Spring 09 Syllabus

Course Description
This course serves as an introduction to modern Iranian politics in which no prior knowledge of Iran or the greater Middle East is required. It follows the events leading up to the Islamic Revolution and describes the outcomes that have spiraled into the headlines of today. Key topics of discussion include the coup d'etat against Prime Minister Mossadegh (1953), the rule of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Iranian Revolution (1979), the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), the Reform Movement, and Iran’s rise to regional superpower. Important current events to be covered will be Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s role in Iraq, and the Shia-Sunni divide in the Middle East. Documentaries, films, guest lectures, participation in the class blog, and class discussions are integral parts of this decal. Class will meet every Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Course Coordinator Amir Abadi - amirabadi@berkeley.edu

Course Requirements:

Readings
A reader comprised of short summaries and academic articles will offer the students a background to all the topics mentioned above. Specific sources for the reader are listed in the reading list. Additional readings may be handed out in class.

Final Paper
The final paper is a 3–5 page essay. Topics will be handed out two weeks prior to the final class meeting.

Blog Participation
You must submit a one paragraph response on the blog every four weeks during the course of the semester. Three blog postings are required to pass the course. You can only respond to the topics offered in each 4 week period (responses to topics that are from a prior 4 week period are encouraged but will not count for a grade). Your responses must be critical and engaging.

The blog can be found at http://iran-decal.blogspot.com.

Grading
Final Paper (50%), Blog Participation (25%), Attendance (25%)
NOTE: YOU MUST RECEIVE A SATISFACTORY GRADE IN ALL THREE COMPONENTS IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE. YOU CANNOT MISS MORE THAN ONE CLASS MEETING WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTOR’S PRIOR APPROVAL.

Schedule

Week 1: Introduction; overview of the course

Week 2: Iran 1850-1953; The Great Game, the Constitutional Revolution, and a period of ineffectiveness
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 1, 7-15
Yann, Richard. Shi’ite Islam pp. 1-14.
Abrahamian, Ervand. Iran Between the Revolutions pp. 50-101

Week 3: The coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh; documentary screening, The CIA and the Coup of 1953 in Iran
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 19-21
Roosevelt, Kermit. Countercoup. Forward, Ch.13.
Blum, William. Killing Hope. pp. 64-72.

Week 4: The Shah and the Iranian Revolution; documentary screening, Iran: A Revolution Betrayed
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 20-29
Pahlavi, Mohammad Reza. Answer to History. pp. 101-129, 175-179
Abrahamian, Ervand. Khomeinism. Ch. 1.

Week 5: The Iran-Iraq War
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 30-32 & 62-63
Hiro, Dilip. “The Iran-Iraq War,” from Iran and the Arab World, pp. 43-67

Week 6: Contemporary Iranian government structure: a quasi-democratic theocracy
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 46-49
Abrahamian, Ervand. Khomeinism. Epilogue. pp. 132-143
Ganji, Akbar. The Latter-Day Sultan. 45-66

Week 7: Spotlight on Human Rights in Iran; documentary screening, Divorce Iranian Style

Week 8: Rise and fall of the reformists
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 36-37
Khatami, Mohammad. Islam, Liberty, and Development. pp. 3-16. & 135-153 Amuzegar, Jahangir. "Khatami's Legacy: Dashed Hopes." Middle East Journal, Winter 2006
Parsi, Trita. Treacherous Alliance. Ch. 18

Week 9: Ahmadinejad and the rise of ultra-conservatives
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 37-38
Ahmadinejad's letter to Americans

Week 10: Iran: Middle Eastern Superpower?; documentary screening, Frontline: Showdown With Iran
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 66-81
Nasr, Vali. The Shia Revival. Ch. 8
Klein, Joe. “Nation: Iran” Time Magazine, December 17, 2007. pp. 32-36.
Baer, Robert. The Devil we Know. Ch. 2, Ch. 11

Week 11: Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West
۞ Reading due: Roraback, Amanda. Iran in a Nutshell. pp. 50-56
Timmerman, Kenneth. Countdown to Crisis. Ch.26
Ritter, Scott. Target Iran. Conclusion.

Week 12: Guest Lecture, topic of the lecture to be announced two weeks prior.
۞ Final paper topics handed out

Week 13: Final class meeting
۞ Final papers due