DAFF 25A36 - From Ajax Operation to the Nuclear Deal: an introduction to contemporary Iran

DAFF 25A36 · Spring semester 2025-2026

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Cours séminaire
Number of hours
24
Credits
5

Information

Description

Relying on a multidisciplinary perspective, this seminar aims at providing students with theoretical and empirical tools to apprehend contemporary Iran. The study of decisive historical events, figures and ideologies will enable students to understand how Iran interacted and interacts with regional and global powers. The analysis of the Iranian political and religious model will help understand continuities and discontinuities in Iranian domestic policies (institutional and political structure, state ideology) as well as the evolution of alliances and balances of powers (regionally and internationally). The goal of this class is to encourage students to read and be familiar with the global academic literature. Through the reading and discussion of articles, students will be encouraged to develop their critical thinking and methodological skills.

Prerequisites

Aucun

Assessment

Oral presentation40%
Written essay in class50%
In-Class participation and assiduousness10%

Readings

Main readings 4

  1. - Ervand ABRAHAMIAN (2021), Oil Crisis in Iran. From Nationalism to Coup d'Etat, Cambridge University Press.

    Read online

  2. - Mohiaddin MESBAHI (Spring 2011), “Free and Confined: Iran and the International System”, Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 9-34.

  3. - Vali NASR (2025), Iran’s Grand Strategy. A Political History, Princeton University Press

  4. - Yann RICHARD (2019), Iran. A Social and Political History since the Qajars, Cambridge University Press.

    Read online

Further readings 3

  1. - FRONTLINE, PBS Documentary (2018), BITTER RIVALS. Iran and Saudi Arabia, Part I and II.

    Read online

  2. - PBS America documentary (2021), The Iran-Iraq War: A Tragedy that changed History.

    Read online

  3. - The Iran Podcast, with Negar Mortezavi

    Read online

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
59184Cours séminaire From Ajax Operation to the Nuclear Deal: an introduction to contemporary Iran Eva ZAHIRI245

Teachers

  • Eva ZAHIRI

In the curricula

Contacts and resources

Contact
NICOULEAU Svetlana