world studies newsletter english-4.pdfcontributors to this volume: alireza salehi nejad, setareh...

World Studies Newsletter

Publication of the International and Public Relations Office, Faculty of World Studies, University of TehranWinter 2018Managing Director: Prof. Saied Reza AmeliExecutive Director: Maryam AhmadiThe editor: Alireza Salehi NejadThe Translator: Milad Navarbafi & Seyed Vahid NamaziContributors to this volume: Alireza Salehi Nejad, Setareh Sadeqi, Elaheh Nourigholamizadeh, Milad Navarbafi, Zahra Jalalzade Address: Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, North Campus, Northern Kargar Ave. Tehran, IranP.O. Box: 1439814411Tel/Fax: +98 (21) 88 630 862Website: http://fws.ut.ac.irE-mail: [email protected]

Contents

1. Faculty’s Main Events Achievements

- The Conference of Asian Cultural Dialogues was held at the Faculty of World Studies ........... 9- The International Conference on Regional Order Patterns in the Post-ISIS Era ........................... 4- Opening ceremony of the books professor Michitaro Tada has donated to the Faculty of World Studies with the presence of Dr. Zarif ............................................................................................ 2- The unveiling ceremony of Dr. Arab Ahmadi’s book entitled “The fundamental role of Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky in the formation and development of Shiaism in Nigeria” ........................... 2

Honors- FWS Researcher is the Recipient Of Peer Review Award ........................................................ 14- “Jerusalem: the Peace Capital of Religions” Conference was Held .......................................... 14- The Ceremony of “The Cultural Week of Cuba in Iran” with the Presence of Ambassadors of Latin American Countries and the Chancellor of Tehran University at the Faculty of World Studies .... 15

2. Research News- Memorandum of Understanding ............................................................................................ 18- Published Articles .......................................................................................................................... 19- Research Proposal ......................................................................................................................... 19- Published Books ............................................................................................................................ 20

3. Interview with Professors ............................................................................................................. 234. Faculty’s News ................................................................................................................................. 255. Student News .................................................................................................................................. 436. A List of Strategic Studies Centers .............................................................................................. 447. Cultural, Artistic and Sport News

- The series of lectures by Dr. Haddad Adel: “Nowruz in Iranian culture” ................................. 47- Singapore National University’s students visit to Iran ................................................................ 52- The series of lectures by Dr. Haddad Adel: “Nowruz in Iranian culture” ................................. 53

8. Interview with Students ................................................................................................................ 549. Talk with Faculty’s Employees .................................................................................................... 5510. International Conferences and Participations of FWS Professors ..................................... 5811. PhD Dissertations and MA Theses ............................................................................................ 5912. Introducing the New Members of the Faculty ..................................................................... 63

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F a c u l t y o f W o r l d S t u d i e s U n i v e r s i t y o f T e h r a n

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The Conference of Asian Cultural Dialogues was held at the Faculty of World Studies

Faculty’s Main Events

Achievements

The Islamic Culture and Relations Organization in collaboration with the Faculty of World Studies of University of Tehran organized the first Conference of Asian Cultural Dialogue, which was held on 14 and 15 January 2018.

The conferences attracted many academicians, cultural elites and Asian intellectuals with the objectives of promoting cooperation and common understanding among Asian countries and confronting the escalating threats of violence and extremism.

The conference, which provided an opportunity and the ground for cooperation among the participating nations, stated its prime objective that cultural cooperation among the Asian countries paves the way for peace and stability, and the development of a culture of peace and friendship among these nations. It is worth stressing that the sustained impacts of cultural dialogue between elites and intellectuals are undoubtedly a means of gaining a common understanding and finding the appropriate way to encounter the existing challenges of regional relations.

The opening ceremony of the Conference was held a the Hannaneh Hall of the Faculty of World Studies

on Sun 14 Jan and including six keynote speeches.First, Dr Hamideh Molaei, the Scientific Secretary

of the Conference and an Assistant Professor at the Department of South and East Asia & Oceanian Studies of the Faculty of World Studies, welcomed the audience and noted that the prime purpose of organizing this conference was cultural and language exchange and finding common cultural grounds. Then, she elaborated on the selection of the submitted scientific articles, and noted that the scientific committee of the conference decided to categorize the submitted manuscripts into four panels covering the cultural history and contemporary affairs, including:

• Cultural convergence: an opportunity to confront violence and extremism

• The common cultural heritage between Iran and countries in East and South East Asia

• Language, culture, and civilization• Cultural and scientific collaboration between

Iran and countries in East and South East Asia: opportunities and threats

The first keynote speaker was Prof Saied Reza Ameli, the Scientific Chair of the Conference and

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the Dean of the Faculty of World Studies. Prof Ameli extended his gratitude to the organizing committee of the Conference, including Dr Hamideh Molaei, Dr Abuzar Ebrahimi Turkman and the scientific committee. Prof Ameli emphasized on the significance of dialogue in having a better world, where violence and conflict are prevalent. In addition, he noted the role of communication and dialogue avoiding misunderstandings in one's personal and social lives, and stated that the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the results of American misrepresentation of Japan internationally. The dialogue leads to a rational peaceful world, instead of a capitalist war waging world. Moreover, Prof Ameli suggested the practice of effective communication instead formal and bureaucratic communications.

Then, Dr Abuzar Ebrahimi Turkman, the Director of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, extended his gratitude to Prof Ameli and the Faculty of World Studies for organizing the conference, and made note of the necessity of inter-cultural dialogue. Dr Ebrahimi Turkman continued that communication can change hatred to love, and noted that even God had spoken with Satan in Quran.

It was stated that in the face of the globalization process and cultural integration, Asian countries have tried to preserve their cultural identity while welcoming the global culture and maintaining a positive engagement with it.

The other keynote speakers were including Prod Din Sham al-Din, an advisor to the Malaysian President, Dr MohammadReza Majidi, the Secretary General of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, Dr Hanfi bin-Hussain, the Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Malaya, and Dr

Fan Quang Minh, the Chancellor of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The conference covered over 30 lecturers and presentations, a few of which were including:

"Religious Extremism in South East Asia" presented by Dr Aliakbar Ziyayi, the former Iranian cultural counselor in Malaysia.

"The Cultural Convergence in Asia: Synergistic for encountering violence and extremism" presented by Dr Mohammad Reza Saeid Abadi, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran.

"Extremism: a philosophical issue" by Dr Arghom Kasoangono, the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at Java University in Indonesia.

"The social roots of extremism in the fundamentals of moderate Islamism" by Dr Mohammad Navab ibn-Usman, a researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

"Harmonic aesthetics in religious diversity: an ethnography of religious diversity in Indonesia" by Dr Ahmad Khalil Noor Salim, the Dean of College of Letters and Humanities at the Muhammadiyah University of Malang, in Java, Indonesia.

"Historical and cultural relations: the foundation for plummeting extremisms in Central and East Asia" by Dr Abolfazl Olamayifar.

"Tradition, conflict, and change: the perspective of Islam and the government in Muslim South East Asian countries" by Dr Aysha Noor Abdul-Rahman, a professor of Singapore National University.

"Heritage and dialogue towards enhancing the cultural relations of Iran and South East Asian countries: opportunities and threats" by Prof Ziad Amad.



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The Iranian Society of World Studies at its annual and international conference, in collaboration with the Faculty of World Studies of the University of Tehran and the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communication, on Esfand 5, 1396, at the Faculty of World Studies, convened a conference on the regional order in the post-ISIS world with the participation of scholars from France, Turkey, Iraq and Singapore.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, Dr. Said Reza Ameli, head of the Faculty of World Studies, Dr. Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran, Dr. Reza Dehghani, academic secretary of the conference, Dr. Abbas Khameyar, deputy director of the International Organization of Islamic Culture and Communication, respectively, presented lectures.

"ISIS is a phenomenon that must be reflected upon from different aspects, and is certainly the biggest international event that has taken place over the past few years based on the rise of ISIS," said Dr. Ameli. The first lecturer of the meeting also stated that the topic is very important. He added: "ISIS's problems have

come to the fore in the world, which has established the relations of the Islamic world. In my opinion, the issue of ISIS has played a key role in separating the Islamic world from non-Islamic."

Dr. Ameli noted: "Although ISIS is a phenomenon that has been around for some years now, it seems that this phenomenon does not belong to this day and goes back to many centuries past in the history. They stem from extreme currents with traditional and historical roots, and ISIS is a phenomenon that must have been formed by the advent of Islam and along with the emergence of the divine-Islamic ideology of the Prophet."

"It must be admitted that it is normal that ISIS's thought has not come to an end," said the Dean of the Faculty of World Studies, saying that although ISIL reached a point in the end of its activities and domination in the Iraqi-Syrian region. ISIS's ideology is a false thinking that could be a source of great damage throughout the world." ISIS, he said, though formed in the Islamic world by a group, international supports has

The International Conference on Regional Order Patterns in the Post-ISIS Era




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developed it and made it a worldly concern.Prof. Ameli stressed: "these days, media

representations of ISIS have been accompanied by the words of the Islamic government. The big western media codified the terrible news that they related from ISIS with the term "Islamic State. No ethnicity, religion or nation should be codified with harsh words."

"It is an American fundamentalism that unfortunately has created a variety of fundamentalism in the world today," he said, referring to the American fundamentalism that took place in the world during these years. “The radicalism of ISIS is the product of American fundamentalism. The United States is a land conquered by the Europeans and expelled the indigenous people from their homeland, and that historic radicalization became the beginning for the next radicalisms."

At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Zarif, the second lecturer of the opening ceremony, said at the beginning of his speech: "The discussion in this circle may require two introductions; first, the order in the West Asian region is not necessarily independent from the order in the international community and the world. Current international conditions have particular conditions that can be described as transitional period."

Pointing out that during the transitional period, there is a huge change and the current transitional period is no exception, he said "During the transitional period, there are usually certain changes, and what makes the developments more serious is the fluid conditions. This fluid condition also provides the possibility of making a mistake in calculations. Therefore, in this period, one has to study all the cases of a matter and consider it in

order to investigate a subject."Dr. Zarif referred to the calculation mistakes

made by governments such as Saddam, Milosevic, and Gaddafi, and said that calculating is important in fluid conditions. He also remarked that “said that calculating mistakes in transitional periods have led to the collapse of governments, and accurate calculation has led to their empowerment beyond the apparent and geographic capacity of countries has been. In our new era, the same situation prevails."

In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, while pointing out the difference between the current transitional periods with the previous one, noted: "We live in the post-West world. Of course, this does not mean that the West is gone or it is soon to be destroyed, but it means that for the first time, major global and international developments are not necessarily in the West or caused by the West. Over the past few years, the trend has been such that developments in the West have generally been made by the West, but this is not the case at the moment."

Emphasizing that this is a wrong idea to think that all calculations in the world stem from the West, he added: "The universe has fundamentally changed in essence. We move towards the post-West world and we must pay attention to it in calculations."

According to Dr. Zarif, the transformation that has just occurred in our region is the defeat of ISIS land, but not itself, and we have to separate the two from each other.

"ISIS, as the fake claimant of the Islamic caliphate and occupying territories in Iraq and Syria, claimed the false land of the Caliphate, and this claim has now been eliminated, but ISIS's ideology, the intellectual sources and financial support that it supports, and ISIS creators have not gone away."

He said that, when we talk about the post-ISIS, we should not think about ISIS demolition, and added "some regional and foreign vessels have been effective in creating ISIS. One of the mistakes that sometimes occur is that ISIS is thought to be over, and one of the reasons westerners these days are tighter against Iran is to think that Iran has done its part in fighting against ISIS. Iran has eliminated ISIS, and why should we, as



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they so claim compromise with the Islamic Republic of Iran from now on. If that is the case, it's a false idea; and if we imagine that ISIS is gone, it's a false idea". Dr. Zarif also reminded: "with situation that ISIS has created in our region, those conditions continue to be at least as valid as before."

"One of the main reasons for this is foreign interference in our region” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs in explaining the reasons of ISIS creation in the region and referring to foreign and internal factors. “The current ISIS is resulted by the American attack on Iraq, and before that, by the great oppression of the Zionists against the people of the region and the suppression of the rights of the people of Palestine, which has created permanent attitudes. The inefficiencies of the regional governments in dealing with respect for the most important demands of the people of the region have intensified the complexes. The most important factor of the violation of respect is the continued occupation of the Zionist regime and the failure to respect the rights of the Palestinian people, a factor that is currently exacerbated by the policies of the region."

"The regional governments have worked inadequately to meet the needs of the community, especially the needs of their youth, which has become the ineffectiveness of the nation-state in the Arab world," said the high-ranking diplomat in an ongoing speech on the Zionist regime as a cancerous tumor in the region. “That is why in the western world they speak of a Westphalia in the Arab world. Although it cannot be said that this version is correct or incorrect, it is a valid diagnosis."

He remarked “ a dense historical complex has been formed to meet the needs of the people in the Arab world, and it represents itself as a movement against Arab states, and if we consider this the most important internal and internal factor of ISIS, we will find that some countries in the region, especially countries like Saudi Arabia, have been trying to divert these dense and fragile settlements in the region to foreign enemies, and this has been a factor that has not only been declining, but also growing," Dr. Zarif, pointing out that two important factors in creating ISIS, added "one of these factors is the close relationships that

some Arab countries have with the Zionist regime, and secondly, the efforts of some countries in the region to form an external enemy, in a way that can cover their internal affairs," he said.

Referring to news reports that some ISIS members have been transferred outside the region, the secretary of state said, "It was reported yesterday that American helicopters had escaped some of the ISIS prisoners in Hasskah, and we witnessed this in other places, like. Some ISIS forces have left these areas regularly. Although some of them have left regularly and part of the phenomenon has also occurred naturally."

"What we can consider as a major change for the region's future is that ISIS forces are spreading in different parts of the region, and even beyond the borders," said the top diplomat of our country, emphasizing that ISIS communication networks remain. “As long as the main factors behind the establishment of ISIS prevail, we are to wait for this danger to emerge every day. Thus, ISIS continues to be a reality both in and beyond the West Asian region. "

"Unfortunately, I see that there has been a rivalry between ISIS and the Taliban in the bombings and massacres, and these groups are attracting attention and support through violence and panic," he said, referring to the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan. “And this is due to cumulative complexes that exist in the social masses as a result of their unfulfilled demands. Unfortunately, this violence and rivalry for killing in Afghanistan now has become sectarian and created a greater risk for the region."

Dr. Zarif stated: "Some believe that the new order in the region should be based on power. I believe that the new order that we want to shape in the future of the region is the result of the actions we are taking in the region. If we accept that we are now living in the post-Western world, although it is difficult to accept this reality, we must admit that we are agents, not patient; we must accept that Iran is an active gent in the region and can be effective."

"The previous games in the region have taken place based on the same idea," said the foreign minister, saying that some countries in the region still think they can buy security. “Because of their lack of domestic




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legitimacy, these countries have to move towards buying security from foreign countries. The countries in the region must themselves take action to create security in the region and have designs in this area."

"The future security discipline in our region must have an essential difference in current security,” he added, “ and according to this idea, we must accept that we are an agent, and which is an effective factor, and we have proposed the establishment of a forum of discussions among the Persian Gulf countries. We are currently concentrating on the Gulf region, because our first periphery is in this region, and on the other hand, there are deep divisions in West Asia, and on the first phase in this framework we decided to focus on the Gulf region and our first peripheral region."

The high-ranking diplomat in our country argued that the idea of creating a new security by the main agents in the region, Iran, for establishing a new and security attitude and thought in West Asia, especially starting in the Persian Gulf, could be a great help. "Therefore, we have to get past the previous action which was based on the adversaries against Iran by our neighbors. They considered the security in the region based on coalition against Iran and the buying of security from abroad, while this was a false and wrong attitude."

Dr. Zarif continued, "Persian Gulf countries have bought 116 billion dollars' worth of arms last year, according to the same thought. Saudi Arabia has surpassed Russia by spending $ 67 on weapons spending. The United Arab Emirates also had about $ 22 billion worth of arms last year.”

The Foreign Minister added "by looking through

these numbers, the United States will be first with $ 600 billion and China, with $ 200 billion will be the second, while Iran's spending has been $ 16 billion. Iran has the lowest weapon cost among the countries of the region, but it has been the safest country. That Iran has the lowest facilities cost reflects the fact that the notion of security should be changed."

At the end of his speech, Dr. Zarif said that we should believe that we can provide security bases as a power in the region that could provide security for the future of our children. "If we think that we are realistic and based on this, we act according to the previous trends and attitudes, war will be inevitable in the region as it was in the past. And this is an attitude we need to get past.”

