In this talk, Dr. Alireza Behtoui will focus on the relationship between the Left and democracy in Iran. To understand the development of the Iranian Left over the past century, we should first briefly outline how leftist movements after Marx evolved along three main trajectories, how these paths ended, and what renewal trends emerged thereafter. A relevant comparison to Iran is the experience of Latin American countries and the routes taken by the Left there. Following this introduction, Dr Behtoui will provide a historical overview of the different strands of the Left in Iran, from the Constitutional Revolution (1906) to the present. Next, he will address the successes, setbacks, and failures the Left has encountered along this journey. Finally, he will discuss the problems, challenges, and opportunities facing the Left in Iran today.

About the Speaker

Dr. Alireza Behtoui is a professor of sociology at the School of Social Sciences at Sodertorn University in Stockholm, Sweden. His research expertise includes Sociology of education, political sociology and social movements, sociology of elites, race, and ethnicity. He has published numerous scientific articles in English-language journals, books in Swedish, and popular scientific articles in Persian on these topics. He is currently on sabattical at the University of California, Berkeley. His latest writings have addressed the chanllenges against democracy building in Iran from a comparative perspective.

Alternate live stream on Zoom: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92237337565 (No need to register in advance, just click the link at 4:00pm on December 8 to join.)

Sponsor(s): Center for Near Eastern Studies, Iranian Studies, with the major support of the Amuzegar Chair in Iranian and the Musa Sabi Term Chair of Iranian Studies.