MVZ190 Modern and Contemporary Iran

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Patrik Girgle (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Tue 3. 3. to Fri 15. 5. Tue 10:00–11:40 P52
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 65 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/65, only registered: 0/65
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The goal of the course is to offer a comprehensive albeit brief image of Iran in its modern and current history. A chronological explanation of the country’s history with an even emphasis on the internal political development as well as the foreign policy and the position of the country in the international system of the 19th and 20th century will follow after the historical and theoretical introduction (lectures 1 and 2). Special attention will be devoted especially to the current situation in Iran (lectures 12, 13, 14) and its international implications.
Syllabus
  • 1) Introduction. The evolution of the geopolitical and civilization identity of Iran during the course of history; the formation of an exclusive national character within the historical events, the development of the imperial identity of the country, the continuity of historical traditions; 2) Shi’a Islam. Theories, formation and specifics. Political practice, significance for the Iranian national identity. 3) 19th century (1). The transformation of Iran from a medieval monarchy into a modern state; the modernization of the country, westernization attempts, the formation of the current ethnic and social character of the country; 4) 19th century (2). Iran in the “Great game” of the world powers; the diplomatic history of the country, the competing of Russia and Great Britain for political and economical influence; the confirmation of the geopolitical realities of the region; 5) Constitutional revolution and the transformation of the social and political reality of the country after the accession of the Pahlavi dynasty (1906-41). A new phase in the modernization of the country, nationalization of the Iranian public, finalization of the nation state; constitutional movement and the formation of politically active groups of population; the role of the spiritual representatives as leaders of the social upheaval against the usurpation of power by an autocratic monarchist regime; the confirmation of the independent status of the country on the international scene. 6) Iran after WWII; the new reality of the international system, the case of M. Mossadegh, orientation towards the USA; the impact of the Cold War on the foreign policy orientation of the country, development of relations with the USA 7) The peak period of the reign of M. Reza Pahlavi – internal revolution & power ambitions abroad; oil boom and its consequences for the country; an attempt for the radical modernization of the country and the mobilization of the public; the fall of the authoritative regime and its foreign policy. 8) Ayatollah Khomeini – person, works and context; the basics of Khomeini’s political theory; overall analysis of opposition movements across the Iranian society; evaluation of their effectiveness. 9) The Islam revolution – the reconstruction of the internal system and new challenges in foreign policy; the overthrowing of the regime, internal fight for power and the elimination of opposition; the adoption of a theocratic model of society; the construction of an Islamic republic, antagonistic positions in foreign policy, war with Iraq; 10) The change of the international system after the end of the Cold War; new geopolitical reality of the Caspian region and Middle Asia; development in the post-soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus and Afghanistan and their impact on Iran. 11) The policy of internal and external détente during the reign of Khomeini’s successors; the liberalization of relations in internal politics; specifics of the Iranian civil society in the 90s; revision of the foreign policy and the search for new partners in the international arena; the personality of president Mohammad Khatami. 