Dr. Dehghan, the third speaker of the closing ceremony, welcoming Dr. Zarif, the audience and foreign guests, and thanking the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, expressed the course of the conference. "Two years after the fall of ISIS in Iraq and Syria by General Soleimani, the Faculty of World Studies and the Iranian Association of the World Studies decided to review its post-ISIS age," he added. “The executive committee of the conference was created in less than three months.” He commended the good internal and external reception of the conference and added:" In less than a month, 80 papers were submitted to the secretariat of the conference and 50 papers were filed. Since this is a one-day conference, 22 lectures will be presented at 6 meetings in two parallel halls. The other valuable articles of the conference, which could not be presented due to the limited time on the day of the conference, will be published shortly in the proceedings of the conference.” The scientific secretary of the conference expressed the purpose of the conference to be the formation of appropriate texts for the post period with a visionary approach, especially in the formation of order patterns in the region.

Dr. Khameyar, the last speaker of the opening ceremony, thanked the Faculty of World Studies, Dr. Ameli, and Dr. Dehghan et al., and then explained two basic points. The first point is that ISIS is an example. There are more than 100 extremists in the region that promote hostility and violence in the region. The second point is that the United States has had a 30-year



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plan to dismantle ISIS in the region that the Islamic Republic of Iran has conducted within three years.” He said he was worried about the use of the post term, adding, “We should not talk about the post. ISIS has lost its geography, the launching platform for its self-proclaimed caliphate, and its field resources, but their ideology still persists, and it is too soon to talk about its post-ISIS."

The deputy director of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization said about regional patterns: "This issue has a history and that is the feasible study of the order in the region. This order is to be censured, and as long as there are regional games on the basis of these powers in the region, the patterns of chaos are dominant in the region, and it is difficult to present a pattern of order in this disorder. The holy ideals should not make the realities of the region to be ignored. "

Dr. Khameyar designed eight categories. In the first category, the United States, Britain, and the occupation regime of Quds have launched the Sasspichu project 2 after the unsuccessful US Sassipak project1. In their plans, both strategically and academically, Iran is the main goal. "The definition of the fourth generation wars is the destruction of regional armies," he added. Even in Turkey, which was an alliance with the United States, the same goal was followed by Turkey's failed military coup. Any potential power in the region is a threat to the Zionist regime."

The second category is ethnic and religious disintegration. The West needs a serious reconstruction. Therefore, the Balfour Project is being executed to stabilize the disconnected borders of the Zionist regime and rebuild and re-create the slogan "from the Nile to the Euphrates," which will have many consequences, including millions of Palestinian refugees.

The third category is international actors, the United States and Russia. The Americans fought by proxy in the past, but today they have a strong presence in the region. Russia's approach is also unclear whether it is still looking to get into the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean? Is it an important ally of the countries of the region? What will be its approach to the Zionist regime?

The fourth category is the regional actors in Syria,

Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Turkey seeks for the cause of Neo-Ottomanism, the re-caliphate and Sunni political Islam. The shift of power in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi tradition, and the continuation of tension with Iran, is also of major importance for Saudi Arabia.

He mentioned the following category: the actors of the creation of an order or disorder, and ISIS; Iran and allies in the region who pursue anti-tyranism ideologies and their ideology with a global analytical order; the micro-powers that have a regional and trans-regional role and affect macro-powers, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen Ansar Allah, and Holy Shrine Defenders in Syria.

On the sidelines of this conference, Dr. Zarif debuted 500 books donated by Professor Mitchitaro Tada, a Japanese author and professor at the Kyoto University of Japan at the Library of the Faculty of World Studies. This exquisite collection was presented by the professor Mohammad Naghizadeh, the founder of the Department of Japanese Studies, Faculty of World Studies, and in collaboration with the Iranian Embassy in Japan, at the Faculty of World Studies. Dr. Zarif also signed the Faculty’s memorial book.

After the opening ceremony, the lectures were held as described in the attached file.

The abstracts of the lectures are in the attached file.At the closing ceremony, Dr. Dehghan briefly

presented a brief statistical report on the conference. 70 percent of articles were devoted to West Asia and the Middle East, which is indicative of the challenging nature of the region; 20 percent of the articles were devoted to theories and scenarios, and 10 percent of the articles were devoted to Africa and the America. The articles portrayed the perspective on the patterns of order in the region, and the Iranian Association of the World Studies intends to continue this debate in the coming year, while the Caucasus and Central Asia will also be included in the discussions.

The scientific secretary of the conference thanked appreciated all the lecturers and authors of the articles. He also thanked Dr. Ameli, who supported the conference, and thanked the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization for hosting foreign guests.




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The unveiling ceremony of Dr. Arab Ahmadi’s book entitled “The fundamental role of Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky in the formation and development of Shiaism in Nigeria”

Recently, Negarestan-e-Andishe published Dr Amir Bahram Arab Ahmadi’s book entitled “the fundamental role of Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky in the formation and development of Shiaism in Nigeria”.

The unveiling ceremony of this book was held Sunday, 7 Jan 2018, at the Iran Hall of the Faculty of World Studies.

The keynote speakers were including Massoud Shadjareh, veteran human rights campaigner and the Director of the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission, and Prof Saied Reza Ameli, the Dean of the Faculty of World Studies, among other academic commentators.

It is worth noting that this ceremony was attended by Ibrahim El Zakzaky’s daughter, the author, the publisher representatives, the academic members of the faculty, and students.

Dr Fariba Afkari, the head of FWS library chaired the meeting.

Dr. Arab Ahmadi, who is the Head of the Department of South African Studies, took a systematic approach to focus on Ibrahim El Zakzaky’s life, the leader and founder of the Islamic movement in the north of Nigeria.

The book, which is written in thirteen chapters, covers the history of Islam in Nigeria, Usman dan Fodio’s jihadist caliphate, Mahdiism and Sharia, Sheikh Zakzaky’s life and the Islamic movement in the north of Nigeria, his religious and political views, his relationship with Nigerian governments, and the Shias massacre in December 2015 among other issues.

In addition to the book’s main objective of introducing Ibrahim El Zakzaky to the Iranian readers, particularly the researchers who seek to understand Nigeria’s dynamic Shia movement, the chief focus is on the social and cultural characteristics of Shiaism in Nigeria.



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The unveiling ceremony of the books professor Michitaro Tada donated to the Faculty of World Studies with the presence of Dr. Zarif

At the “Patterns of Regional Order in the Post Era” Conference held at the Faculty of Worlds Studie University of Tehran, in World Studies Department, Mohamad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, presented a lecture on the opening day where he also announced that Professor Michitaro Tada, the renowned Japanese author from the Kyoto University, had given 500 books to the library of World Studies Department. The so-called invaluable series have been collected by Mohamad Naghizade, the founder of Japanese studies in the faculty of World Studies in collaboration with Iran’s embassy in Japan. The donated books include the following categories:

• Books written or translated by Professor Michitaro Tada:

Michitaro had studied French literature; however, he is mostly known for his writings and analyzes about pop culture, particularly about Japanese customs, daily lives and traditions in Kansai Region where two important cities, namely, Kyoto and Osaka, are located. Among the donated books, there can be seen 70 books written and translated by the professor himself. Most of the books translated by him are about the French

literature or French philosophy several of which are solely on French philosophers. It is worth mentioning that some of the books have several copies in the series that are 70 volumes in total.

• Books on the classical literature of Japan:Regarding his field of study, it is no wonder that most

of the books given to the library of Tehran University have something to do with literature. However, the most valuable collection of the books is 90 volumes he dedicated to the library that had been published in the 60s and 70s by one of the most significant publications in japan, Ivanami. This priceless collection consists of some of the best classical works from the Heian period to the end of the Edo period in Japan. All the works of this collection contain interpretations and analyses written by certain great Japanese researchers on the stories, poems, religious narratives, plays, and folklore of the periods mentioned above.

• Books on the Japanese contemporary and modern literature:

Japan’s modern literature commences from the beginning of The Meiji period (the age in which Japanese society moved from being an isolated feudal



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society to its modern form, 1868-1912). The collection now owned by the University of Tehran does have some of the best works of this period. Among them, we can see the whole series of Natsume Sōseki’s writings; he is one of the most prominent writers of contemporary literature of Japan. The series includes 27 books published by Ivanami publications.

• Books about philosophical movements: There are two series of worthwhile books in this

collection. Firstly, a 27-volume book series named under the general title of modern philosophy of Japan in which thoughts, approaches and philosophies of Japanese thinkers and philosophers on issues such as socialism, Marxism, anarchism, liberalism, and democracy have been accumulated. The second series is a 13-volume book series under the general title of Japanese modern thought published by chicimashobo publications, which covers three historical eras: Meiji, Taisho and Showa.

• A series of books written by several eminent Japanese researchers:

In addition to the books mentioned earlier, there are miscellaneous books, some of which include works of some very eminent researchers:

- The complete collection of Tatsuo HayashiThe Japanese critic and scholar (5 volumes)- The complete collection of Kunio Yanagita, the

Japanese researcher who had been working primarily on literature and pop culture of Japan (25 volume of book series).

• Travelogues and books about China: About 30 volumes included in this huge collection

have something to do with travelogues written by European travelers having traveled to Japan during the Edo period. These travelogues do matter because in the Edo period, the ruling government had been pursuing the closed-door policy for years by then and rarely was any outsider allowed to enter the country. Thus, these travelogues give valuable information about the so-called period. Moreover, some of the books are about the culture of China in the historical period of Tang and Sui dynasties written and collected by the Japanese researchers traveling to China at that time. Surprisingly, in this collection, there are some texts

about the presence of Iranian in China.• A collection of miscellaneous books:There are several miscellaneous books in this

collection most of which are about literature in general and French literature in particular.

In order to get acquainted with professor Michitaro Tada’s works and character, and to realize the importance of the books he has donated to our library, we refer to Professor Mohammad Naghizade’s statements about him:

The master, the “Kyoto School”, and me: My acquaintance with the late Michitaro Tada, the

distinguished professor of Kyoto University, dates back to our graduation party in the late 1970s. The University dean, (Sawada Toshio 1919-2017) who was ardently fond of Iranian civilization, organized the celebration. His passion for Iran’s ancient history together with my enthusiasm and curiosity formed an affinity between the two of us, which lasted for 30 years. In particular, I should mention that the question of “how modernity and tradition co-exist” was an important work done in order to analyze historical traces of development in Japan that bonded us together. In fact, I have been asked about this issue every time I returned to Iran during the last 50 years. Even though the late professor Tada was an expert at French literature and most of his work focused on literary , philosophical and social works of writers such as Charles Pierre Baudelaire (1867-1921) and Roger Caillois (1913- 1978), I was given ample awareness that he is a master of Japan’s culture, philosophy and thought schools as well. This short introduction given to me by the university dean brought us together, although both were working on different fields. Another reason why I could have such a close relationship with him was the fact that he had previously joined the Kyoto Gakuha (Kyoto school) after the WWII.

the late 19th century and early 20th century, a group of Japanese scholars sought to form a body of thoughts based on the philosophy and mentality of the eastern Asia and on the basis of Mahāyāna Buddhism and therefore, to create dialogue, theoretical discussions and interactions with western philosophy. Nishida Kitarō (1870-1945), who was the founder of this



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thought movement, was ardently looking for such a project. After 260 years of isolation or self-sanction policies dominating Japan, and at the time of 50 years of war and constant conflict and struggle with neighboring countries, such project should be taken up after opening of the borders of Japan to the western world in Meiji period (1868-1912). Therefore, Nishida and some other scholars intended to take advantage of this open-door policy and began introducing western science particularly western philosophy and created dialogues and discussions over various subject matters. After years of work and research on western philosophy and classical works of eastern Asia, they managed to form and establish a new order and thought system using Zen Buddhism, which was eventually published in the book “An Inquiry into the Good” (1911).

The presence of an American warship along the coasts of Tokyo, (whose maquette had been given to Shogun in the late years of thr feudalistic period in 1854) in addition to Emperor Shogun’s awareness about one of the most important inventions of the western world, that is, telegraph, caused some of the greatest changes which concerned Japanese leaders very much. Therefore, they came to a realization that either they ought to think of a new system of thought in Japan or they would be invaded by the western system; a risk they would not have been willing to take. Therefore, the new system they were looking for was not only to preserve the classical traditions of this country but also it would establish long-term philosophical and thoughtful foundations for the culture of Japan so that the country could maintain its national unity and

solidarity along with its development. The new system makes it easy for everyone to have access to western culture (particularly in the fields of philosophy, way of thinking, human science and technology). In addition, the main objective of these certain thinkers was to effectively use selected areas of western thoughts, as well as forming a global understanding of foundations of Japanese thought on the global.

However, the term “Kyoto school” was only given to the group because they were all based in Kyoto University, the main characteristics of its members were theorizing and researching in order to develop along with the development of the time and age. In addition, they intend not to build a conceptual philosophical and thoughtful system but rather one that is genuine and real and fits into realities and manners of the Japanese society. Metaphorically speaking, they did believe that they needed to know the engine helping the western society develop in the coming years. Therefore, they aimed at adapting this engine and utilizing it while preserving all the traditions and classical manners. Later on, Morishima Michio (1923-2004), a well-known economist and expert at works of Varlas and Marx used this idea in the field of economics in his book “Why Has Japan succeeded? Western Technology and Japanese Ethos” (1980).

In other words, Japanese thinkers personally sought to select the agreeable and long-term parts of the western thought without creating any thick wall between themselves and the other side. In essence, they cultivated their ancient national traditions with the help of a new and modern thinking in a way that they actually owned some of those ways of thinking after a while and then achieved an “amalgamation of new thoughts derived from both modernity and tradition”. Hence, at times, one cannot easily distinguish between traditional and modern phenomena in Japan. As a result, before allowing any western culture, whatsoever, imposes itself upon them, the Japanese thinkers and scholars studied the western culture based on their own choices and fostered certain aspects of it with Japanese culture and background. Therefore, I strongly believe that they actually established a “carefully chosen




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school of thought” which is considered, as some outsiders would claim, a kind of “co-existence between tradition and modernity and apparently something of an unconventional nature.

After the Second World War, and with the dominant philosophical atmosphere among Japanese scholars, Tada collaborated with a group of other masters such as Kuwahara Takeo (1904-1988), Tsurumi Shunsuke (1022-2015), and the great historian, Umehara Takeshi (1925- ), in human science research institute at University of Kyoto and began a wide range of research. I have been introduced by him to other members of this school and could participate in their theoretical debates and discussions. Interestingly enough, Master Tada did discuss these issues with Jean-Paul Sartre when he had paid a visit to him in his place of residence in Kyoto in 1966. This French philosopher spent quite a while with master Tada in order to share ideas with him on various subject matters.

After establishing the Faculty of International Studies, interdisciplinary majors were taught at the University of Meiji. In 1986, Master Tada and I were invited to this Faculty so that we could help determine lesson plans and course objectives with newly developed structures (including disciplines of economy, social sciences, literature, and art to the postgraduate degrees) which faced oppositions from the ministry of science at the beginning but continued successfully afterwards. During all that time which lasted for 3 years, I could luckily use Mr. Tada’s companion and enjoyed his debates and vast knowledge.

When he moved from Kyoto to Yukuhama, he also spent a few weeks in my house before he could settle down. His wife showed a great interest in the historical process of economic developments in Japan and in the environment, especially when these developments were seen despite the natural poverty of the lands of Japan. For the same token, she did participate in sessions I held about the economy of Japan and inquisitively asked questions making me even more enthusiastic about Japanese perspectives on the issue.

It is worth mentioning that professor Tada was at times facing severe criticism. Many would call him

an “anti-academician” due to his research methods. However, I strongly believe that, as a thinker, not only was he NOT an “anti-academician” but also, he was adept in challenging the traditional and cliché research methods common in the academic arena. Indeed, he believed in complete freedom of the researcher because only in that way, a researcher would be able to step forward in the path of constant growth and development and is not therefore trapped in certain academic dogmatism. Thus, to obtain better knowledge and understanding of Japan and to fill the gap between conceptual theories and tangible realities in the society of Japan, he was not afraid of analysing different theories taken from Jean-Jacques Rousseau in France to analysing the common games the mass would play in the country. He even would research about “manga” art as part of his projects.

His complete works were published in six volumes in 1998; some of which were also translated into English and Spanish including:

- Japanese Gestures: Modern Manifestations of a Classic Culture (English and Japanese Edition) 2004

- Karada: El Cuerpo En La Cultura Japonesa (Spanish Edition) 2011.

Luckily, with the help of Dr. Pour Rostami- deputy of research, academic and educational department of the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran- 500 books taken from his personal library have been transferred to the library of the World Studies Faculty, which will certainly provide a fantastic opportunity for researchers interested in Japanese studies.

We hope that the highly respected professors at the Faculty of World Studies cooperate closely through theoretical debates and interactions with world-known thinkers coming from different ethnicities and backgrounds. We also hope these interactions could lead them to establish a philosophical and thought system so called as “selected World Studies schools” as a foundation for “the unity and solidarity along with variety” for our country’s development.

Mohammad NaghizadehYukuhama March 2018




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“Jerusalem: the Peace Capital of Religions” Conference was Held

Honors

“Jerusalem: the Peace Capital of Religions” Conference was organized by the Islamic Culture and Religion Organization in collaboration with religious leaders, the Faculty of World Studies, and other cultural and religious institutions in an attempt to protest against Donald Trump’s decision in relocated the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

This conference was held on Wednesday, 31 Jan 2018 at Al-Zahra Hussainiya of the Islamic Culture and Religion Organization.

