The Architecture of Transition (Educational Package)
The Architecture of Transition is a four-part educational package from the third season of the Iran Academia Podcast. It addresses one of the most fundamental questions about Iran’s political future: how should a democratic transition be designed so that it does not remain a mere transfer of power, but instead prevents the reproduction of authoritarianism, the concentration of power, political exclusion, and renewed violence?
Iran Academia Participates in the Iranian Diaspora Panel at the CIES Conference
The CIES conference—organized by the Comparative and International Education Society, a leading forum for research, practice, and the advancement of comparative and international education—is one of the most important international gatherings in the field. It brings together researchers, academics, and education practitioners from around the world to discuss experiences, ideas, and emerging models related to education, justice, peace, inequality, and global transformation. Iran Academia’s presence in such a setting was a significant opportunity to present the Iranian experience of independent and transnational education in the face of repression and restrictions on academic freedom. Read more…
This Giving Tuesday: Keep the Light of Academic Freedom Alive – A letter from Ali Reza Kazemi
At ISSH, we are preparing to welcome the 2026–27 cohort: 150 students, most of whom have faced censorship, deprivation, and risk simply for wanting to learn. For them, academic freedom is not an abstract ideal—it is a lifeline. And we are determined not to let this light turn off. -Ali Reza Kazemi
Read the full message visiting the link.
In Education We Trust.
ISSH Accepted into Prestigious IAC/EADI Accreditation Process
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Institute for Social Sciences & Humanities (ISSH) proudly announces that its “Social Studies” program has been officially accepted to begin the accreditation process by the International Accreditation Council for European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (IAC/EADI). This event marks not only an institutional success but a historic turning point in the path of Alternative Higher Education globally.
Read more details by visiting the post
Sexual Harassment in the University and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement
Sexual Harassment in the University and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Nasser Taghavian
Moderator: Saeed Paivandi
The Reception of Iranian Philosophers of Subjectivity in Modern Era in Iran
The Reception of Iranian Philosophers of Subjectivity in Modern Era in Iran
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Razieh Taherkhani
Moderator: Iqan Shahidi
Perspectives of Political Change in Iran (Roundtable)
Touraj Atabaki Surpassing the Islamic Republic: How Can Interaction be Achieved between Change-seeking Voters and Non-Voters? Saeed Paivandi The Third Force: Emergence of a New Figure in Iran’s Political Spectrum? Mohammad Maljoo The Political Consequences of Intra-Government Reconciliation in the 14th Election Moderator: Negin Shiraghaei
Leftists and Democracy (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Alireza Behtoui
New Dynamics in Iranian Women’s Activism (Panel)
New Dynamics in Iranian Women’s Activism
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Maryam Foumani and Motahareh Fouladi
Moderator: Samaneh Khademi
Fallen in the Whirlwind. The Odyssey and Destiny of Iranian Victims of Stalinist Great Repression in the Soviet Union
Fallen in the Whirlwind. The Odyssey and Destiny of Iranian Victims of Stalinist Great Repression in the Soviet Union
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Touraj Atabaki
Press Release: International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Press Release:
Frankfurt, Germany – The Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH), also known as Iran Academia, is proud to announce the Third International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies (ICCI 2024). The conference will be held at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 22-23, 2024.
The Pathology and Evolution of Recent Social Movements in Iran (Panel)
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Heyman Rahimi, Keyvan Mohtadi, and Anisha Asadollahi (presented by Morteza Samanpour)
Moderator: Touraj Atabaki
The Role of Engineers and Students in the Early Years of Iran’s 1979 Revolution
The Role of Engineers and Students in the Early Years of Iran’s 1979 Revolution
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Mohammad Hosseini Sohi and Reyhaneh Gholami
Moderator: Kiaa (Kiarash) Aalipour
Persian Standalone Presentations 5
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Mostafa Kazemian and Sara Shadabi
Moderator: Emmanuel Shokrian
Modernization, Secularization, and the Subject of Dissociation and Division in Iranian Society
Modernization, Secularization, and the Subject of Dissociation and Division in Iranian Society
Standalone Presentations by researchers at the International Conference of Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia University
Speakers: Mohammad Reza Nikfar
Moderator: Navid Gorgin
Leftists and Democracy / Intellectual Currents in Baluchistan
Leftists and Democracy / Intellectual Currents in Baluchistan
Standalone Presentations by researchers in International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Mohammad Rigi Derakhshan and Alireza Behtoui
Moderator: Emmanuel Shokrian
Inclusion and Gender Equality among Unaccompanied Adolescents in Sweden
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Mehrdad Darvishour
Moderator: Saeed Paivandi
English Standalone Presentations
English Standalone Presentations
Standalone Presentations of researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies
Organizer: Iran Academia University
Date: August 22 and 23, 2024
Venue: Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Speakers: Behdad Bordbar and Soheil Rezanejad
Critical Review of a Play Depicting the Mozaffar Ad-Din Shah Qajar Era
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Mohammad Rigi Derakhshan and Emmanuel Shokrian
Moderator: Touraj Atabaki
Tortured Confessions and Three Decades of Political Ignominy
Tortured Confessions and Three Decades of Political Ignominy
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speaker: Mazdak Daneshvar
Moderator: Raha Sabet Sarvestany
Sociolinguistic Situation in Xalxāl
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Mazdak Daneshvar and Anahita Soltantouyeh
Moderator: Pardis Gharehbeglou
The Transformation of the Concept of Ashura and the Pursuit of Hegemony: Two Independent Analyses of Post-Revolutionary Iran
From Ashura to Authoritarianism: The Interplay of Tradition and Power in Post-Revolutionary Iran
Standalone Presentations by researchers in the International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Azadeh Fathi and Anahita Hosseini
Moderator: Ali Banuazizi
Command Economy in Contemporary Iran (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Mehrdad Vahabi and Mohammad Maljoo
Moderator: Mazdak Daneshvar
Gender Discrimination in Iranian Textbooks (Panel)
Gender Discrimination in Iranian Textbooks (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Saeed Paivandi, Maryam Mirza, and Elham Ghafarzadeh
Moderator: Maryam Mirza
Persian Media: Challenges and Prospects (Roundtable)
Persian Media: Challenges and Prospects
International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Behrouz Afagh, Mohammad Reza Nikfar, and Negin Shiraghaei
Moderator: Maryam Foumani
The Significance of a New Social Contract for a Democratic Transition (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Pooyan Aslani, Rojin Mukriyan, and Susan Rakhsh
Moderator: Saeed Paivandi
Imprisonment and Human Rights in Iran (Panel)
Imprisonment and Human Rights in Iran (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Marzieh Mohebi, Saeid Dehghan, and Fatemeh Hosseinzadeh
Moderator: Afrooz Maghzi
Transitional Justice (Panel)
Transitional Justice
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Shadi Manesh, Reza Khabook, and Raha Bahreini
The Motherhood in Social and Justice-Seeking Movements (Panel)
The Motherhood in Social and Justice-Seeking Movements (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Soma Negahdarinia and Asefeh Rezai
Moderator: Mansoureh Shojaee
Manifestations of Otherness (Panel)
Manifestations of Otherness (Panel)
Panel – International Conference on Contemporary Iranian Studies 2024
Goethe University – Frankfurt, Germany
Organized and hosted by Iran Academia
Speakers: Nasir Safari, Sadegh Abdi, and Farzaneh Barzegar
Moderator: Anita Karimi