DAFF 25A78 - Iran in the World: Making Sense of the Islamic Republic in Contemporary International Relations

This course aims to introduce students to the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in contemporary international relations (IR). Its approach is double: first, we will look at the history of Iran's external relations from 1953 to the present day; then, through a series of thematic sessions – covering modern Iranian foreign policy, political economy, nuclear policy, and relations with the United States – we will deepen our understanding of Iran's actions on the international stage. The objective of the course is to equip students with the tools to understand and critically assess contemporary Iranian foreign policy and external action, as well as the relationship between the country's internal dynamics and foreign relations. Each session will be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation, as well as other media, and will also include a brief student-led discussion about recent news regarding Iran. Students will also be required to complete weekly readings. Lastly, starting in Session 4, students will give oral presentations in pairs; the topics will be pre-selected by the instructor and assigned at the beginning of the semester. The course is therefore interactive and incorporates current events related to Iran, in order to enable students to make a link between the theoretical and historical elements presented in class and the events happening in the world today.

Catharine DAMRON

Séminaire

English

There are no formal prerequisites for this course. Nevertheless, prior experience in contemporary history of the Middle East, as well as in political science and International Relations (IR) theory, will be helpful in understanding the material.

Spring 2021-2022

The final grade will be broken down as follows: - Participation in class discussion and current event presentations (20%) - Oral presentation of 15 minutes, in pairs (40%) - Final paper (40%). Students will be asked to answer one of two essay questions, drawn from the themes covered during the semester. Special attention will be given to the students' ability to formulate and defend an argument, as well as their mastery of the course material.