1. CRITICALLY EXPLORE THE HISTORY, CULTURE, ECONOMY AND POLITICS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Enquiry

2. UNDERSTAND AND ANALYSE FACTORS AND TRENDS THAT AFFECT CONTEMPORARY IRAN. Analysis
Learning

3. CRITICALLY ASSESS THE ROLE OF IRAN IN THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY Analysis
Application

4. EXPRESS IN WRITING SOPHISTICATED AND COHERENT EXPOSITIONS AND ARGUMENTS.
Communication
Problem Solving
Reflection

Reflective Portfolio [50% 2000 words}, Learning Outcomes 1-4]

Essay [50%, 2000 words] Learning Outcomes 1-4 (Final work)

The module will begin by examining the history of Iran, focussing on the 19th and 20th centuries. There will be a particular emphasis on exploring the political history of this period, including the significance of the Qajar dynasty, the Russo-Persian Wars, the Constitutional Revolution, the 1953 CIA coup - Operation Ajax or 28 Mordad, the rise of Mohammad Reza Shah, the Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, the post-Khomeini leadership, the government of Mahmoud Amadinejad, the Green Movement, the election of the reformist president, Hassan Rouhani in the spring of 2013, the Iran nuclear agreement in July 2015 and events that have followed, including the impact of the election of Donald Trump in the USA on the Iran situation. International responses to these events will be considered. The module will investigate the culture of Iran, the influence of Shia Islam and the role of women in Iranian society. We will look at the Iranian economy, and analyse the role of oil and the impact of the years of sanctions. We will also explore Iran's international relations, both regionally and with key global players including Russia, China, and the USA. The module will attempt to provide an understanding of the ideas and forces that have shaped contemporary Iran, and the role that Iran plays in the international community.

The learning materials and the reading items we advise for each topic introduce the main themes and arguments of the module content. This helps students to develop definitions, and to compare, contrast and analyse important and influential viewpoints on the central topics. The discussion board forums provide for discussion and analysis of the themes. The independent study element should be used for further reading and preparation of the written assignments.

Axworthy, Michael (2017) Iran: What Everyone Needs to Know, Oxford University Press.

Amanat, Abbas (2017) Iran: A Modern History, Yale University Press
.
United States Institute of Peace, “The Iran Primer,” http://iranprimer.usip.org/frontpage

University library ebooks, ejournals, students’ own textbooks, and Blackboard accessible material.

Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Admissions requirements None
Disqualified combinations HIPO70033 Iran: History, Culture, Political Economy DL; HIPO70035 Iran: History, Culture, Political Economy DL