Many prominent Iranian religious, academic and

political figures attended this meeting, and discussed the significant role of Jerusalem in promoting civil and peaceful coexistence of Abrahamian religions.

It is worth noting that the conference was attended by Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammadi-Golpayegan, the Supreme Leader’s Chief of Staff, Abbas Araghchi, the political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Salah Al-Zawawi, the Palestinian ambassador to Iran, Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, the Advisor to the Supreme Leader in Global Islamic Community, the representatives of religion minorities, and FWS faculty members.

FWS Researcher Is the Recipient of Peer Review Award

Alireza Salehi Nejad is the recipient of the Excellent Reviewer Award in 2017, awarded by Publons, a Clarivate Analytics (Thomson Reuters) company. The award is given to a reviewer, who performed the most verified pre-publication peer reviews rated as ‘excellent’ by academic journal editors.

Salehi Nejad, who is a researcher at the Cyberspace Research Policy Center and the UNESCO Chair on Cyberspace & Culture at the Faculty of World Studies,

is also recognized as the Top Reviewer in Social Sciences by Publons and received the Sentinel of Science Award in 2016.

These peer review awards honor the elite contributors to scholarly peer review and editorial pursuits internationally, who demonstrated an outlasting commitment to protecting the integrity and accuracy of scientific publishing.



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The Ceremony of “The Cultural Week of Cuba in Iran” with the Presence of Ambassadors of Latin American Countries and the Chancellor of Tehran University at the Faculty of World Studies

On March 4th, 2018, the Faculty of World Studies, hosted the cultural week of Cuba’s ceremony with the presence of ambassadors and practitioners of Latin American countries, the board of directors of Tehran University and World Studies faculties and students.

This ceremony was held (March 4th–6th, 2018) by the efforts of faculties and students of Latin American studies and managed by Dr. Maryam Haghroosta, founder, and director of the Latin American studies field, at the Faculty of World Studies. The holding of various cultural weeks of Latin American Countries is one of the programs of this field of study and it will be continued by holding of cultural weeks of other countries.

The ceremony of “the cultural week of Cuba in Iran” was started by the exhibition of Cuban photographers’ works. The head of Tehran University, Dr. Nili Ahmad Abadi, Cuban Ambassador Alexis Bandrich Vega, and Dr. Saeid Reza Ameli, the head of the faculty of World Studies, were the openers of this exhibition.

After serving the Iranian food and the Cuban coffee in the opening program, all the participants were attended at Hannaneh hall of the Faculty of World Studies.

At first, Dr. Haghroosta said a welcome to all participants and Cuban ambassador as well. She also briefly explained the discovery of Latin America and Cuba.

She added that Cuba is an important country from cultural and strategic perspectives in America and the world. Cuba is an encounter place for native civilizations of America, Europe, Africa, North America, and even Asia, and all of these civilizations with their rich cultures expand in Cuba.

In the following, Dr. Haghroosta mentioned to the Cuban revolution in 1959 and said: “After this revolution, Cuba became the ideological leader of the area and made important actions in this way. One of these important actions was the fighting against illiteracy that led the country to the lowest illiteracy at



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the present time.” Then, Dr. Haghroosta mentioned to the history of

diplomatic relations between Iran and Cuba and said that “the diplomatic relations between Iran and Cuba date back 1954, however, these relations were stopped because of political reasons and restarted after Iran’s revolution.”

The founder of Latin American Studies field continued to talk about scholarly relationships between Iranian and Cuban universities that started from 1380. She added that “these relationships held by students exchange between Tehran and Havana universities with a history of 29 years and the faculty members of Latin American Studies at the Faculty of World Studies and Spanish Language and Literature are graduated from Havana University.”

Dr. Haghroosta informed that these ceremonies will be held at the Faculty of World Studies for all Latin American Countries and finally, she appreciated Dr. Nili Ahmadabadi for his attendance.

The next lecturer, Dr. Nili Ahmadabadi said a warm welcome to all guests especially Cuban Ambassador and he appreciated Dr. Saeid Reza Ameli, head of the Faculty, for holding this ceremony at the Faculty of World Studies that it makes a cultural environment to communicate with Latin American Countries.

In addition, he said that “for our generation, Cuba is beyond a country. Fidel Castro, former president of Cuba, is well known for Iranian people because of his defenses against tyranny.”

Dr. Nili Ahmadabadi mentioned to the strong connection between Iranian and Cuban people and said: “after Iran’s revolution this connection changed to a diplomatic and official relations and these relations expanded in different areas such as teacher and student exchange.”

The head of Tehran University talked about the importance of these ceremonies and added that “these ceremonies are great opportunities for people knowing about cultures, traditions, habits, and capabilities of different countries and it’s the best place for diplomatic officials of different countries to know about Iranian

people and Tehran University.”In the following, Dr. Nili Ahmadabadi believed that

the university is an important place for the exhibition of national culture and said that “Universities as scientific centers are able to define the culture and characteristics of a nation in exact terms based on the findings from knowledge and research.”

The head of Tehran University announced that this university is ready for partnership and information exchange with all the universities in the world.

Dr. Nili Ahmadabadi mentioned to the importance of Latin American Countries for Iran and added that “there is a natural friendship between Iranian people and the people of Latin American Countries. All we remember that the OPEC was a joint product of Iran and Venezuela that now it acts as an authentic union in the world. ”

He believed the relationships between Iran and Latin America based on friendship and peace. Although, economic, cultural, and educational exchanges are not desirable, however, there is a social proximity between Iranian people and Latin American people.

In the following of the lecture, the head of Tehran University, talked about this university and its 5-year program. He told that “Tehran University is the largest and the most prestigious university in Iran that it has developed a 5-year program for itself. We are in the first year of this program and it has three main axes including 1) Internationalization of Tehran University, 2) Entrepreneurship, 3) Professional ethics and Social responsibility.”

Dr. Nili believed that such a ceremony is on the right track with two main axes of this program including, Internationalization and Social responsibility. He explained that “Science is beyond geographical borders because it is the best diplomacy. It is the language that nations can talk to each other and the universities should be the leader of this movement.”

About the social responsibility, he told that “nowadays, it is well accepted that communities should be responsible. In the university, all academic people should consider not only the science but the



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effect of science. It is not acceptable to do researches without considering community’s or people’s problems. Science and knowledge are the facilities to solve human problems and all the people must feel satisfied by the existence of these facilities. So, all the universities should be responsible and should learn this.”

From Dr. Nili’s point of view, one of the solutions for social responsibility is the communication with the community. He explained that “The condition of knowing the issues is the organic and organizational communication with the community. So, one of the universities’ duties is the translation of community’s needs to scientific language and the implementation of these needs based on educational and research ways.”

Regarding the entrepreneurship, that is one of three important axes of the 5-year program of Tehran University, the head of this university added that the employment issues is an important factor that should be considered and the university should think to alumni jobs. Nowadays, new business content is the concern of the universities.

In the following, Dr. Nili pointed to the importance of creating Science and Technology Park in Tehran University and said: “the development of this park to all parts of the university is one issue that can help to entrepreneurship in Tehran University.”

Finally, the head of Tehran University announced to the between-university cooperation with Latin American Countries.

After Dr. Nili’s lecture, Cuban Ambassador and Friendship Association of Iran and Cuba dedicated some gifts to him and mutually, the head of Tehran University denoted a gift of Isfahan cultural work to Cuban Ambassador.

The final lecturer of the opening program was Alexis Bandrich Vega, the Cuban Ambassador. He shortly talked about the history of Cuba and then he explained the foreign policy of Cuba and membership of this country in international organizations. About the foreign policy, he mentioned that “Respect for the independence and territorial sovereignty of the

countries of the world is the most important principle in the constitution of our country. Fighting against tyranny is also another policy of Cuba.”

In the following, he mentioned to hostile policies of the United States about Cuba’s revolution and their efforts to the extermination of the Cuba government in the past 50 years. About the sanctions policy of the United States, he said that “Cuba condemns all the unilateral policies of powerful countries about every country in the world.”

About the nuclear power, he told that “This power for peaceful usage is the right of every nation in the world and no country has the right to ban this power in other countries.”

He continued by pointing out to the cruel and unilateral sanctions of the United States against the Republic of Cuba that have caused lots of economic problems and he remembered these sanctions for Iran and Venezuela.

Bandrich Vega, the Ambassador of Cuba, also appreciated the Republic of Iran for its supportive policy against sanctions against Cuban government and people in The United Nations.

Finally, he introduced his country as a favorable place to attract tourists and he mentioned to a survey in Spain that Cuba has presented as the best and the safest tourist destination.

It should be noted that the Cultural Week of Cuba will be held on March 5th and 6th, 2018 with different cultural programs at Hannaneh hall of the Faculty of World Studies. The name of the ambassadors that participate in the program are listed below:

Alexis Bandrich Vega, the Cuban AmbassadorKherman Ortga, the Ecuadorian AmbassadorValter Tanz, charge d'affaires of BoliviaMario Barkrou, the Nicaraguan AmbassadorKhosous Gonzales, the Venezuelan AmbassadorLouis Nikolas, the Argentinian AmbassadorLopes Bouskots, the Spanish AmbassadorAlfonzo Zegba, the Mexican AmbassadorIgnasiv Lianous, the Chilean AmbassadorAstin Man, the Uruguayan Ambassador



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During a meeting between the Board of Directors of the Faculty of World Studies and delegates of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, a scientific and cultural memorandum of understanding was signed by Dr. Seyed Saeid Reza Ameli, Dean of the Faculty of World Studies and Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The two sides agreed on a visit by the Rector and a group of professors from Ho Chi Minh City

University of Social Sciences and Humanities to Iran to have a series of meetings with the professors of the Faculty of World Studies about organizing seminars and other scientific events.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities currently has 500 professors and 10000 students. It is one the largest Vietnamese universities and the best in the country in the field of humanities and social sciences.

MOU signed with of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Memorandum Of Understanding

Iranian World Studies Association and Yunus Emre Institute signed an agreement

research news

Dr Turgay Şafak, the representative of the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, a Turkish cultural organization, met with Prof Saied Reza Ameli, the Dean of the Faculty and the Director of the Iranian World Studies Association on Wednesday, 31 Jan 2018. As a result, an agreement was signed in Persian, English and Turkish.

In this meeting, Prof Ameli introduced the FWS and the Iranian World Studies Association, and reported on their current and past international activities and collaborations.

By the same token, Dr Şafak illustrated the Yunus Emre Institute’s activities in Iran.

Both parties emphasized on the significance of bilateral collaboration.

It is worth noting that Dr Reza Dehghani, the head of the research department of the Association, and Dr Amir Bahram Arab Ahmadi, the director of Faculty’s international affairs, were present in this meeting.



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Memorandum of Understanding between St. Petersburg University and the Faculty of World Studies

At a meeting with a delegation from the European University of St. Petersburg on Tuesday, Esfand 15, Dr. Georg Avetekian signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Russian University with Dr. Sa’id Reza Ameli, head of the Faculty of World Studies.

Dr. Karami, head of the Department of Russian Studies at the University of Tehran’s Department of World Studies, pointed to the role of universities in increasing the interactions of the two countries, which

called for further cooperation. Dr. Nikolai Kojanov proposed to jointly compile a collection of articles on topics of interest to both sides by Iranian and Russian professors. In this meeting, the professors at the Department of Russian Studies, Dr. Karimi, Dr. Rasoolinejad, Dr. Barari, and Dr. Arab Ahmadi, the International Delegate of the Faculty, proposed their points of view on relevant issues.

research news

Published ArticlesArticles:

• Dr. Hassan Hosseini, Assistant Professor at the Department of American Studies, Faculty of World Studies Article title: Dearborn- Detroit Michigan: Ethnography of Faith and

U.S. Domestic and Foreign Policy Axis; ISI article in Journal of World Sociopolitical Studies.

• Dr. Mohammad Reza Said Abaadi, Assistant Professor at the Department of European Studies, Faculty of World Studies

Article title: Cultural rapprochement in Asia: Synergy for fighting violence and extremism, in the abstract booklet of international Conference of Asian Cultural

Dialogue, conference date on 13. 01. 2018 to 15. 01. 2018• Dr. Seyyed Hadi Borhani, Assistant Professor at West Asian Studies and North African Studies, Faculty of World Studies

Article title: Palestine/Israel question from Iran’s perspective, in the abstract booklet of international Conference of Asian Cultural Dialogue, conference date on 13. 01. 2018 to 15. 01. 2018

1) Foreign student experience in Iran with emphasis on cultural and social aspectsExecutive: Dr. Hamid Mola’ei Farsangi; Assistant

Professor at the Department of South and East Asian and Oceanic Studies Contractor: Institute of Cultural and Social Studies of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology2) Explaining the context, and the reasons

of using VPN

Executive: Dr. Hamid Mola’ei Farsangi; Assistant Professor at the Department of South and East Asian and Oceanic Studies Contractor: Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (Iran Telecommunication Research Center)3) Carrying out researches on the status of media in the countryExecutive: Dr. Zeinab Ghasemi Tari, Assistant Professor at the Department of American StudiesContractor: Pars Expert Researches Co.

Research Proposals



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research news

Introducing the book "Basic Theories and Concepts of E-Government"

“Basic Theories and Concepts of E-Government” by Dr. Seyyed Sa’id Reza Ameli, Professor of Communication and North American Studies at the University of Tehran, was published in the winter of 1396. This book was published by Amir Kabir Publishing as the tenth volume of the collection “Culture, Media and Cyberspace”. The book “Basic Theories and Concepts of E-Government” examines conceptual theories and approaches of e-government in six parts of introduction, four chapters, and introduction.

The book’s introduction, discussing the preliminary discussion of the conceptual issues in formation of e-government, looks at the history of e-government and the beginning of the e-government process. This history goes on to focus on the case study and successful South Korean e-government as the world’s first e-government. In a historical account, the author points out the e-government on “considering the technological requirements of each era,” and believes that “the concept of e-government and the level of government’s virtuality, and official-government processes are a function of technological advances and the development of cyberspace infrastructures.” The author also believes that “Among other factors that make government aligned with technology development, it can be

noted that with the advent of technologies in society, citizens’ expectations of the state have increased in the way of providing and quality of services and information.”

The first chapter of the book, Conceptual Approaches to e-Government, addresses various conceptual and theoretical issues of e-government. This chapter begins with the epistemology of e-government. The debate continues with the difference between e-government and e-ruling, and trends in e-government technology are investigated. Following the e-government goals, the typology of various e-government models has been addressed and the benefits of e-government models are mentioned.

Next, the limitations and challenges of e-government are discussed. The challenges of e-government arise at two levels of government-related and citizen-related issues: government-related challenges include infrastructure, economic, organizational and strategic barriers; and citizen-related challenges include digital gaps, technology discontent, privacy, technology security, lack of education and skills, low-level electronic literacy and cultural barriers. The discussion goes on to elaborate on some solutions to the challenges of e-government.

Another important part that has been addressed in this chapter is theoretical approaches to e-government, including process-oriented approach, managerial approach, e-commerce approach, collaborative approach, legal approach, scholarly approach, organizational approach, cultural, social and political approaches, and ultimately, citizen-centered approach. After discussing topics such as e-government acceptance and theoretical approaches to its acceptance, the author has addressed the subject of e-government assessment. In this section, models of value measurements, success

Published Books



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research newsmodels and e-government service quality models were introduced, followed by e-government readiness and its indicators.

Conceptual approaches to government is the title of the second chapter of the book, which begins with the discussion of the recognition of the mobile government, and then the process of government along with the goals of the emergence of the mobile government has been considered. The author, with a typology of mobile government models, describes their benefits as well as the constraints and challenges of the mobile government and the typology of mobile government services. The next part is theoretical approaches to the government, which ultimately leads to the acceptance of the mobile government and the electronic preparedness of mobile government.

Chapter 3 of this book addresses international models of e-government implementation. Among the models studied in this chapter are e-government models in developing countries, advancing models, e-government quality service model, e-government evolution model, e-government ingenerate models, MVA E, general adjustment model, and a critical model. In addition to the design of e-government models, implementation models of mobile government have been considered, including the models studied in this section, the interactive maturity model of mobile government, user-friendly mobile government model. Also, in this chapter, successful examples of e-government were also discussed.

The fourth chapter also focuses on the idea of an open government, a connected government, a transformation government, and smart government. In the open government sector, attention has been paid to the benefits and challenges of open government, and after the outlining the features of open government, theories on open government have been reviewed. Open

government models have also been reviewed after open government assessment. In the connected government sector, the stages of connected government, as well as its foundations, are discussed. After reviewing the transformation government, the author also addressed the smart government, in which the evolution of the government from government 1.0, government 2.0 to government 3.0 or smart government has been evaluated.

