurs 9am-12pm, and occasionally in the afternoons
Classroom:

Dr. Janet Afary, Guest Lecturer

EMAIL: janet.afary@nyu.edu
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS: TBD

GAF:
GAF EMAIL:

Course Description

This course will cover major turning points in modern Iran in the last century.
Throughout, we will be focusing on religious, class, ethnic, and gender cleavages.
Week I will cover late nineteenth-century religious, social, and cultural practices.
Week II will explore the 1906 Constitutional Revolution, the role of imperialist
powers and politics of oil in the Pahlavi period (1925-1978). In Week III, we
examine some of the reasons for the emergence of Islamism and the 1979 Islamic
Revolution. Next we focus on how in the last two decades many leftist Islamists
gravitated towards a human rights discourse and declared themselves Muslim
Reformists. Here we examine debates over democratization and human rights,
gender/sexuality, and religious/ethnic diversity in contemporary Iran. There are no
prerequisites for this class. Students will also be attending a conference on the
“History of Family and Marriage in the Pre-Islamic and Early Islamic Middle East,”
which will be held on campus.

Intended Learning Outcomes of the Course

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

 Gain a basic understanding of Shi’i Islamic practices

 Understand discussions of current political events related to Iran
 Critically analyze reasons for the rise of Islamism in Iran and the Middle
East
 Recognize the nature of gendered politics in Iran and elsewhere
 Reflect upon multiple readings and interpretations of rituals and cultural

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 symbols in different historical periods
 Distinguish pre-modern notions of justice from modern concepts of human
rights

Teaching and Learning Methodologies

Starting in the second half of the second week, class will include a combination of
lectures and student presentations. Students will be assigned to lead the discussion
portion of the class and to prepare a handout or power point for class. Everyone is
also expected to do the assigned readings and come up with a list of potential
discussion and exam questions for class. There will be two exams, covering the
materials we read in the first two weeks of class, and a reflective 5-page essay that
will be due on the last day of class.

Required Texts

Nikki R. Keddie. Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution. New Haven: Yale
University Press. Latest edition.

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. Vols. 1 & II. Pantheon Books. Latest Edition.

These addition readings are posted on NYUAD’s website:

Afary, J. “Formal Marriage,” and “Slave Concubinage, Temporary Marriage, and

Harem Wives” in Sexual Politics in Modern Iran (Cambridge UP, 2009).

Afary, J. “Social Democracy and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution of 1906-11,”

in A Century of Revolution: Social Movements in Iran, ed. John Foran, 21-43.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1994.

Afary, J. “On the Origins of Feminism in Early Twentieth-Century Iran,” Journal of

Women’s History 1.2 (1989): 65-87.

Afary, J. “Foundation for Religious Reform in the First Pahlavi Era” Iran Nameh 1: 30 (Fall
2015): 64-87.

Afary, J & John Perry. “Dehkhoda: Literary Accomplishments and Religious Reforms of
Sur-e Esrafil” Iran Nameh 2: 1 (Spring 2016): 6-27.

Al-Ahmad, Jalal Gharbzadegi [Weststruckness]. Lexington, KY: Mazda Press

(1962/1982), vii-xviii, 3-186.

Behrooz, M. "The Iranian Revolution and the Legacy of the Guerilla Movement," in
Reformers and Revolutionaries in Modern Iran: New Perspectives on the

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 Iranian Left. ed. S. Cronin. New York: Routledge, 2004.

Chehabi, H. E. "Staging the Emperor's New Clothes: Dress Codes and Nation-
Building under Reza Shah." Iranian Studies 26.3-4 (1993): 209-229.

Cottam, R. “Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Iran and Dr Muhammad

Musaddiq," in Musaddiq, Iranian Nationalism, and Oil. ed. J. A. Bill. and W.
R. Louis. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1988. pp. 23-46.

Halm, Heinz. Shi’ism. New York: Columbia UP, 2004.

Kadivar “Revisiting Women’s Rights in Islam” in Gender and Equality in Muslim

Family Law: Justice and Ethics in the Islamic Legal Tradition. Edited by
Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Kari Vogt, Lena Larsen and Christian Moe. London: I.B.
Tauris (2013), pp. 213-234

Kasravi, Ahmad. “On Islam.” Pp. 61-115 in On Islam and Shi’ism. Translated by M.
R. Ghanoonparvar. Costa Mesa: Mazda Publishers, 1990.

Rodinson, Maxime. “Critique of Foucault on Iran,” in Afary and Anderson, Foucault

and the Iranian Revolution: Gender and the Seductions of Islamism.
University of Chicago Press, 2005, 267–77.

Sahim, H. "Clothing and Makeup," in Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews.

ed. H. Sarshar. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2002. pp. 175-
196.

Shariati, Ali. “A Discussion of Shahadat” (1970) in Jihad and Shahadat: Struggle

and Martyrdom in Islam, edited by Mehdi Abedi and Gary Legenhausen.
Houston, TX: The Institute for Research and Islamic Studies, (1986), pp. 230-
243

Soroush, A. “Reason, Freedom, and Democracy in Islam,” in The New Voices of

Islam: Rethinking Politics and Modernity—A Reader. Edited by Isabella
Steer and Mehran Kamrava. London: I.B. Tauris (2009), pp. 243-261.

Important Dates
Class Begins: Wednesday January 4
First Exam: Monday January 9
Visit to Dubai: Tuesday January 10
Second Exam: Monday January 16
Essays Due: January 19 @ 3:00 pm

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES

Each student will volunteer for one presentation. The student will prepare a short
summary of the assigned text and prepare 4 questions for class discussion and the
exam. These handouts and/or power points will be shared with the class. A portion
of your grade will be based on your performance in your presentation. Other details
about exams will be discussed in class.