12) The alteration of relations in the Near East after 9-11-2001; the war on terror; the assertive foreign policy of the USA; new security challenges for Iran linked to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq 13) The accession of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – neoconservative revolution and a new line of confrontation; foreign policy; the Iranian nuclear programme and a glimpse of the defense policy of the country; the security environment of the region; Iranian security priorities. 14) The current situation in the country; the position of the dissent; human resources; gender case study; economic problems and perspectives; the issue of the oil sources. Literature: 1) Compulsory literature for the entire course: Cvrkal, Z.: Írán. Stručná historie států. (Libri, Praha 2007) Gombár, E.: Dramatický půlměsíc. Sýrie, Libye a Írán v procesu transformace. (Karolinum, Praha 2001), str. 121-61. Kapucziňski, R.: Na dvoře šáha šáhů. (Praha 1981) Keddie, N., R.: Modern Iran. (London 2006) Schulze, R.: Dějiny islámského světa ve 20. století. (Atlantis, Brno 2007) 2) Literaturea for individual lectures: 1. , 2.: Kropáček, L.: Duchovní cesty islámu. (Vyšehrad, Praha 1993), str. 180-91, Keddie: str. 1-22. 3., 4.: Gombár, E.: Moderní dějiny islámských zemí. (Karolinum, Praha 1999), str. 179-88, 355-8; Kropáček, L.: Moderní islám. (Praha 1970), str. 100-9; Keddie, str. 22-57. 5.: Gombár (1999), str. 364-7, Gombár, E: Írán za vlády Rezy šáha Pahlavího, in: Historický obzor, 2001/7-8, str. 183-9, Keddie: str. 58-104. 6., 7.: Keddie: str. 105-70. 8.: Kropáček, L.: Islámský fundamentalismus. (Praha 1996), str. 185-91; Mendel, M. Islámská výzva. (Atlantis, Brno 1994), str. 205-26; Abrahamian, E.: Khomeinism. Essays on the Islamic Republic of Iran. (Berkley 1993); Khomeini, Imam: Islamic Government. Governace of the Jurist. (e-book), Keddie: str. 170-214. 9. : Kurzman, Ch.: The Unthinkable Revolutionin Iran. (Cambridge, Mass. 2004); Keddie: str. 214-84; Kepel, G.: Jihad. Expansion et déclin de lislamisme. (Paris 2003), str.172-220. 10., 11.: Langer, A.: Noví hráči v Kaspickém regionu, in: Mezinárodní politika, 5/2001, str. 6-10; Gombár, E.: Íránská zahraniční politika a president Chátamí, in: Mezinárodní politika 11/2000, str. 14-7; Brzezinski, Z.: Velká šachovnice. (Praha 1999); Souleimanov, E.: /1 Íránská politika na jižním Kavkaze, in: Mezinárodní vztahy, 3/2001, str. 59-71, /2/ Střední východ a Amerika, in: Mezinárodní politika 1/2003, str. 16-8; Horák, S.: Geopolitika Střední Asie, in:Mezinárodní politika 5/2001, str. 4-6; 12., 13., 14: Takeyh, R.: Hidden Iran. Paradox and Power in the Islamic Republic. (New York 2006); Keddie, str. 323-46; Katouzian, H., Shahidi, H. (ed.): Iran in the 21st Century. Politics, Economics& Conflic. (London 2008); Pollack, K., M.: The Persian Puzzle. The Conflict between Iran and America. (New York 2005); Ward, S., R.: The Continuing Evolution of Irans Military Doctrine, in: Middle East Journal, vol. 59/4, Autumn 2005, str. 559-76; Kibaroglu, M.: Good for the Shah, Banned for the Mullahs: The West and Irans Quest for Nuclear Power, in: Middle East Journal, vol. 60/2, Spring 2006, str. 207-32. 3) Rozšiřující literatura: Abrahamian, E.: Iran between Two Revolutions. (Princeton 1982) (The) Cambridge History of Iran, vol. VII. (Cambridge 1991)
Literature
  • GOMBÁR, Eduard. Dramatický půlměsíc. Sýrie, Libye a Írán v procesu transformace. Praha: Nakladatelství Karolinum, 2001, 216 pp. ISBN 80-246-0370-5. info
  • GOMBÁR, Eduard. Moderní dějiny islámských zemí. Vyd. 1. Praha: Karolinum, 1999, 427 s. ISBN 807184599X. info
  • SCHULZE, Reinhard. Dějiny islámského světa ve 20. století. Translated by Vladimír Petkovič. Vyd. 1. Brno: Atlantis, 2007, 447 s. ISBN 9788071082842. info
  • Stručná historie států. Praha: Libri, 2002. info
  • KAPUŚCIŃSKI, Ryszard. Na dvoře šáha šáhů. 1. vyd. Praha: Panorama, 1981, 159 s. info
Assessment methods
Oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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