In concluding the book, the author has also discussed the theoretical and conceptual issues raised in the book, discusses new theoretical idea entitled “Uniform Dual Governance and the Intelligent Government of All Things.” The author concludes after discussing current e-government trends, such as “parallelism of centralism and non-centralism”, “citizen-oriented government approach”, “government intelligence strength”, “multi-channeling of parallel services delivery”, “flexible electronic service”, “ everywhere and everyday government” , “service simplification”, “complexity and multiplication of implementation models” and, finally, “citizen’s right to know”, discusses his theory and conveys the advantage of a “uniform dual government “ as “the second space of the Islamic Republic of Iran being in line with the values, culture and civilization heritage as well as basic needs and priorities related to different economic sectors, including services, agriculture, and industry and various areas of cultural, economic, political and associated with the government, the private sector and the public”.

The book “Basic Theories and Concepts of E-Government” is a novel book of its kind that is recommended for all Internet researcher and cyberspace policy-making as well as students and researchers in the fields of communications science, information technology management, government administration and the field’s enthusiasts.

Original title of the book: Iranian Society in the Mirror of the Cinema Dr. Ruhollah Hosseini, Assistant Professor at the Department of European

Studies, Faculty of World Studies Title of chapter: Social Study of Film and Analytical Approaches to FilmPublication: Institute of Culture, Art, and Communication



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research news

The second volume of the Journal of Cyberspace Studies was published

The Journal of Cyberspace Studies [JCSS] is published by University of Tehran on behalf of the “Cyberspace Policy Research Center” and the “UNESCO Chair on Cyberspace and Culture: Dual Spacization of the World”.

Prof Mohammad Marandi, Prof Saied Reza Ameli, and Dr Hamideh Molaei serve as the Journal’s Director-in-Charge, Editor-in-Chief, and Executive Editor respectively.

The articles published in the first issue of the second volume are including:

“A Comparative Study of Regulating the Filtering of Cyberspace in the US, the EU and China: Proposals for Policymaking in Iran” by Prof. Hassan Bashir (Imam Sadiq University, Iran) & Dr Mohammad Sadegh Nasrollahi (Imam Sadiq University, Iran)

“Rearticulating Internet Literacy” by Prof Alfred Thomas Bauer (Institut fuer Publizistik und Kommunikationswissenschaft , Universität Wien, Österreich) & Mr Ebrahim Mohseni Ahooei (Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Austria; Cyberspace Research Policy Center, University of Tehran, Iran)

“Semiotic Approach to Globalization: Living in a World of Glocal Things” by Dr Shaho Sabbar (Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Iran) & Ms. Somayeh Dalvand (Faculty of Social

Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran)“The Perception of Usefulness: Iranian

Customers’ Evaluation of Customer Reviews” by Dr Ehsan Shahghasemi (Department of Communication, University of Tehran, Iran), Mr Mojtaba Hajijafari (Center for Cyber Policy Studies, University of Tehran, Iran), Ms Maysam Shirzadifard (Department of Educational Psychology, University of Tehran, Iran) & Dr Mostafa Ahmadzadeh (Department of Social Communication Studies, University of Tehran, Iran)

“Topic Modeling and Classification of Cyberspace Papers Using Text Mining” by Prof Babak Sohrabi (Department of IT Management, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Iran), Dr Iman Raeesi Vanani (Allameh Tabataba’i University, Iran) & Mr MMohsen Baranizade Shineh (Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Iran)

“Behavioral Considerations in Developing Web Information Systems: User-centered Design Agenda” by Dr Hamid Keshavarz (Department of Information Science and Knowledge Studies, University of Semnan, Iran), Dr Fatima Fahimnia (Department of Information Science and Knowledge Studies, University of Tehran, Iran) & Ms Fatemeh Sedigh Talemi (Faculty of Foreign Languages, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Iran)

To read the full text of these article you may visit https://jcss.ut.ac.ir/



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What brought you to Tehran for the first time and what was your first impression of Iran when you visited the country?

I have first visited Tehran 10 years ago in 2008. I was still a student at Yerevan State University and I visited Iran for a short-term educational program. Tehran was certainly very different from any other place I had been before that. Some things were unusual, but at the same time, I felt very comfortable in Iran. My interest for Iranian studies has only grown further after my first trip to the country.

In your opinion as an expert in Eurasian studies, what are some of the common grounds Iran and the Caucasus region can built bridges and establish ties on?

Establishing good relations with all of its immediate neighbors is a foreign policy priority for Iran. Besides enhancing economic cooperation, it would

also contribute to the security across Iran’s borders. Countries of the Caucasus region are no exception to this. Due to the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh there are certain limitations for potential regional cooperation. That leaves Iran only with the option of maintaining ties with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia individually. All three countries of the region see themselves as a potential corridor for Iranian trade beyond the region, but there are competing and mutually exclusive routes which may theoretically damage the economic and power balance in the South Caucasus. Economic benefits often go hand in hand with political gains, and as a regional heavyweight power, Iran is expected to fine-tune its policies in the Caucasus to ensure further stability. The Caucasus has strong historic and cultural links to Iran, which may also be an effective public diplomacy tool.

Avetikyan Gevorg

Associate Director, International MA in Russian and Eurasian Studies Program (IMARES) and Energy Politics in Eurasia Program (ENERPO)

Lecturer, teaching a course: Between Russia and Iran: Geopolitical History of the South Caucasus in the 19th-20th Centuries

Areas of interest: Iranian Studies, Oriental Studies, Nationalism, Ethnicity, Identity, History of the USSR, South Caucasus, Central Asia, Post-Soviet Nation States, International Relations Editorial group member of the Iran and the Caucasus academic journal published by Brill, Leiden (since 2009); editorial committee member of the Nazioni e Regioni academic journal published in Italy (since 2014).

Languages: Armenian- native, Russian – native, English – fluent, Persian – advanced, Dari/Tajik – intermediate, Turkish/Azerbaijani – elementary (reading with a dictionary)

Interview with Professors-4



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What is your take on the Faculty of World Studies mission in creating opportunities for Iran to expand relations with other nations, particularly the Eurasian countries?

The Faculty of World Studies is a young but very active academic center striving not only to study various regions but also to establish tangible cooperation opportunities with colleagues abroad. My colleagues and I appreciated the genuine interest and enthusiasm of the FWS representatives during their trip to Russia. Iranian faculty members were open to share their expertise on Iran, Russia and Eurasia affairs. It is also a valuable opportunity for foreign representatives of academia and expert community to be able to visit Tehran, meet scholars at FWS and look for ways of academic exchange. There is a tendency of increasing Iran-Eurasia relations and it is important for both Russian and Iranian counterparts to react to this trend.

How would you describe Iran-Armenia’s

relations and would you please tell us if it played a role in your decision to move to Armenia to pursue Iranian Studies?

I was born and grew up mostly in Armenia. That is also where I started to pursue Iranian studies, which I later continued in Hungary and in Russia. Contemporary Iranian- Armenian relations enjoy a high level of mutual trust and understanding of each other’s expectations. There is a visible misbalance in the economic relations, which may be explained by several factors such as geographic limitations, lack of infrastructure, but also armed conflicts with third parties and market accessibility restrictions. Politically and culturally, Iran and Armenia have demonstrated an exemplary case of good-neighborly relations. However, there are still obstacles for full-fledged co-operation. Business and legal communities of the two countries, for example, are not very well aware of each other. Iran has played a very important role for landlocked Armenia to establish connections with the outer world. On the other hand, Armenia today strives

to provide an opportunity for Iran to establish links with the Eurasian Economic Union.

In your opinion, what does the future of Iran-

Russia’s relations will bring to the Middle East region and the two nations in particular?

It is widely considered that the relations between Iran and Russia have improved drastically since their involvement in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The two sides have seen each other as partners in providing security measures in Syria, for example. However, there may be a potential clash of economic and political interests of Iran and Russia in the Middle East when the ongoing military confrontations are over and a period of post-war transition and peaceful reconstruction begins. It would be in the interests of both Iran and Russia as well as the Middle Eastern nations to look for mutually beneficial co-operation opportunities.

Among the Faculty of World Studies’ missions

is to reshape students and academics’ perceptions about countries and regions they study, based on facts and realities. How do you assess FWS’s accomplishment in that?

We have just recently signed a memorandum of understanding between European University at St. Petersburg (Russia) and the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran. It will take some time for faculty members and scholars from both sides to work closer together. I would rather assess FWS’s accomplishment in reshaping perceptions about other countries in a few months from now, when we hopefully organize joint discussions and produce academic publications available to readers in Russia and Iran. But it was clear after our visit to Tehran and our meeting with colleagues at FWS that they are genuinely interested in sharing opinions and understanding Russia and Eurasia through close interactions between our institutions.

Thank you for your hospitality and for your interest in Eurasian affairs.

Setare Sadeghi, PHD Candidate in American Studies

Interview with Professors-4



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A meeting was held between Secretariat for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Islamic World and United Nations Population Fund at the Shoura Hall of the Faculty of World Studies in Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane, Representative for United Nations Population Fund, Mr. Kambiz Kabiri, United Nations Expert in Population Programs, Dr. Mohamad Bagher Ghahremani, International Deputy of the University of Tehran, Dr. Masoud Kamarei, Dean of the Faculty of Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, Dr. Seyed Saeid Reza Ameli, Dean of the Faculty of

World Dr. Mohamad Jalal Abasi Shavazi, Scientific Secretary of the Congress on Population Dynamics and Human Capital in Islamic Countries and Director of the National Population Studies and Comprehensive Management Institute, Dr. Ali Akbar Mousavi Movahedi, Secretary General of the International Congress on Scientific and Technological Development in Islamic World and Representative of University of Tehran in International Council for Science, and Dr. Amir Bahram Arab Ahmadi, Advisor of the Faculty of World Studies in International Affairs, attended the meeting.

The parties exchanged ideas about the promotion of cooperation between the two organizations and discussed the different aspects of the International Congress on Population Dynamics and Human Capital in Islamic Countries. The delegates decided on signing a memorandum pf understanding between the Secretariat of Scientific and Technological Development in Islamic World and United Nations Population Fund to develop mutual cooperation.

The Secretaries for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Islamic World and United Nations Population Fund had a meeting and exchanged ideas

Junior Penialor Codo, Consular and Press Chief of Staff of the Embassy of Cuba, visited FWS

Mr. Codo, Dr. Arab Ahmadi, Dr. Irma Navabi, and Dr. Maryam Haghrousta attended a meeting at the Faculty of World Studies on Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

Dr. Arab Ahmadi began the discussion by briefly introducing the Faculty of World Studies and the nature of the different majors studied in the Faculty. He also asserted on the development of cultural relations between Iran and the studied countries in the Faculty of World Studies.

Junior Codo also expressed the complete eagerness of the Cuban Embassy to hold any cultural events at the University of Tehran and the Faculty of

World Studies. The parties then began exchanging ideas about the Cuban Cultural Week Program.

Dr. Haghrousta introduced the series of cultural week programs held for Latin American countries at the Faculty of World Studies. The Cuban Cultural Week Program will be the second in the series only after Colombian Cultural Week Program. It will be held during the current educational semester and the Cuban Ambassador and delegates from other Spanish-speaking countries will attend the program.

The two sides asserted on the development of academic and cultural relations between Iran and Cuba at the end of the meeting.

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Faculty’s News

On a meeting, which was held on Tuesday 23 January, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Sharif Anis, the Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka met with Prof Saied Reza Ameli, the Dean of the Faculty, and Dr. Hamideh Molaei, an Assistant Professor at the Department of South and East Asia & Oceanian Studies.

Dr. Anis, who is also a professor of political science at

University of Colombo, proposed student and academic exchange and touched upon scientific collaboration between the two universities.

The hundred-and-fifty-years-old University of Colombo is the largest and oldest university in Sri Lanka, which has over 200 faculty members, 400 staff and 11000 enrolled students in 44 departments, with the global ranking of about 500.

Prof Ameli warmly welcomed Dr Anis, illustrated the UT and FWS potentials, and expressed his interest in extending and ratifying agreements between UT and the University of Colombo, particularly the close collaboration of the FWS with Colombo’ College of Political Science and Public Diplomacy.

Mr. Anis, clarified that there has not been any formal agreement between the Sri Lankan and Iranian universities so far.

It is worth noting that the Sri Lankan president shall pay a state visit to Iran, by which bilateral cultural. Economic and political relations would develop.

Sri Lankan Ambassador meets the FWS Dean

Dr. Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, Indonesian MP and Member of the Asian Parliamentary Assembley, spoke at FWS

The Second Consensus Meeting of the Faculty Members was Held

Dr. Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, Member of the Parliament of Indonesia and one of the prominent political and cultural figures of the country, spoke at the Faculty of World Studies on Monday, January 15, 2018.

She discussed the relations between Iran and Indonesia and the role of culture in promoting political relations between the two countries. She answered some questions at the end of her speech and asked for further development in relations between Iran and Indonesia in different fields.

The second consensus meeting of the academic members of the FWS on the faculty’s development was held on Monday morning, 22 Jan 2018 at the Hannaneh Hall.

The faculty members expressed their opinions on the faculty’s representation at the national and

international scientific stages. The meeting concluded that it demands another session for further implementations.



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Faculty’s News

The 6th professional meeting of the Institute for North American and European Studies: “Human Position in Kant’s Philosophy”

The 6th professional meeting of Institute for North American and European Studies was held on February 6th, 2018, by the cooperation of Iranian Council of World Studies and the speech of Dr. Shahin Avani, assistant professor of the Iran’s Wisdom and Philosophy research institution, about “Human position in Kant’s philosophy”.

At first, Dr. Avani introduced the biography of Immanuel Kant and said that he was born in Konigsberg, Germany in 1724. She adds that along with Plato and Aristotle, Kant is one of the three great and influential philosophers and he undeniably is the deepest thinker of European Enlightenment.

In the following, she adds that according to Kant, the magnitude of revolution that he created in philosophy is comparable to Copernicus revolution. Since the end of 18th century, it would definitely be said that there was no thought in philosophy that did not originate from Kant’s philosophy both directly or indirectly. Although, Descartes’s idea especially on the Theology, the reality of the outside world, etc. was

effective however, it is rejected by Kant. The object (God, Soul, real world) in Descartes’s philosophy is replaced by subject. It means that everything in Kant’s philosophy must be proved by wisdom or reason. According to Kant, All things like religion, morality, law, science, and art should be accepted and proved by reason.

About the genesis of the Kant’s view, Dr. Avani told that for more understanding of this area we should consider the common thought in 17th century. She said that in this century the common thought was just like Kant’s view and it is necessary to introduce the philosophers that they influenced Kant. For instance, Francis Bacon caused the emergence of scientific thought by bringing of The Realm of Human Ambivalence up. The other philosopher that influenced Kant was David Hume who was believed that real issues and ethic-value issues must be separated. One of the most important philosophers that had an impact on Kant was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Kant loved Rousseau but he did not accept all of Rousseau’s



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Faculty’s News

ideas. For example, Rousseau believed that instinctive emotions are more important than wisdom. He was believed to nature however, Kant had different idea.

In the following of the lecture, she added that Kant is an idealist philosopher. She believes that the German idealism is originated from Kant. The idealism from Kant’s point of view is that there is no creature except thinking creatures and all of the other things that we can perceive are only images of thoughtful things. Kant believes that the thought of human is able to improve his condition but he criticize it and tries to determine of limits of wisdom not only in consideration but in practice.

Kant sees the human as tow-sided. One side is the relationship of human with nature that is extremely lawful and the other side is the sense of human freedom without any domination by anything. Human from the inside cosmos is Noumenon and from the outside cosmos is Phenomenon.

Dr. Avani added that from the Kant point of view human is an ethical animal. He starts his philosophy by the use of human. The human that is able to stand on his feet, to walk, to speak, and to think. Human’s thought can analyze the facing world. Kant is a philosopher that proves the existence of the God by ethical reason. He believes that neither nature nor specific plan are the reasons of human behavior. We cannot be hurt or in suffering. Human is self-rituals. In fact, he is not only legislator but also law amenable. In his nature, human is captivated by the freedom. There is a difference between authority and freedom in Kant’s idea. The nature gives human the authority based on thought and provides the equipment for human perfection. There will be a complete description about these two issues in the lecture.

In the following, Dr. Avani mentioned to a famous statement of Kant that Every thing in the world has price and the only worthwhile thing is human“. The thing that has price is changeable with another same-priced thing. The thing that is related to human commonly needs has marketprice however, the thing

that is related to perfection has intrinsic value or dignity and honor. The existence of worth aspect in human causes to see the humanity as extremity or perfection not just a useable device.

She also pointed out that the most accurate and serious issue in Kant’s idea about human is the difference between assignment and duty. If I be committed for doing an ethical assignment whether or not it would be obligatory assignment for me.

The lecturer told that the freedom is applied for human existence regarding to Noumenon. Human obligates himself freely. The freedom is rule of law and this law is certain to us. So, we are obligated in front of the law. Human is obligated to say no lie or to reject unfavorable things for himself and others equally. Human is obligated to do his work right but legality is his duty when serves as a teacher, nurse, etc. He is obliged to do the tasks in a right way because of rightness not for other goals that do not have ethical values.