Two exams (30 % each) 60%

Essay 20%
Class presentation & participation 20%

Total 100%

Attendance Policy
Daily preparedness and participation in discussion is mandatory. More than two
(2) excused, or unexcused, absences may bring your grade down automatically by
one letter grade. Regular attendance may enhance your final grade in some cases.

Out of Class Assignment: Visit to Dubai, afternoon of January 10

Schedule of Classes

WEEK I

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 4 (class will meet at 12:00 noon that morning and end
at 3:00 pm)

Lecture: Islam and Shi’ism

Please note that we will meet at noon so you have time to read the assigned text
ahead of time

Introduction to Course & Assignments

Readings: Halm, “Shi’ism,” 1-37 (website)

THURSDAY JANUARY 5
Lecture: Society and Culture in the Qajar Era I

Readings:
Keddie, “Islam and Society,” in Modern Iran, 3-21
Afary, “Formal Marriage” Sexual Politics in Modern Iran (website)

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SATURDAY JANUARY 7
Lecture: Society and Culture in the Qajar Era II

Readings:
Keddie, “Foundations of 19th-Century Iran,” Modern Iran, 22-36

Afary, “Slave Concubinage, Temporary Marriage, and Harem Wives,” pp. 19-
78 in Sexual Politics in Modern Iran (Columbia UP, 2009) (website)

Afary, “From Dependency to Resistance” in Afary, The Iranian Constitutional

Revolution. N.Y.: Columbia UP, 1996, pp. 17-36

WEEK II

SUNDAY JANUARY 8: Lecture: The Constitutional Revolution & the First

World War (1906-1921)

Readings:
Keddie, “Protest and Revolution, “ 58-72.

Afary, J. “Social Democracy and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution of

1906-11,” in A Century of Revolution: Social Movements in Iran, ed. John
Foran, 21-43. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1994.

Afary, J. “On the Origins of Feminism in Early Twentieth-Century Iran,”

Journal of Women’s History 1.2 (1989): 65-87.

Afary, J & John Perry. “Dehkhoda: Literary Accomplishments and Religious

Reforms of Sur-e Esrafil” Iran Nameh 2: 1 (Spring 2016): 6-27.

MONDAY: JANUARY 9: FIRST EXAM

AFTER EXAM PLEASE ATTEND THE CONFERENCE (Time and Place

TBA)
ALSO, READ THE FOLLOWING:

Readings:
Keddie, Modern Iran, chapter 5.

Readings for Discussion:

Chehabi, H. E. "Staging the Emperor's New Clothes: Dress Codes and
Nation-Building under Reza Shah." Iranian Studies 26.3-4 (1993): 209-229.

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 Sahim, H. "Clothing and Makeup," in Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian
Jews. ed. H. Sarshar. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2002. pp.

TUESDAY JANUARY 10: ATTEND THE CONFERENCE (Time & Place TBA)

AFTERNOON: TRIP TO DUBAI

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 11

Lecture at 2:00 pm: Reza Shah Pahlavi and His Social Policies (1921-1941).
Readings:

Afary, J. “Foundation for Religious Reform in the First Pahlavi Era” Iran Nameh 1:
30 (Fall 2015): 64-87.
Kasravi, A. “On Islam.”

THURSDAY JANUARY 12
Lecture: Mosaddeq and the Politics of Oil (1941-1953).

Reading: Keddie, “The Oil Crisis and Mosaddeq,” 123-131.

Readings for Discussion:

Cottam, R. “Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Iran and Dr Muhammad
Musaddiq," in Musaddiq, Iranian Nationalism, and Oil. ed. J. A. Bill. and W.
R. Louis. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1988. pp. 23-46.

WEEK III

SUNDAY JANUARY 15

Lecture: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1953-1978)

Readings: Keddie, Modern Iran, chapter 7.

Readings for Discussion:

Behrooz, M. "The Iranian Revolution and the Legacy of the Guerilla
Movement," in Reformers and Revolutionaries in Modern Iran: New
Perspectives on the Iranian Left. ed. S. Cronin. New York: Routledge, 2004.

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MONDAY January 16

SECOND EXAM: 9-10:30

LECTURE: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Lecture: The Making of the Iranian

Revolution

Reading: Keddie, Modern Iran, Chapter 8. Read only pp: 188-213

Reading for Discussion:

Al-Ahmad, Jalal Gharbzadegi [Weststruckness]. Lexington, KY: Mazda Press
(1962/1982), vii-xviii, 3-186 (4P). Read only the following chapters: 1, 4, 5, 7,
9, 10, 11

Shariati, Ali. “Shahadat” and “A Discussion of Shahadat” (1970) in Jihad

and Shahadat: Struggle and Martyrdom in Islam, edited by Mehdi Abedi and
Gary Legenhausen. Houston, TX: The Institute for Research and Islamic
Studies, (1986), Read only pp 230-243.

TUESDAY JANUARY 17

Lecture: The First Decade of the Islamic Revolution

Readings: Keddie, Modern Iran, Chapter 10

Reading for Discussion: Maxime Rodinson, “Critique of Foucault on Iran,” in Afary

& Anderson 2005, 267–77

Tuesday afternoon: Persepolis (film)

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18:

Lecture: The Reform Movement, Conservative Populism, and the

Discourse of Human Rights

Readings: Keddie, Modern Iran, Chapters 12

Reading for Discussion:

Soroush, A. “Reason, Freedom, and Democracy in Islam,” pp. 243-261

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 Kadivar “Revisiting Women’s Rights in Islam” in Gender and Equality in
Muslim Family Law, pp. 213-234

THURSDAY: JANUARY 19

Brief discussion of your paper 9-10:30am

Final draft due same day at 2pm