M?NA2505 – Iran in the World: Politics, Society, Praxis
Course content
This course will directly address the complex nature of the politics and society of contemporary Iran to gain an oversight of its dynamic, internal dimensions and how they link with the country’s regional and extra-regional relations.
Covering a range of approaches from Politics, Sociology, Comparative Politics, Visual Arts, and Anthropology, among others, "Iran in the World" addresses the evolving positions of modern Iran through weekly thematic discussions on its dynamics pertaining to politics, economy, identity, culture, religion, and security.
Engaging interdisciplinary scholarship, readings will highlight the tensions between state and civil society and the influence and involvement of regional politics and global networks, starting with the Qajar dynasty in the 19th century to its present status as an Islamic Republic. Iran will be framed as a vibrant country with rich and interrelated historical, political, cultural, and religious contexts.
We will examine the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1925; the nationalization of oil by nationalist reformer Mossadeq; the development of the heterogeneous opposition movement against the Pahlavi regime; the occurrence of the "Islamic" Revolution of 1979; and finally, its more than four-decade-long transformation into a post-revolutionary political system and regional power.
Moreover, we will attend to themes highlighting the institutional structure of the state, focusing on the role of Euro-American and regional powers in its formation and economic development. Discussions will also heavily feature the 1979 Revolution’s impact on state, society, and political ideas and the ways in which scholars and activists have sought to understand and interpret modern Iranian history.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you will be able to:?
know and understand the key players (local, regional, and global) and their motivations in the formation of the modern Iranian state.
evaluate the significance of reformist and revolutionary elements in light of social and economic changes in Iran.
be familiarized with domestic debates and theoretical positions internal to the Iranian sociopolitical landscape.
examine, in a wider context, the impact of the 1979 Revolution on social forces in Iran and the rise of political Islam in the Middle East.
address open questions in the relationship between the state and civil society from many historical and theoretical viewpoints.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
One of the?M?NA-courses at 1000 level?(for instance M?NA1000 – Midt?stens stat og politikk, M?NA1100 or M?NA1505 – Midt?stens historie
Courses in History or Political Science might compensate for lack of area?studies.
A good working knowledge of academic English is strongly recommended.
Teaching
The course is taught through a?seminar format?organised as 11 classes of 2 hours a week throughout the semester.
Each?class will include student presentations by 2-4 students who act as discussion leaders. Presentations will be assigned during Class 1 and 2. They will commence in Class 3. Class attendance and participation are strongly emphasized.
In some cases, guest lecturers will be invited to offer their unique perspectives on the themes mentioned above.
?
Compulsory activity:
Compulsory attendance: You must attend to at least 8 out of 11 seminars.
Written assignments: You must complete three individually written assignments.?
Oral presentation: You must complete one presentation held in class.
Each written assignment will be provided with commentaries after the first submission, in order for the student to improve it. The students will have time to edit all three papers, and the?final version of these will?represent the final portfolio.
More information about the three assignments, the presentation and the deadlines will be given during class and in Canvas. You must submit the assignments within the given deadlines, and you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements for the compulsory activities.
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Approval of the compulsory?written assignments are?only valid for the current semester. If you retake the course, you must submit new drafts in the semester in which you are taking the exam.?
Approved compulsory attendance and oral presentations are valid for the 2 following semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course udergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.?
?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
Access to teaching?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.?
Examination
Portfolio exam
The portfolio assignment is the final version of the three mandatory individually written assignments.?The assignment should consist of 9-10 pages. One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count.
?
Detailed information regarding the portfolio exam will be announced on Canvas.?
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are ill when submitting a home exam/term paper/portfolio exam or have another valid reason for not taking an exam, you can apply for a postponed submission deadline.?
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.