Finally, Dr. Avani mentioned to Kant’s idea that the one who acts to his duty has the good will. The good will is the thing that does not have any condition and is good in nature.

In the end of 6th professional meeting of Institute for North American and European Studies, all philosophers that were influenced by Kant in Anthropology such as Edmund Husserl, Karl Jaspers, Martin Heidegger, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and Karl Marx were named and introduced.



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Faculty’s News

UNESCO's 19th Session in Culture and Cyberspace: Dualization of the World was held on Monday, Bahman 23, at the Hannaneh Hall, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, with the subject of "Developing the Priorities of Social Responsibility Codes in Cyberspace", along with the release of the first student documentary "The Question of Responsibility "By Mr. Seyed Milad Mousavi Haghshenas, MA in Communication, University of Tehran.

At the beginning of the session, Dr Ehsan Ghasemi, faculty member at University of Tehran, faculty of Social Science, welcoming the attendants, pointed out the importance of developing the priorities of social responsibility codes in cyberspace, and stated that expansion of this discussion leads to outstanding results in the field of cyberspace.

In regards to developing ethical codes, Mr. Seyyed Milad Mousavi Haghshenas argued that the necessity of ethical codes in cyberspace seems undeniable, considering its unparalleled, widespread, and increasing potentials. Also, one of the neglected potentials in developing and organizing ethics in cyberspace is taking advantage of role of social responsibilities and its related codes.

The master student in Communication at the University of Tehran, further on how to conduct research, added: "In this study, based on the data theory of the foundation and using the combination method, we first tried to conduct semi-structured interviews with experts and specialists in the field of communication, extract their proposed social responsibility codes in the field of cyberspace, and then by arranging a scroll through the questionnaire, measure the priority of the codes in terms of users of this space. Developing a prioritization system is important in that it can be considered by decision makers and agents in policy-making, legislation and strategic planning.

In the following, a 60-minute documentary "The Question of Responsibility" directed by Seyyed Milad Mousavi Haghshenas was featured; a documentary that addresses some of the most important current challenges of cyberspace. Issues such as "misleading information", "intellectual property," "deceptive content," "privacy," "the use of inappropriate, abusive and harmful techniques," "legal gaps," "children and families" , "re-publishing" and "social activism" were some of the issues discussed in this documentary by interviewing ten

The 19th session of the UCCCDSW’s conference series entitled “Developing the Priorities of Social Responsibility

Codes in Cyberspace” was held



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experts and specialists in the area of communication and the pathology that, according to its findings, can provide theoretical, practical, technical and legislative solutions from the perspective of the scholars and experts in this field to address the challenges posed by attention to social responsibility codes in cyberspace.

Mr. Mousavi Haghshenas added in the end that: according to the obtained results of this research social responsibility codes proposed by experts are categorized into ten topics of “social relations”, “privacy, protection and security”, “family and children”, “advertising and e-commerce”, “non-professional, harassing and harmful practices and techniques”, “media literacy”, “content generation”, “intellectual property”, “right of access”, and “Internet and bandwidth services”. In the view of cyberspace users, social responsibility codes related

to the categories “social relations” and “privacy, protections, and security” have higher priority in relation to others.

The issue of great importance at this meeting was the 60-minute documentary “Question of Responsibility”, directed and produced by the master student at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Tehran, Milad Mousavi Haghshenas, which was featured for the first time at the 19th session of the UNESCO Chair in Culture and Cyberspace with the presence of Dr. Sa'id Reza Ameli and a team of faculty members and communications researchers at the Faculty of World Studies.

The 19th UNESCO Meeting in Culture and Cyberspace: Dualization of the world ended with a donation of honorary plaque from the chairman of the UNESCO Chair to Mr. Seyyed Milad Mousavi Haghshenas.

Faculty’s News



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Faculty’s News

The seventh meeting of the Institute of North American and European Studies, Faculty of World Studies, with the title "The West in the View of Russia; Historical and Theoretical Study"

The seventh meeting of the Institute of North American and European Studies, Faculty of World Studies, with the title of "The West from the Viewpoint of Russia; A Historical and Theoretical Study" and the lecture by Dr. Jahangir Karami, Associate Professor at the Faculty of World Studies, was held on Monday at Hannaneh Hall, Faculty of World Studies, on the 30th of Bahman.

Dr. Karami, at the seventh session of the Institute, said that the concept of the West from the time of the Renaissance in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and afterwards, has been an important challenge for the world, as well as for Russia, an issue that has challenged a wide range of thinkers, analysts, politicians, and intellectuals with diverse, even contradictory theoretical and practical trends throughout the vicissitudinous history of Russia since the early 15th century. Considering the importance of its form and content, on Monday, Bahman 30th, an academic lecture with the title of “The West from the Viewpoint of Russia; A Historical and Theoretical Study", was presented by Dr. Jahangir Karami, Associate Professor of Eurasian Studies at the University of Tehran and director of the Russian Studies Department at the Institute of North American and European Studies at the faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran at Hannaneh Hall of the Faculty. In this meeting, which was held with the presence of students, professors, and officials of the faculty, and those interested in the Russian matters, Dr. Karami described the issue of the West, its importance from the perspective of Russia and Iran, the influences and historical upheavals influencing, and influenced by, this view, as well strengths, weaknesses, historical opportunities and history making resulted by it, explaining different perspectives from Czarist Russia

to modern Russia and analyzing and describing its theoretical and practical fields.

He then added: "One of the concepts that has been raised in Iran is the unpredictability of the Russians. But where does this concept come from? If we take a look at Russian policies, we will find that the Russians themselves have been involved with this issue of the west; every time the Russians have been with us in the face of the West, we respected them, and each time they approached the West, have been denounced by us. And thus we have understood Russia's reliability and unreliability in relation with the West.

Dr. Karami also said: "But the Russia have had many vicissitudes with the West, and as an example of the Yeltsin presidency to this day, this is a matter of convergence with the West in relation to or against the policies of economic and international relations in less were manifested within less than a decade, and in other occasions, cooperation with the West, and particularly with, America and NATO in the issue of September 11, 2001, Putin attack to America at a conference in Munich in 2005 with the use of the word "wolf predator", project reset based on close cooperation between America and Russia in 2008, or a joint European house design, have demonstrated a variety of examples of this divergence or convergence. In these discussions, I would like to answer the following questions:

How does Russia look to the West?1. Why has not Russia achieved balance with the

West over the past six centuries, from the 15th century to the present?

2. What are the consequences for Russia of the conflict and cooperation with the West?

My main idea has become clear with the help of Dr. Javad Tabatabai's idea of the term "on the verge of being" from aspect of time, but I want to look at this from four aspects of space, thought, structure, and function. The concept of on the verge of being the West reflects the fact that Russia cannot be joined and cannot be dismantled from it. Other questions are raised in this regard, and issues such as Western identity, Russian identity, and interactions between Russia and the West are important.



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Faculty of World Studies hosted a Number of Students from the National University of Singapore

A group of 16 students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have taken a 5-day trip to Iran under the supervision of Seyed Farid Al’ataas- a professor in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore- in order to get acquainted with Iran’s scientific, academic, political, and cultural state. They were hosted by the Faculty of World Studies. The Singapore University had previously sent out several groups of students to visit the Faculty of World Studies as well.

In the morning of 25th of February, three lectures were presented in the Faculty in which Dr. Ameli, PhD, the dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ahuee, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Iranian Studies, and Dr. Samiee, PhD, associate professor in the same department gave their lectures each on a different subject matter.

Dr. Ameli had a lecture entitled the “Understanding of Globalization in Connection with Americanization”. On his speech, he introduced his topic by stating that world views about Iran are absolutely wrong due to the wrong images the western media have shaped for people. Then he talks about obstacles facing a

proper understanding of a phenomenon. Basically, these obstacles include: previously held wrong pre-suppositions, first impressions, looking through such a multifold issue from only one perspective, and wrong information leading to wrong interactive programs often not reflecting any truth. As a sociology and communication expert, he believes that globalization means sharing values and information in a global level which is the offspring of high-speed transportation industry, and on the other hand, results from the emergence of communication industry which has wiped out the concept of “Distance” in the literal form of it. Along with the extension of interactive media in the 90s, one can see how easy it has been to share information and to travel all over the world, thus resulting in the fact that globalization has indeed turned into a broad political, economical and cultural reality.

On the one hand, the dominant aspects of the United States are noticed in military and political arenas in the whole world and on the other hand, widespread efforts have been made to develop an American model for values and culture of people. Basically, globalization

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Faculty’s News

is dictated by powerful countries, imposed on the other nations on a hierarchical basis, yet, the opposite can be true too. Take our greatest poet- Rumi- for instance, his poems and his way of thinking have been gone further than Iran’s borders and are now popular in America and other parts of the world. Therefore, deep layers of globalization are chosen selectively and people are forming it in the way they desire regardless of what powerful countries may have planned.

Dr. Ameli also mentioned that although democracy is a concept formed based on human beings’ intrinsic needs and matters for everyone, exploiting it as a means to an end is challenging and problematic. The Americans have labeled many nations, particularly those in the western Asia, as lacking democratic principles, and thus, has used it as a justification to engage in war, that is, a pretext to declare war against the so-called nations. In fact, liberalism in the American sense, will work out only if enforced upon people.

In essence, globalization has changed political and geo-political circumstances around the world and greater changes are yet to come. The likelihood of having more options to choose from and the competitive lifestyle and change in the interactions people have with each other have certainly shifted standards of a satisfying life.

In addition, Dr. Ameli pointed out three categories of globalization, namely, sacred and secular globalization, active and passive globalization, and physical and virtual one. He also distinguished between three periods of globalization: traditional, modern,

and interactive globalization which is the outcome of simultaneous communication industry. Ultimately, he accentuates on the fact that the new environment belongs to the power of people and it will therefore dominate every other power whatsoever including the military powers. We are facing a global awareness and conscience and this rise in people’s awareness will surely change domineering condition of the world someday soon.

In his lecture, “Iran in the political arena”, Dr. Ahuee described Iran’s certain potentials, opportunities, features and distinctive aspects in the Middle East and in the world in general. He then discussed Iran’s role in the political arena analyzing its situation from six points of view: national wealth, history, geographical zone (Iran’s distinction geographically, culturally, economically, and so on, so forth) security, and transit route.

Mr. Samiee’s matter of discussion was “getting to know the Shia Islam” seen from five different perspective, namely, historical, theoretical, juridical, clerical (clergymen) and cultural. He explored Shia school of thought in comparison with the Sunni thought asserting that the things these two sects share and have in common are obviously more than their differences; however, sadly enough, their differences have always been target to many misinterpretations and wrong propaganda. Yet, in fact, Shia and Sunni people have been standing side by side peacefully all over the world.

At the end of the conference, all the lecturers allowed time for questions and Seyed Farid Al’ataas presented some gifts to them as a sign of appreciation and memorandum.



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The Twentieth Session of Speech by UNESCO Chair in Culture and Cyber Space: Dualization of the World was held in University of Tehran, Iran Hall, Faculty of World Studies, focusing on Third Space: A Conceptual Model” by Dr Kowsari, faculty member of University of Tehran, Communication Group and the head of Scientific and Cultural Publications, on Tuesday, Esfand 8th 1396.

Having welcomed the participants in the meeting, Dr. Kowsari commented on the concept of the "third space" that: "With the development of our cyberspace, we reach the third place, and this space is formed in the minds of the user. And it can be said that the third space is in some way a kind of intermediate managerial space between real space and cyber space. In other words, we concurrently live in a cyber and a real space. In my view, a third space is generating more than ever, evolved from the cyber-real duality, and is developing every day.

The head of Scientific and Cultural Publications added that in this article research there are levels to define “cyber space” with which have different systematic features, including technology product, the presence of perception, user bio-experience, relative independence, etc, each generating divers spaces. Users live “in” the cyberspace as much as they live in the real space; and it can be said that they follow a

“proxy” experience or “physical proxy” experience in cyber space.

In the following, Dr. Kowsari mentioned theories on third space, saying that the third space theories of “Homi Bhabha and Edward Soja” have led to many studies in post-colonial studies and urban studies. However, this concept has not been used in cyberspace studies, cyber culture theory, etc. Yet, it can be an important and highly accessible concept in these studies. Also, the concept of the third space not only gives a better understanding of the relationship between real space and cyberspace, but also gives a clearer picture of how the user communicates with these two spaces, and the understanding and interpretation that emerges from these two spaces. On the other hand, the concept of the third space leads to a new understanding of user’s relationship with new electronic devices (touch screen mobiles, digital games, and virtual museums).

Associate Professor of the Department of Communications, Faculty of Social Sciences, also discussed theories related to the "Third Space", adding that: convergence theories, instead of focusing on user, seek convergence in electronic devices and bio-spaces _ work, house, and entertainment spaces. While the most important convergence occurred in the mind of user; and that is the formation of the third space, which is the product of development of electronic

The Twentieth session of the UCCCDSW’s conference series entitled “The Third Space:

A Conceptual Mode” was held at the Faculty

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Faculty’s News

device, doing a lot of everyday life through virtual networks, and most importantly, the "mediation" of the user between the two real and cyber space. For conceptualization of the third space, although we have used Soja conceptualization of the third space, we do not consider it sufficient to understand the user's relationship with the real and cyber space and the formation of a third space.

The member of the Faculty of Communication at University of Tehran argued in connection with the implications of the existence of a third space for users: hence, relying on theories of mental space and the conceptual matching of Fauconnier and Turner (see Turner 1993, 1996; Fokooniya 1994, 1997; Fokooniya and Turner 2002) and its completion with a phenomenological approach, we present a three-dimensional model for user's relationship with real and cyber space. In this model, the first space is real space; the second space is the cyberspace; and the third space, the perceptual space formed in the mind of the user. This space is a mixture of spaces that simultaneously have the characteristics of both spaces. It is in this space where user can manage his life in

two spaces better than ever, and reduce the stresses of traveling between two real and cyberspaces.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Kowsari pointed out that: the third space is a controlling and coordination table through which the user can mediate his interactions in real and cyber space and switch from one space to another. By expanding cyberspace and as real and cyberspace are interweaving, in the near future, the user's skill in managing their interactions in real and cyber space will become a critical issue.

At the end of the session Dr Ameli, the head of UNESCO chair, said that at the present we are moving from an old era to the new one, and virtualization is formed in combination with the real biomass of the triple combination of (1) real-virtual that changes the cognitive system and the emergence of cognitive real-virtual combinations, (2) being real-virtual that has led to the formation of new institutions that are the product of the real world bond with the virtual universe, and (3) becoming real-virtual, which has a very wide combined trends between the real world and the virtual world. These three form a system that represents a large transition from a single-space universe to a double-space world. This combination has created worlds and intermediary spaces that can be interpreted as the third space. In fact, we are moving the paradigm from one period to another, and discussion over third space leads us to a clearer understanding of the kind of interaction between cyberspace and real space.

At the end of the meeting, and after questions asked by participants were answered, a Plaque of Appreciation of UNESCO Chair was granted to Dr. Masoud Kowsari by Dr. Saeid Reza Ameli.



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A Lecture on “How to Assist and Help Armed Conflict Refugees”

Dr. Haddad Adel, the head of Persian Literature Academy, visited the library of the Faculty of World Studies.

During this visit, he met different parts of the library including Reference part, open reservoir and publications, specialty collections in various languages of English, Persian, Russia, Spanish, German, French, Arabic, in different issues of Country Studies, Policy, Culture, and Iran Studies.

This library contains 20000 books and 3000 journals that in these collections, there are lots of exquisite works including 2000 Turkish books, 1200 Japanese books, 600 rare Russian books, and 5000 books with global topics.

Moreover, digital library of the Faculty contains 300000 English books in Political and Social Sciences that are downloadable for students and researchers.

The lecture "How to Assist and Help Armed Conflict Refugees" was held by Institute for North American and European Studies at the Faculty of World Studies, delivered by Matthew Gooden, professor at the Institute of Political Studies, Toulouse, France, on Tuesday, February 24, 2013, at the Hall of the Faculty of World Studies, Iran.

The professor at the Institute for Political Studies has cited refugee problems in the past few years as a global issue, saying that European countries face the problem more than other countries. So every year, they try to solve this problem through various

measures.He also referred to refugees’ problems from the

Crusade wars between Catholics and Muslims to reclaim lost areas till now in order to historically analyze the matter. Through the historical analysis, it is understood that one of the strengths to deal with the situation is the formation of the Red Crescent and the emergence of borderless doctors, and after the Second World War, the United Nations established a refugee organization to resolve refugee of wars and conflicts.

The professor at the College of Toulouse in France, at the end, described the duties and actions taken by the organization for refugees from various wars, including conflicts in Syria.

The library of the Faculty of World Studies and its worthwhile foreign work

Faculty’s News



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Faculty’s News

Meeting of the Institute for North American and European Studies in collaboration with the Faculty of World Studies and the Association Of Tehran University’s Iranian council of French literature and language

Norwegian Institute of International Affairs researchers visit FWS

Institute for North American and European Studies at the Faculty of World Studies invited Professor Jan U. Geran from the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris III. Professor Geran delivered a lecture about “Committed literature in France” and this meeting was held on January 29th, 2018 at the Iran Hall of World Studies College.

