DeCal Course Syllabus – Iran: 30 Years of Revolution
Course Description
Iran 30 Years of Revolution serves as an introductory course on contemporary Iranian politics through examining the history of Iran over the past century and how events like the coup d’état against Dr. Mossadegh in 1953, and the near-decade long Iran-Iraq war have contributed to Iran’s current political atmosphere, both domestically and internationally. This course will also raise questions about issues that have brought Iran into the spotlight such as its nuclear program and the Shia’-Sunni divide.
Social issues like women’s, religious and gender rights will be addressed through examining Iran’s political structure and domestic policies. This decal also examines Iran’s role as a Great Shia Power in the Middle East and its growing influence in regional politics in regards to things suchas the current Iraq war and the para-military political group Hezbollah in Lebanon. No background on Iran or the Middle East is needed.
Documentaries, films, guest lecturers, and class discussions to convey and enhance the material will be utilized. The course will meet once a week for two hours.
Course Facilitator
Sammy Al-Shatti – s.alshatti@gmail.com
Course Requirements
Students will be required to attend every class meeting, submit a final paper, and respond to an online blog. With the use of power-point presentations, class will consist of organized units of lectures on topics of modern Iranian political history.
Readings:
The readings will be posted on the blog. Readings will be related to the lectures and will be posted after class.
Blog Participation:
Students will utilize the blog to post reading responses every other week. The blog will consist of reading related to the lectures in the form of news articles, videos, scholarly journals, as well as memoirs from major figures in Iranian political history.
Attendance:
You are allowed two absences without any prior notice to the facilitator. Any other absences will require prior instructor approval.
Grade Breakdown
Final Paper – 50%
Blog Participation/Response Paper – 25%
Attendance – 25%
NOTE: You must pass each portion of the class in order to receive a pass
grade in the class.
Course Schedule
Week 1 – Introduction to the Course.
Week 2 – Qajar Dynasty, Constitutional Revolution and Reza Shah
Week 3- The Coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh and CIA involvement
Week 4- The Shah: The White Revolution and SAVAK
Week 5 - The Islamic Revolution: The Rise of Ayatollah Khomeini.
Week 6- Development of Government Structure and the Iran-Iraq War
Week 7 – Religious Atmosphere in Iran: Religious Minorities and the
Sunni-Shia Divide.
Week 8 - The Cyclical Social Struggle: The Rise of Reformists.
Week 9– Persepolis
Week 10- The Era of Ultra-Conservatives and President Ahmadinejad
Week 11– Iran’s role in the Middle East: a new great power?
Week 12– Iran and the International Community: the Nuclear Controversy.
Week 13- The Green Revolution
Week 14- Marmulak