During the lecture, Professor Geran named some writers like Victor Hugo and Voltaire as the leaders of committed French literature or policy in 19 century. He mentioned to the 1980s history when Emil Zola defended Dreyfus, the Jewish Officer that was accused for treason in favor of Germany, and published a treatise.

The end of 19 century was introduced as the

beginning of committed literature by Professor Geran. He mentioned to theorizing of committed literature by Sarter and named him as the pioneer of this area at 20th century.

In the following, Professor Geran introduced the characteristics of committed literature and its differences by the literature that supports special ideology. He adds that the former area tries to exhibit the universe to the reader however, the latter area induces one ideology. Then, Professor Geran mentioned to some other committed literature writers like Camus, Eluard, Aragon, etc. and finally, he described different kinds of committed literature such as treatise, novel, and play.

Visit of the Vice-President of International Relations at the University of Cologne, Germany, headed by the Faculty of World Studies

Dr. Stefan Bildehower, Undersecretary for International Relations at the University of Cologne, Germany, met today at the Faculty of World Studies, with Dr. Said Reza Ameli, Chair of the Faculty of World Studies.

The meeting was organized by the Department of German Studies and Iranian Studies at the

University of Cologne within the framework of the bound Protocol between the two Universities. At the meeting, according to the Protocol of, the parties were scheduled to conclude a pre-contractual agreement.



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Dr. Franco Frascorra, Ph.D. Professor at South African University of KwaZulu-Natal, delivered a speech to a group of professors and students from the

Department of South African Studies

With the efforts of the South African Science Association, the Department of South African Studies in the Faculty of World Studies, on Sunday, March 13, 1396, hosted Dr. Franco Frascorra, a professor at the University of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal. Dr. Frascorra, in his presentation, described the native architecture as one of the most important traditions of the South African tribes by presenting a general description of the native architecture in different parts of South Africa. By specifying the features of this style of architecture, he presented slides and images of houses and traditional cottages which belonged to black tribes of this country.

In another part of his speech, referring to the negligence of the South African Government in preserving and protecting this valuable indigenous heritage, he regarded the traditional architecture of South Africa was regarded as an endangered tradition and art which is gradually being annihilated by the invasion of the Western culture.

At the end of the lecture, students from the

Department of South African Studies inquired about the style of South African native architecture, which were responded by Dr. Frascorra. He presented a number of books on South African traditional architecture to the Department of South African Studies.

It is worth mentioning that at the beginning of this meeting, Dr. Arab Ahmadi, the head of Department of South African Studies, having introduced the Faculty, commented on Department of South African Studies and its course subjects, which was very well received by the professor of South African University.

Faculty’s News



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Faculty’s News

The eighth session in the series of meetings of the Iranian approach to Western studies entitled “Western Studies: Ideas and Approaches”, with a speech delivered by Dr. Mohammad Reza Dehshiri, Faculty Member of the Department of International Affairs, was held on Tuesday 15th Esfand at the Institute of North American and European Studies at the Faculty of World Studies.

Dr. Mohammad Reza Dehshiri initially referred to the issue that what is West we are dealing with, and one of the most striking points in this regard is the “philosophical west.” In the philosophical west, three factors of individual interaction, social interaction and international interaction are to be studied.

He then explains the three approaches used in western studies:

1. Historical Approach: Studied from ancient times to modern times.

2. The Approach to intellectual foundations and doctrines of the West: Developing the core details of Western thought, and consideration of the cognitive aspect of Western Civilization

3. Subject-oriented approach: This approach enjoyed political, economic, philosophical and ideological aspects.

In this lecture, ten methodologies in western studies, particularly the tenth one, were considered. The tenth method is a method of distinction and differentiation, it is important in the distinction and differentiation method, the distinctions and differences between modernity and modernism,

The Eighth Meeting of the American Institute of North American Studies Entitled "Western Studies: Ideas and Approaches"



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Faculty’s News

The Celebration of the End of the Year 96 at the Faculty of World Studies

At the end of the year 96 (Esfand 21st/March 12th, 2018), a celebration was held by the Faculty of World Studies with the attendance of professors, students, and staff of the department at National Museum of Medical History of Iran.

At this celebration, Dr. Ameli said “Happy New Year” to all the professors, students, and the staff and he appreciated everyone in the department for their efforts during the year 96.

In the following of the celebration, Mr. Hamid Nirooee was praised as a diligent employer at the Faculty of World Studies. He has performed in different positions at the Faculty during the past years.

Dr. Ameli, the Head of the Faculty of World Studies, introduced Mr. Nirooei as a continual member of the Faculty and named him one of the founders of the department.

The Representative of the Council of the Faculty of the World Studies, Dr. Fariba Afkari, thanked Mr.

Nirooei because of his services and efforts. Additionally, some other people at the faculty were

praised as privileged staff in the winter season. These people included Ms. Somaye Karimpoor, the accountant of the Faculty of World Studies, Ms. Farnaz Noori, Ph.D. Student of the Faculty of World Studies and the director of the quarterly journal of the World Studies.

According to Mr. Herav Abadi’s suggestion, some people were praised for their Qur’anic efforts that they were worthwhile in expanding this culture. Also, Mr. Herav Abadi was praised for his efforts during the year 96.

In the following, all of the active students in the scientific, cultural, and executive areas were appreciated for their worthwhile efforts.

It should be noted that for all people who were born in the second half of the year at the Faculty of World Studies, a cake with picture was prepared and their birth was celebrated.



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Faculty’s News

On Monday, 21st of Esfand, 1396, the Faculty of World Studies hosted delegations from international deputy of Institute for Regulation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, Headed by Mr. Mohammad Reza Abdollahi Fard, Communication Director of for Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works. In this meeting, in addition to Dr. Ameli, the Head of the Faculty, there were also Dr. Sharbaaf, Assistant of the Financial and Official Matters of the Faculty, Dr. Arab Ahmadi, International Consultant, Dr. Sami’ee, Director of the Department of Iranian Studies, and Dr. AliKhani, Director of the Department of East Asian Studies, present in the meeting. Communication Director of the Institute provided comprehensive explanations regarding the activities of the Institute for the regulation and publication of the works of Imam Khomeini. Emphasizing the discussion on audience and needs assessment of overseas audience, he demanded developing relations with the Faculty of World Studies in holding seminars, collaborative meetings, compiling and translating books, and students visit of the institute

and the Shrine of Imam.In the following, Dr. Ameli and professors present

at the meeting welcomed relations with the Institute of Regulation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, and announced their readiness in regard to:

- Holding scholarly meetings about Imam, with the presence of guests from other countries

- Translating Imam’s works into other languages, selecting topics around the influence of Imam Khomeini at the national, regional, and global levels in form of dissertations in master's degree and doctorate

- Compiling books on Imam’s global views- Holding review sessions on books written about

Imam Khomeini, and etc.At the end of the meeting, it was decided that

a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation to be signed between the Faculty of World Studies and the Institute for the Regulation and Publication of Works of Khomeini in early 1397 and that the two parties enter an operational phase of scientific and cultural cooperation.

The Dean and the Associate Deans of the FWS of the Faculty of World Studies Met with the Officials of Institute for Regulation Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works



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On Monday, 19/12/1396, a delegation of experts from the HUNGFA Industrial Group of China, along with Dr. Masoumi, professor at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Tehran, met Dr. Arab Ahmadi, International Counselor at the Faculty of World Studies.

In this meeting, Dr. Arab Ahmadi presented extended explanation about the faculty and its fields of studies. He pointed out that Chinese studies in master's degree would be established in the near future at the Faculty of World Studies. He expressed the aim of the faculty to be students’ familiarity with the countries of the world and training of experts familiar with the issues of the day in different areas of the world. He noted that a significant number

of faculty graduates have now occupied important positions in their field expertise in public and private.

Next, Mr. Henry Zhang, the chairperson of the delegation, listing the activities of the HUNGFA industrial group in the field of electronics and electric appliances, listed Iran as one of the target countries of China and provided some explanations about the activities of the HUNGFA industrial group. He commended the mission of the Faculty of World Studies to educate well-trained specialists in various parts of the world and appreciated the efforts of the head of the faculty to play this important role.

In the end, the Faculty Logo was presented to the Chief of Chinese delegation, along with a booklet introducing the fields of study at the Faculty of World Studies.

Meeting of the Chinese delegation with the international counselor of the Faculty of World Studies

Faculty’s News



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Student News

Tohid Asadi

Tohid Asadi has been a student at the Faculty of World Studies since 2013. He completed his MA in North American Studies in 2015, and took an opportunity to attend the PhD program the same year. Being the youngest Candidate at the Faculty, he is currently working on his doctoral dissertation on the international political economy of Indo-American relations under supervision of Dr. Mohammad Ali Mousavi and Dr. Foad Izadi. Tohid received University of Tehran’s Top Researcher Award in Humanities in 2015 and Iranian National Elites Foundation’s Research Grant in 2016. With a professional background in journalism and personal interest in foreign policy, he has worked for ISNA as an editor of International Desk since 2009. He has been a member of Scientific Council for Cultural Studies at ACECR since 2017, and the executive editor of International Journal of Women’s Research since 2015. Tohid has published research papers in several journals worldwide including in India, Ukraine, and Spain. He is expecting his two books to be out this year; Future of Iran and India Relations co-authored by Dr. Heshmat-Sadat Moinifar, and a Persian translation of Cultural Policies in East Asia: Dynamics between the State, Arts and Creative Industries. His life purpose, inside the academia, and outside it, is reportedly “to be of some use to mankind”!



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International Peace Research Association Foundation

http://iprafoundation.org/

Peace and Justice Studies Association

https://www.peacejusticestudies.org/

Peace Studies Section (PEACE)

http://www.isanet.org/ISA/Sections/PEACE

Peace & Conflict Studies

https://www.swarthmore.edu/peace-c onflict-studies

Peace Studies Association of Japan (PSAJ)

https://www.psaj.org/english/about-psaj/

Peace and Justice Studies Association

https://justiceandpeace.georgetown.edu/pjsa

International Peace Studies Association

https://www.uwsuper.edu/studentorgs/international-peace-studies-association_studentorg796111

Canadian Association of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS-Can)

https://pacscan.ca/en/home/

Canadian School of Peacebuilding

http://csop.cmu.ca/

War and Peace Studies Caucus | ASA - American Studies Association

https://www.theasa.net/communities/caucuses/war-peace-studies-caucus

Elaheh Nourigholamizadeh, PHD Candidate of American Studies

Peace Studies Centers

Introduction of the World’s Scientific



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A List of Strategic Studies Centers


International Peace Studies

https://www.tcd.ie/ise/postgraduate/peace-studies.phpnternational Peace Studies; University for Peacehttps://www.upeace.org/academic/academic-departments/peace-and-conflict-studies/international-peace-studies

The International School for Peace Studies (I.S.P.S.)

http://www.schoolforpeace.com/

Rethinking Peace Studies (RPS)

http://www.rethinkingpeacestudies.com/


http://keough.nd.edu/master-of-global-affairs/international-peace-studies/

International Peace Studies Centre

http://peace-ipsc.org/

Peace Studies and International Development

https://www.bradford.ac.uk/social-sciences/peace-studies/

International Peace & Security

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/international-peace-and-security-ma.aspx

International Peace Studies program

https://www.iuj.ac.jp/gsir/irp/ips-features/


https://www.masterstudies.com/MA-in-International-Peace-Studies/Costa-Rica/UPEACE/

International Peace and Conflict Resolution

https://www.american.edu/sis/ipcr/

International Peace and Conflict Resolution

https://www.arcadia.edu/academics/programs/international-peace-and-conflict-resolution



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Global Peace and Conflict Studies

https://www.canberra.edu.au/coursesandunits/unit?unit_cd=8167

Global Peace Studies

http://www.delta.edu/programs/current/human-services/global-studies/global-peace-studies/certificate/index.html

The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame

https://issat.dcaf.ch/Share/People-and-Organisations/Organisations/The-Kroc-Institute-for-International-Peace-Studies-at-the-University-of-Notre-Dame

Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)

https://www.hsfk.de/en/

Catholic Peacebuilding Network (CPN)

http://cpn.nd.edu/

Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers (MAP)

http://www.mapm.org/

Global Peace Foundation

http://www.globalpeace.org/

Justice and Peace Studies

https://www.stthomas.edu/justpeace/about/

Peace Studies

https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-humanities/study-areas/peace-studies



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The series of lectures by Dr. Haddad Adel:

"Nowruz in Iranian culture"

Dr. Haddad Adel- the head of Saadi Foundation- gave speeches on “Nowruz in Iranian Culture” on the morning of Tuesday, Esfand 8th, 1396, at Melal Hall, the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran. This lecture was with the presence of the faculty members, staff and foreign students studying Iranian Studies at this faculty, the Iranian Studies Department of this faculty and other students.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Mohammad Sami’ee- director of the department of Iranian studies in the faculty of world studies- welcomed Dr. Haddad Adel. He mentioned that Dr. Haddad had spoken in a series of meetings with the common theme of Iranian culture at the Faculty of World Studies from 1389 to 1392; Interesting topics include Iranian culture, Iranian travel, Qanat in Iranian culture, “market” in Iranian culture, and Persian carpet. Dr. Sami’ee expressed satisfaction at the resumption of these meetings after some time: “Dr. Haddad-e-Adel has promised to

publish these materials in a volume.”Dr. Sami’ee described Nowruz as an abiding

Iranian ceremony and the most accurate New Year in the world. He said, “Calendar writing is one of the most important elements of civilization, and Iran is very rich in this respect, and the world is owes this to Iran. Nowruz has high potential from the Iranian and Islamic aspects.”

Dr. Haddad Adel, while expressing his content for re-entering into the Faculty of World Studies, where this field has been re-established after a few years, thanks to Professor Ameli- the head of the Department of World Studies- regarded the environment of the faculty, where they can talk about Iranian culture with no worries about consequences, to be scientific. He added, “Thank you very much for your kindness, my dear friends at this college. As a former student at University of Tehran, I feel pleased to attend this university, and I consider this university my second

Cultural, Artistic and Sport News



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home.” Haddad argued about the purpose of the lectures, “The ambition of this long-standing work has been to familiarize the young and the next generation with Iranian culture.”

Dr. Said Reza Ameli- the head of the Faculty of World Studies- also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Haddad Adel for holding these meetings, which is a reminder of his scholarly view and contains some fine and important points. He expressed his satisfaction with the publication of the sum of these meetings with the theme of Iranian identity, and called the Iranian identity distinctive and abiding. He thanked Dr. Haddad Adel for his attention to the Faculty of World Studies, and said, “Dr. Haddad Adel was the same person at the time when he was chairing the parliament as he is now, that he does not have the previous occupations; he was, is, and will remain a Teacher”.

In a detailed presentation of “Nowruz and Iranian Identity”, Dr. Haddad Adel described three propositions in an introduction. First, each nation is alive with its culture and known for its culture. Just like anyone, who and lives and is known with his personality, culture is also for nations as a personality for individuals. Second, customs and traditions are an important part of the culture of each nation. Third, Norouz is a very important tradition in our culture. We cannot ignore Norouz if we want to discern our culture.

He continued to highlight the important features of Nowruz. The first feature of Nowruz is its historicity and antiquity. Nowruz dates back to several thousand years ago and far back into the history of Iran. As we journey back into the past, we find a trace of Nowruz everywhere in our history. This tradition has always been ongoing and has persisted to this day.

The second feature of Nowruz is its geographical extent. Nowruz’s geography is at least a Persian-speaking geography. Whether today or in the past, Nowruz has been associated with Iran, anywhere in Persian was spoken. These two companions have been together and explored the world together.

The third feature of Nowruz is the celebration

of joy. Joy and happiness are nationwide and do not belong to a particular class, sect, or religious group. This will make it more inclusive. Nowruz is the source of hope, optimism and good fortune. So mature a tradition is Nowruz that is to be accepted and respected by everyone.

An important aspect of Nowruz is its astronomical aspect; ancients were dependent upon the sky. The sky for old man has a meaning other than what it has today; the old man lived with the sky. The old man has spoken with these constellations. The movements of the planets, the moon and the sun have helped to determine the right time for sowing and harvesting. Governments also needed calendars to collect taxes, and they used the movement of the moon and the sun to set up calendars.

The first astronomical object to adjust the calendar was the moon. The other constellation was the sun, which had a longer and one-year period of rotation. It was in fact, twelve periods of the moon, a period of the sun. This attention to the moon and the sun has also been common for in various tribes, including Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Chinese.

In the pre-Islamic era, Nowruz was not static and the adaptation of Nowruz was the same with the first of spring. Before Islam and before Jalali’s calendar, every 120 years, Nowruz was deferred for a month, just like the beginning of the lunar month, which is fluid. Of course, this fluidity has been slower. In the fifth century AH., under the aegis of Malekshah and his secretary of state, Khaje Amir al-Mulk, decided to fix the beginning of the year. Consequently, scientists, astronomers and well-known mathematicians gathered in Isfahan. Among these people were Omar Khayyam, Ibn Ma’mouri, Ibn Mozaffar Esfazari, and Ibn Maimon Vaseti. In that year, Nowruz was apparently 17 days after the first of spring and on the tenth of Ramadan. With exact calculations, the year divided into 365 days and 5 hours. Five hours was not so small that it could be overlooked, and not so much that it could be put on another day. Therefore, it was considered as one day




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every four years. This event was in the year 485 Solar Hijri (471 Lunar Hijri). Jalali Calendar is the most accurate calendar in the world. There are dozens of timelines in the world, but the accuracy of our glorious calendar is the greatest one. The current European calendar is the Gregorian calendar that was established at the time of Pope Gregory VI, and every 5025 years is a day of difference. While on Jalali’s calendar every 141,000, or in other words, every 25 million years, a difference arises.

On Farvardin 11, 1304, during the fifth round of the National Assembly, our current calendar was approved in two articles and one note as the official Iranian calendar. Earlier, the names of the months of the year were Uyghurs and the names of animals were common among the Zoroastrians.

The Iranians had many celebrations. Before and after Zoroaster, they had six seasonal and religious celebrations each year, and they called it “Gahanbar”. The length of these occasions was not equal. The important point is that the Iranian astronomers were able to calculate the precise time of the sun from the Rabi’eiequinox point with the observations and zijes they arranged. The beginning of the New Year was marked by the passage of the sun from a celestial equator to ecliptic. If we take into account the hypothetical axis of the Arctic to the Antarctic in the motion of the Earth, and if we assume perpendicular circle to this axis, that divides the earth into two hemispheres, then this point is the celestial equator. The important point is that the motion of the Earth around the sun does not fit perfectly into the vast circle that divides the earth into two hemispheres. At the point where the two huge circles cross, at a distance of 180 degrees, two nodes emerges, representing the first of spring and the first of autumn. When the sun is placed in the celestial equator, the light is divided fairly, while before and after it is not. These two nodes are called “Rabbi’ie Equinox” and “Kharifi Equinox.” The origin of the Jalali calendar is the passage of the sun from Rabbi’ei equinox.

With selection of the beginning of spring and Rabieh equinox, winter is over with all its problems and the spring has begun, and this is good news for all the people in the world. The Iranians have laid the foundation for the beginning of their new year on this good tidings, in which day and night are equal and there is moderation in the night and the day, and cold and heat; the footprint of the winter and a harbinger of summer. The harbinger of this blooming is greenery and blessing. In the northern hemisphere, whoever reaches the first spring, loves when flowers grow, fruit grow, nightingales sing, rivers flow through the city and village, and grass grow. The importance of Nowruz has been due to the Iranian intelligence throughout history. Spring is not just the season of plant growth, but the beginning of growth of the animals that human feeds on them.

The occurrence of this natural phenomenon is not manipulated by anyone. No government can change it. It is very happy and desirable. Political and social changes and the interests of an era do not play a role in determining its origin. The source of other calendars is not as popular as the solar hijri. As long as there is nature, Nowruz is celebrated, as if man, who is the child of nature, goes to nature in Nowruz.

The university professor, who has studied and taught in the field of astrophysics, introduced a book a called “Collection of Articles about Nowruz”, published by Afkar Publication, 1387, and read some parts of it by Dr. Shariati.

Historically, most of the sources of Nowruz relate to the Islamic period. There is no mention of Nowruz in Avesta. Of course, the Zoroastrians, before and after Zarathuster, considered it a Zoroastrians tradition. In the Islamic period, many Arab and Persian writers, in Persian and Arabic, spoke of Iranian Nowruz. Abu Rayhan Biruni mentioned Nowruz in his book “Understanding Astrology” and “The Remaining Signs”

Another aspect of Nowruz, which is a cultural one, is its accompaniment with a variety of old myths. The



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meaning of myth has been taken from ancient cultures. The term “story” in English and “Asaatir” in the Qur’an is derived from the Persian word “Ostooreh” (myth). Myth differs from novels and stories in today’s world. Myth is the reflection of worldviews in the minds of the ancients. In Iranian mythology, Nowruz has been attributed to Jamshid; both before and after Islam. Jamshid is vaguely represented in mythology. They have attributed so much cultural influence to him that Jamshid and Solomon have become one.

These myths have played an important role in naming. At the time of Jamshid, they called every day of the month after one of the goddesses, the guardians of the day. In seventh volume of the Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, the names of the thirty days of the month, from the first day, are as follows: Hormoz, Bahman, Ordibehesht, Shahrivar, Espandarmaz, Khordad, Amrdad, Dey, Azar, Aban, Khor, Mah, Tir , Goosh, Dey be Mehr, Mehr, Soroush, Reshan, Farvardin, Bahram, Ram, Bad, Dey be Din, Din, Ord, Eshtad, Aseman, Zamyad, Maraspand, Aniran. All of them are under a detailed article about the calendar

According to the myth of Farvahar or Farvashi, they believed that the spirits of the dead and the righteous came to the earth for ten days. The spirits of the dead also return to their homes for ten days. So they bathed in these rivers, and when their spirits returned to their homes, they would be content with their children. Farvardin is plural Farvahar or Farvashi.

Dr. Haddad Adel then went on to introduce the 5th Century Book of Modern Art and read some part of it about Jamshid. This book, corrected by Mojtaba Minavi in 1312, was attributed to the professor in the introduction to Omarikh, which, of course, was attributed to Khayyam in the introduction by Minavi, who later change his idea, and today it is attributed to Khayyam. He also read part of the article about Jamshid by Dr. Badr-Alzaman Qarib, a professor of ancient languages and a member of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature and the sole professor

of Sa’di language.The images in the Persepolis, ambassadors of

different countries granted presents, were in fact a celebration of Nowruz.

During the Sassanid era, Nowruz was also honorable and the main celebration of the Sassanid kings; it was called “Nowruz Khosravani”.

Nowruz persisted to the Islamic period. Islam not only had no disagreement with it, but also accompanied it. It is stated in the hadiths that the prophet’s reaction to the Iranian Nowruz has been such as to confirm it. In numerous hadiths from the Imams, great spiritual events have also been attributed to Nowruz that God created man and nature. These hadiths prepared the groundwork for the emergence of Nowruz in Islamic era. The Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphs also celebrated Nowruz and poets versified many poems in its praise.

In Arabic and Persian literature, two festivities are mentioned for several time: one is Nowruz and another is the Mehregan celebration on 16th of Mehr, which is important for farmers and beginning of the fall. The term “Nirroz” is used in Arabic meaning Nowruz and “Mehrdjane” is used meaning festival.

Dr. Haddad Adel then introduced the book of “In Memoriam of the Loved Ones in fall” and an article by Madavi Damghani, professor of Arabic Literature, and pointed to Arab poets’ regard to Nowruz, especially the Shiite. In Seyyed Morteza’s poetry collection, there are 11 Qasideh about Nowruz, and 9 Qasideh about Mehrjane.

The presence of this Iranian tradition in Baqdad, among Arabs, and in Islam world, during the reign of Caliphs became so strong that sometimes became as significant as some religious rituals like Fetr and Qorban for the residents of Baqdad.

Rites of Nowruz are as follows:- visiting relatives- decorating the house- Haft Sin (7 symbolic things whose first letters

are ‘S’)




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- wearing new clothes- wishing merry new year- giving presents- Reconciliation- making fire on Chahar Shanbe Suri (the last

Wednesday of year)- sprinkling water on one another (it is color

festival in India)- eating sweets- Sizdah be Dar- Haji Firuz- and Mir Nowruzi ( in this bizarre tradition,

called Pnje Mostaraghe, a common man is seated on the throne for five days, and the King does not give during this five days.) It was in fact a comic national play.

As Hafiz says in a poem that “within the screen I speak, come forth like a rose bud, for the Mire Nowruzi does not rule, but five days”), growing sabzeh, and leaving it to the water (symbolic of agriculture and growth)

This ritual differs in different regions. There are numerous customs and traditions of Nowruz for the diversity of Iranian and non- Iranian groups. In “Collection of Articles about Nowruz”, there are 50 pages on customs and traditions of Nowruz written by Jafari Shahri.

Dr. Haddad Adel introduced another book, “My Life” by Abodollah Mostofi, and said that there is a detailed account of customs and laws of late Qajar era in the first volume.

Nowruz also has a huge economic impact and creates economic prosperity. There is also hope and joy in terms of individual and social psychology.

With respect to Nowruz identity, its antiquity and persistence, which dates back to thousands of years ago, is defendable; that is, a natural and blessed thing that gives life to man and the world again. The origin of this celebration is a sign of God’s power. The attention to this celebration is to pay attention to the

creator of nature and it is pleasant and joyous. This tradition comes from the pre-Islamic era that has not become obsolete after Islam. This is an indication of the attitude of Islam to non-Muslim traditions. Islam did not deny the Iranian tradition because it had no sign of disbelief and did not contradict monotheism. The existence of Nowruz in Iranian-Islamic culture and its survival is an expression of the possibility of the coexistence of Iran and Islam. We put Quran on Haftsin and begin the year with the new year prayer as well as reading Quran.

Nowruz is respected in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the beginning of year is in accordance with Jalali year, in constitution. Before the revolution, when the origin of the year changed from the emigration of the Prophet, they faced a strong opposition of people. With the advent of revolution, they changed it back to satisfy the people.

Nowruz is a valuable asset of Iranian-Islamic culture and unity among Iranian ethnic groups. Everyone respects this celebration, regardless of his or her language. Nowruz has become a global in the world, and has been a prototype of intangible heritage, which has been registered again in UNESCO, with Iran’s core role, long with other countries - including Azerbaijan, Turkey, India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. We should not let this valuable tradition to demise.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Haddad Adel referred to another tradition that has become popular in recent years, and that is the tradition of Nowruz’s journeys. Whishing a good journey for the travelers of Nowruz. He also said that the tradition that has economic effects and, of course, a good tradition, should not hinder us from relationship that has been referred to in Islam as devotion to relatives. At the end of the day, he expressed his hope: “May Nowruz shines like a light among the nations of the world.”

Then, Dr. Haddad responded the questions and visited the library of the Faculty of World Studies.



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From Feb 24th, 2018 until March 10th, 2018, the Faculty of World Studies, in the line of students and teachers exchange program, hosted a group of students from Singapore National University under the direction of Dr. Farid Al-Atas, the Sociology professor of Singapore National University.

In this travel, various scientific, cultural, and tourism programs were planned that made an environment for students to know about Islam and Iran.

One of the main programs of this group was the attendance in three lectures about the position of Republic of Iran in international relations, religion of Islam and Shia, and geopolitical position of Iran in Midwest area that were held by Dr. Saeid Reza Ameli, The Head of World Studies Faculty, Dr. Samiee, Director of Iranian Studies Faculty, and Dr. Ahooei, Faculty member of the Department of Iranian Studies.

These lectures that were held by lots of questions and answers were strongly favorable for students and they showed their interests to these issues by their notable attendance.

The other program for Singaporean students in Iran was the attendance at Allame Tabatabaei University and the lecture of Dr. Farid Al-Atas and Iranian sociology professors. At the end of this meeting, all Iranian and Singaporean students had friendly conversations and they discussed favorite topics.

Travel to Qom, one of the religious cities in Iran, was another program for Singaporean students. In this one-day journey, all of the students knew about seminary teaching system from Dr. Savadi, faculty member of Alhekmat institution. In the following of this travel, all the students pilgrimaged the holy shrine of Hazrat Masoomeh and after that they visited the publishing institution named Ansarian and bought some books about Islam.

The other programs for Singaporean students in Iran were including, Imam Zadeh Saleh pilgrimage, attendance in Tajrish traditional market, visiting the Meygun and Rudbar Ghasran, attendance in Dizin ski resort, visiting the traditional Tehran market, visiting the Palace of the Golestan museum, visiting the Robat

Singapore National University’s students visit to Iran



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Members of the Association of Middle East Studies of the University of Tokyo met with members of the Association of the World Studies, Department of the Japanese Studies on Tuesday, Esfand 15th, at the Faculty of World Studies, and led a discussion.

At the beginning of the visit, the members of the Association of the Faculty of World

Studies introduced their own fields of study. Then they enlarged upon the activities of Academic Association of Japanese Studies since its foundation. Members of the Association of Middle East Studies from the University of Tokyo also introduced their activities in the Middle East studies and invited members of the Academic Association of Japanese Studies to visit Tokyo.

Karim Caravansary, and the attendance in traditional market of Laleh park.

In the last night, one of Iranian students from the Faculty of South Africa studies, with the help of family, hosted the Singaporean students at their house with serving Iranian food. In friendly atmosphere, all the Singaporean students made conversations with Iranian family and tried to know about their cultures and customs.

On March 2nd, all Singaporean students left Tehran to Singapore with lots of satisfaction for complete and appropriate programs in their travel.

At Imam Khomeini Airport, all the Singaporean

students mentioned to their learnings about Iranian history, culture, customs, and realities, and emphasized that all other students in Singapore will be informed about their observations.

It must be said that over past 5 years, 5 groups of students from Singapore and Malaysia have come to Iran hosted by the Faculty of World Studies and 2 groups of Iranian students have gone to these countries.

These programs, traveling of students from Singapore and Malaysia to Iran, will be continued in the following years by the efforts of the Faculty of World Studies and in the next year, a group of Malaysian students will travel to Iran.

Visit of the Association of Middle East Studies from the University of Tokyo with the members of the Association of Japanese Studies- the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran.



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Interview with Students

What first took you to Iran? Tell us about your story of moving to Iran to study? How did you come up with the decision in the first place?

Iran is second-home for me for various reasons of which Persian language is the foremost. While at University of Bristol, United Kingdom, I was particularly attracted towards international relations of the West Asian countries. This brought me closer towards understanding Iran from this perspective. I think, I am fortunate enough that an opportunity knocked my door in the initial months of 2017, and I applied for Iranian Studies program at Faculty of World Studies. Upon my completion of a postgraduate degree at the university, I reached Iran in September 2017.

What has been most rewarding about studying at the Faculty of World Studies?

The teaching staff, students and administration at the Faculty of World Studies are cordial and helpful. This is very important for foreign students. Plus, the quality of teaching staff and their knowledge on study modules is up-to-date. This gives any student interested to learn about Iran leverage against students and individuals who end up understanding without visiting Iran. I strongly, therefore, encourage international students to consider Guest Student Fellowship.

Is there anything you wished was different for you as a foreign student in Iran? Going back, would you make the same decision?

Yes, of course. I think, in my professional career, visiting Iran would prove a right decision in the future. This is one of the best decisions I would recommend to anyone considering to study Iran in particular and the West Asia in general.

How has your experience in Iran been different from what you expected before landing in Tehran?

Definitely, I would argue, visiting Iran always offers lot of good surprises. The glory of ancient civilization amazes you at every walk of life while exploring Iran. From my personal experiences, the best ever experiences one can found in Iran from its places, people and Persian.

What are the highlights of living and studying in Tehran?

Tehran is expanding, so it gave me an understanding on its importance as Iran’s capital. It has lot to offer for international visitors. Living in Tehran is not boring and studying in Tehran familiarizes students of Iranian Studies about lot of places such as museums, parks, galleries, and also as Iranian political representatives, academia, and dignitaries frequently visit the faculty, it is good to stay and study in Tehran.

Going back home once you graduate, would you recommend your friends to visit and study in Iran? Why or why not?

I have already recommended my international friends regarding study opportunities in Iran.

How close do you find the Iranian and Indian culture to be to one another?

So to speak about modern times, Iran and India are neighbors without borders. India and Iran have common cultural, civilizational and linguistic roots. I personally found deep affection and warmth from Iranian people towards India and its people. This is fascinating. I hope both India and Iran come across easing of visa regulations to encourage people-to-people bilateral visits.

What is a fun day like for an Indian student in Tehran?

If you are Indian, then Iranian people always make you amazed about how much they are in love with India, Indian films, and people. I encountered numerous incidents which fascinated me.

In a world where the narrative of racism and anti-immigrant sentiments are on the rise, what role do you think the Faculty of World Studies is playing in bringing people from various backgrounds together?

The Faculty of World Studies has great contribution in terms of bringing together people from the diverse background to make the interaction during the classes multi-disciplinary. I think, this is how we could move forward in the wake of internationalism. I strongly advocate this course.

Abhishek Chapanerkar

Abhishek ChapanerkarGuest Student Fellow, Iranian Studies, Faculty of World Studies, Univeristy of Tehran, IranMSc International Relations, University of Bristol, United Kingdom



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Talk with Faculty’s Employees

Please tell us about your activities and efforts in the beginning of your employment until now?

Serving in deprived areas of my country for 6 years, is my biggest honor and the brilliant point in my resume. During these years I tried to serve to the most risky community group, “women and children” by the health services. After this difficult period, I transferred to Tehran and tried to serve to the residents in the south of the city.

After getting hired in the Faculty of North American and Europe Studies in 1388, I learned my duties under the supervision of Dr. Shokr khaah, the Head of the institute. My duties included working on the institution’s website, holding different conferences and lectures and preparing their booklets, doing lots of translations in the fields of America and Europe Studies, and collecting the information of students and teachers etc.

In 1392, I transferred to the Public and International Unit of the Faculty based on the Faculty’s needs and the order of Dr. Marandi, the Head of the Faculty. During these 5 years that I work here, I tried to do my tasks including: management of the Faculty’s website

(Both in English and Persian), photography and writing news, notification and Telegram management, controlling of the text messaging system and the electronic board of the Faculty, preparing, compilation, and collection of the quarterly news in English and Persian, handwritings of the students and introducing the Faculty in four languages, planning, management, and lots of efforts in holding national and international conferences along with other struggling colleagues of the Faculty of World Studies.

In the international area, getting the visa and accommodation of foreign guests, making the international appointments, preparing the preliminaries of the foreign agreements, consulting and connecting with foreign students and professors and interviewing with them, are some of my tasks.

Please tell us about your professional activities and your honors in the working period?

During my midwifery services in 1386, because of the establishment of Health Volunteers Network in order to improve the hygiene in the community, I was praised by Dr. Lankarani, the Minister of Health of

In 1373, she participated in employment test of Medical Science University, and after the acceptance by the university, officially hired as midwife in the summer of 1374. Because she had another diploma in English learning, from 1388, she transferred to the Faculty of North American and Europe Studies in the Faculty of World Studies. In this Faculty, she was hired as a research expert and from Farvardin 1391 till Farvardin 1397, She is working as public and international relations expert.

Ms. Maryam Ahmadi, born in 1352, Midwifery expert, English language expert, and Master of English Language

Serving in deprived areas of my country for 6 years, is my the biggest honor and a brilliant point in my resumeRemember that what remains of us is a good memory and comfortable conscience.



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that time.In 1387, I was praised as “the privileged midwife

of the country” by the Medical Science University of Tehran, because of my efforts in midwifery services and accurate diagnosis and saving the lives of several mothers.

After transferring to the Tehran University, I was

under supervision of Dr. Shokr Khaah for 5 years. In this period, in 1388, our research center at the Faculty of American and Europe Studies could receive a grade of B from the Office of Research and Evaluation of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. It should be noted that there was no research center with the grade A at that time.



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In the next year, according to the same evaluation, our research center could get the grade B as “the first rank of human sciences” and “the second rank of research institutes affiliated with the university” in Tehran University. For these honors, the amount of 65 million Rials was allocated to our center as the incentive fee.

During the work at the Public and International Relations Unit (1392-1397), my working record is evident in assessing the performance of the Faculty and thanks to my God that we were very successful in the pursuit of the goals of the Faculty and Tehran University.

Please tell us about your memories at workI want to mention a memory from my midwifery

period. It was midnight and I was very tired of night works. A pregnant mother from a village was accepted in the emergency and it was so late. The baby was in abnormal position and there was no way but natural parturition. After getting the consent from her spouse, my colleague and I stared for parturition and finally we were successful to get the baby weighing 4 kilos that is a big success in midwifery profession. Some years later, when I was sitting in the clinic, a cute boy came to me and I hugged him. Her mother knew me and told that

the cute boy named Sajjad, is a baby that was born at that risky night.

During my working period at Tehran University, the best memory of mine is about Dr. Ameli, the Head of the Faculty. He is a real manager and teacher as well. He wants lots of works from his employees and I have never disobeyed him because I respect him so much and I always pursue his ideas and clues.

After a period of time in my work, there were lots of works and publications that all were the results of his management. By seeing these works I knew about my capabilities and talents.

After hard working for the conferences and various programs of World Studies Faculty (that is famous among the Faculties), I received an appreciation massage from Dr. Ameli that was a big encouragement for me and I am really honored that I worked and served under his supervision.

Please tell us your final massageThe life is going fast and all we are passengers

following it. Sooner or later, we will be in front of our God and everyone is responsible for his/her actions. All the posts and positions are transient and remember that what remains of us is a good memory and comfortable conscience.



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Missions and Scientific Trips

Name ScientificRank

Group Country Aim Duration

Dr. Saeid RezaAmeli

Full Professor AmericanStudies

London/En-gland

The attendance in Conference of “The

Colonialism of American“Human Rights Version

Bahman 19th-22nd/Feb 8th-11th

Dr. Javad Sherbaf AssistantProfessor

West Asia and North AfricanStudies

Oman Attendance in “Interna- tional conference and scientific mission to

Qaboos University of“Oman

Esfand 27th- Ordibe- hesht 18th/March 18th-

May 8th

Dr. MaryamHaghroosta

AssociateProfessor

AmericanStudies

Spain For the invitation of fourSpanish Universities

Azar 19th-25th/ Dec 10th-16th

Dr. Hassan Ahma-dian

AssistantProfessor

West Asia and North AfricanStudies

United ArabEmirates

For Interview Dey 6th-8th/ Dec 27th- 29th

Dr. Hassan Hos-seini

AssistantProfessor

AmericanStudies

The UnitedStates

For doing the field studies about Iranians and Moslems communities

in the west of the UnitedStates with more empha-

size on California

Dey 27th- Bahman13th/ Jan 17th-Feb 2nd

International Conferences and Participations



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Name Title Major Date of Defense Supervisor(s) Advisor(s) Referee(s) ExternalReferee(s)

Taghi Beigloo The Investigation of Israel’s Policy Against the Nuclear Program of Islamic Countries

PalestinianStudies

Feb 19th, 2018 Dr. Borhani Dr. Sherbaf Dr. Eghbal Dr. Ahma-dian

Marzieh Java-di Arjmand

The Process of For- eign Policy Decision

Making in the US Congress: The Role of

Individual Actors inSanctions of Iran

North Ameri-can Studies

Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Musavi Dr. Izadi

Dr. Sajjad-poor

Dr. Ahooee

Dr.Saeidabadi

Dr. Dehesh-yar

Zahra Hasani Objectives of the ODA of Japan in the Persian

Gulf region

JapaneseStudies

Feb 18th, 2018 Dr. Poorro-stami

Dr. Musavi Dr. Pirooz Dr. Molaee

FatemehBabizangbari

Japan’s Energy Secu- rity Policy Towards

Russia and Its Impact on the Economic and Political Relations of

the Two Countries

JapaneseStudies


Dr. Karami Dr. Barari

IvanHarivnak

The Impact of Region- al Developments onStudent Basij Organi- zation Preparedness

Tactics Case Study: Rahian

Noor and ShrineDefenders

IranianStudies

Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Samiee Dr. Ameli Dr. Bagheri

Ali AsadiKhamami

Impact of Institutions on South African

EconomiesCase Study: Mozam-

bique

South Afri-can Studies

Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Bagheri Dr. Poorro-stami

Dr. Golmo-hammadi

MohsenHaghbin

Representation of Iran in RIA Novosti News Agencies and Interfax

News of Russia

RussianStudies

Feb 17th, 2017 Dr. Kosari Dr. KarimiRiaee

Dr. Sabbar

Ava Ghaemi Cultural Decentraliza- tion and Its Impact onthe Revival of Monu-

ments in France

FrenchStudies

Feb 14th, 2018 Dr. Ayyoobi Dr. Hosseini Dr. Tabata-baei

Sara Dafeei The Evolution of Rus- sian Puppet Theater

From the Second Halfof the Twentieth Cen-tury tile the Contem-

porary Times

RussianStudies

Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Golkar Dr. Moham-madi

Dr. Zeynali Dr. Karimi

PhD Dissertations and MA Theses




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Amene Deh-ghan

Comparison of IRNA News and Iraqi

Official News and Information About

the Positions of Shi’a Parties to Reforms of

Al-Abadi

Iraqi Studies Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Molaei Dr. Abedini Dr. Lasjerdi Dr. Sadat

HamidrezaKafil

The Impact of the Brit- ish Withdrawal From the European Union

on EU Integration (de-(fense and security

British Studies

Feb 19th, 2018 Dr. Saeidaba-di

Dr. Vaezza-deh

Dr. Ghasemi Dr.Shekarkhah

MohammadNakhaei

Eurasian EconomicUnion: Russia Oppor-tunities and Restric-

tions

RussianStudies

Feb 12th, 2018 Dr. Karami Dr. AmirAhmadian

Dr. Rasool-inejad

Nafise Kani The Social Status of Women in Rural and

Urban Areas of Angolaand Zimbabwe


Feb 14th, 2018 Dr. Boorboor Dr. ArabAhmadi

Dr. Molaei

MohammadKanani

Assessing and Ex- plaining the Security

of the Border Areas ofIran and Iraq

Case study: ArvandRiver

Iraqi Studies Feb 10th, 2018 Dr. Noor-bakhsh

Dr. Sol-taninejad

Dr. Ahma-dian

Dr. Asadi

Mohsen Jalili Analytical Review of China’s Presence in

South Africa


Feb 19th, 2018 Dr. ArabAhmadi

Dr. JavadiArjmand

Dr. Ahma-dian

Yoosef Pajoo-handeh

The proximity of Iran-Iraq relations andcooperation in combat- ing terrorism and its

effect on the approach of Turkey and Saudi Arabia towards Iraq

after 2003

Iraqi Studies Feb 19th, 2018 Dr. Abdolz-ahra

Dr. Ahma-dian

Dr. Dehghan Dr. Asadi

Omid Rezaei Compare the discrim- inatory policies of the apartheid regime of South Africa and the

Israeli regime


Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Boorboor Dr. Bagheri Dr. Borhani

Mona Hajijoo A Corpus-assisted Discourse Analysis of Islam and Muslims inAmerican Elite News- papers: The Case of

the Wall Street Journal and the New York

Times Editorials


Feb 7th, 2018 Dr. Izadi Dr. Ghasemi Dr.Saeidabadi




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Aylin Arj-mand

Examining the political and social status of Indian women underthe Indian Constitution

IndianStudies

Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Moeini-far

Dr. Molaei Dr. Kharaz-mi

Fateme Dera-khshan

Saudi Arabian andEgypt Muslim Broth- erhood, Approaches,

Convergence and Divergence Factors

((2011-2017

Egyptian Studies

Feb 19th, 2018 Dr. Khame-yar

Dr. Ahma-dian

Dr. Moham-mad Musavi

Dr. Eghbal

MokhtarMojahed

The impact of the water crisis on conflicts between Israel and its

neighbors Case Study: Jordan

West Bank

Palestinian Studies

Feb 6th, 2018 Dr. Rahman-doost

Dr. Borhani Dr. De- hghaniPoodeh

Seyyed MasoodMusavi

The Effect of Tradi- tional Iranian Music on Traditional South

African MusicalInstruments


Feb 19th, 2018 Dr. ArabAhmadi

Dr. Bagheri Dr. Boor-boor

Dr. Saeidaba-di

MohsenFarkhani

The Importance ofThought rooms in Ger-

man Foreign Policy

GermanStudies

Feb 18th, 2018 Dr. Doostiza-deh

Dr. Noor-bakhsh

Dr. Mehre-gan

Seyyed AliAkbar Mojab-

ifata

Domestic violence among immigrant

Iranians in Germany

GermanStudies

Feb 15th, 2018 Dr. Noor-bakhsh

Dr. Doos-tizadeh

Dr. Has-sankhan

Dr. Mehre-gan

MohammadJamili

The effect of wetlandson the Iraqi economy

Iraqi Studies Feb 14th, 2018 Dr. Sol-taninejad

Dr. Soley-mani

Dr. Kohan-hooshnejad

Dr. Mirjalili

Zohre Mirzapoor

Sohrabi

The situation of the illegal immigrants of Latin America in the

United States

Latin Ameri-can Studies

Feb 13th, 2018 Dr. Feyzol-lahi

Dr. Hagh-roosta

Dr. Omid-bakhsh

Zahra ShirAlipoor

India from Protection- ism to Integration in the World Economy

((1991-2012

IndianStudies


Dr. MusaviJashni

Dr. Morshe-dizad

Zahra Karimi British arms sales toSaudi Arabia (2010- 2017): focusing oninternational treaties

BritishStudies

Feb 18th, 2018 Dr. Saeidaba-di

Dr. Bagheri Dr.Shekarkhah

Dr. ArabAhmadi

Hossein Ros-tami Jooriyaei

The effective factors in getting into powerof Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

EgyptianStudies

Feb 14th, 2018 Dr. Ahma-dian

Dr. Sol-taninejad

Dr. Moham-mad Musavi

Dr. Borhani

Reza Javadi British foreign policy in the Persian Gulf on a case study of British military return to thePersian Gulf in 2012

BritishStudies

Feb 13th, 2018 Dr. Vaezza-deh

Dr.Saeidabadi

Dr. Tisheyar



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Masood Mohammad

Vali

The role of thoughtrooms in the deci-

sion-making processesin the Zionist regime

Case study: the confer-ence of Hertzlia

PalestinianStudies

Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Rahman-doost

Dr. Sherbaf Dr. Eghbal

ForoozanAbdi

Leftist Economic Poli- cy in Venezuela during Chavez, Dimensions and Consequences

((1991-2013


Jan 31st, 2018 Dr. Feyzol-lahi

Dr. Karami Dr. Hagh-roosta

EsfandiyarKhodaei

Iran’s sanctions on US-China relations:

cooperation or non-co-operation


Feb 17th, 2018 Dr. Izadi Dr. Musavi Dr. Ahooei

Dr. Dehesh-yar

Dr. Mozaffari

Kamran Fate-hi Nasab

France and tourismindustry management

A successful example

FrenchStudies

Jan 22nd, 2018 Dr. Hosseini Dr. Musavi Dr. Dehshiri

Maryam HajiHadi

Promotion of ModernArt in France from An- dre Malraux to Jacque

Lang Case Study: CentreGeorges Pompidou

FrenchStudies

Dec 25th, 2017 Dr. Ayyoobi Dr. Hosseini Dr. Dehshiri

Mina Magh-soodi

Japan’s Nutrition Measures and Policies in Preventing Lifestyle

Diseases

JapaneseStudies

Dec 31st, 2017 Dr. Moeini-far

Dr. Molaei Dr. Rezaei

Sara Jalali Economic Con- vergence in Latin

America: Trends andConsequences


Dec 23rd, 2017 Dr. Feyzol-lahi

Dr. Karami Dr. Hagh-roosta

BabakBoozari

Western sanctions andits impact on the Rus- sian economy (new(period, 2016-2016

RussianStudies

Dec 23rd, 2017 Dr. Karami Dr. Rasool-inejad

Dr. Valiza-deh




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Introducing the New Members of the Faculty

Elahe Karimi Riabi holds a PhD in Russian literature and is an Assistant Professor of Russian Studies at the University of Tehran. She teaches courses on Russian literature, Orientalism, culture and religion in Russia. Her areas of interest include cultural Studies, comparative literature, religion studies and Iranian studies. She has published a number of academic articles on Russian literature, Russian culture and cultural relations between Iran and Russia.

She is member of Scientific Council of the Institute of Iran Eurasian Studies (IRAS) and Iranian Association of Russian Language and Literature.

Publication and Promotion of Iranian-Russian Memoirs:

• Cultural relations between Iran and Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union Journal “Iran-Slavika», № 21. 2010.

• Mythological image of Satan in Persian and Russian literature, Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta (Proceedings of Kazan University-Humanities Series), № 155. 2013.

• Iranian mythology in the poems of Ivan Bunin.

E. Karimiriabi, Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta (Proceedings of Kazan University-Humanities Series), 156, 2014.

• Oriental female portrait in lyrics of Ivan Bunin // Text. Literary work. Reader: materials of the II International Scientific Conference. Prague: 2014.

• Oriental female portrait in lyrics of Ivan Bunin & Hafez // VII International Scientific and Practical Conference «Foreign languages in the modern world». Kazan: 2014.

• Interaction of cultures in lyrics of Ivan Bunin // II Russian Scientific-Practical Conference. Makhachkala: 2014.

• Elements of fire / light in the oriental lyrics of Ivan Bunin // philology and culture. Kazan: 2015.

• The portrait of the Safiya (the wife of the Prophet Muhammad in lyrics of Ivan Bunin // VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference «Foreign languages in the modern world». Kazan: 2015.

• The Mystical-Koranic image of the “Birds” in the lyrics of Ivan Bunin // The artistic heritage of Ivan Bunin in the context of contemporary Humanities Research, Elec: 2015.

• The portrait of the Prophet Muhammad in lyrics of Ivan Bunin // The portrait of the Prophet Muhammad in the art. Zahedan (Iran): 2015.

• The oriental lyrics of Ivan Bunin: sources, works and images // Russki yazik za rubezhom. Moscow: 2015. 4 (251). С. 73 – 78.

• Movement “Rastokhiz” (“revival”) in Tajikistan, Islamic Encyclopedia, 2010. (in Persian)

Elahe Karimi Riabi



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