Peer-Reviewed Papers
The Journal for Interdisciplinary Middle Eastern Studies, 2019
This study focuses on post-revolutionary Iran. The Islamic Republic might initially appear to inv... more This study focuses on post-revolutionary Iran. The Islamic Republic might initially appear to involve a religious cosmology cognate to the term 'politicized religion'-a political use of religion. However, the more complex arrangement of secular and metaphysical politics, as identified in this research, provides context to evaluate the case of the Islamic Republic in the framework of a 'political religion.' In particular, this study explores the Iranian regime's sacralization of politics, its employment of charismatic leadership, and its efforts to create a 'new man.'
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This chapter, on contemporary radical right violence in Western Europe and North America, begins ... more This chapter, on contemporary radical right violence in Western Europe and North America, begins with a definitional question: what do we mean by “radical right” or “radical right populism”? Relying on the work of Cas Mudde and others, the stress is on nationalism, exclusionism (certain groups are not considered part of the national community), elitism, and monism (the idea that political questions have only one correct answer). The chapter then seeks to understand the conditions that give rise to radical right violence, relying on the work of Ehud Sprinzak and others. The stress is on particularistic violence and its use against minority groups seeking to assert claims to improved status in society. Vigilantism, employing violence outside the law in order to exert social control over the minority, is a common attribute. Finally, the chapter reviews the major forms of radical right violence, emphasizing “lone wolf” attacks and ethnic riots.
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Religious movements and religious ideas have played important roles in the United States almost s... more Religious movements and religious ideas have played important roles in the United States almost since the formation of the American republic. From those who sought to abolish slavery in the 19th century to the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 20th, Christian clergy and laymen claimed religious inspiration for their involvements. There is another side to this story, however. In addition to championing these progressive causes, Christian, largely Protestant, religious ideas have also been central to the various radical right-wing movements that have surfaced over the course of American history. Or, as the journalist H. L. Mencken once put it in connection with the 1928 presidential election campaign: ‘the Ku Klux Klan is really the secular wing of the Methodist church in the South!’ Xenophobic, Anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, and especially anti-communist, far-right organisations in the USA have employed religious sentiments to justify their campaigns against important social changes in public life. We propose to tell their story.
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Contributing to the literature on movement structure in authoritarian regimes, this analysis focu... more Contributing to the literature on movement structure in authoritarian regimes, this analysis focuses on the structure of two Iranian movements. We use a multi-method approach to analyze the organization of the student and women’s movements in Iran between 1997 and 2008. From 1997 to 2004, a reform government opened political opportunities. The period between 2005 and 2008 was characterized by increased repression. The student movement was organized during the first period as a hybrid composed of several networks linked in a federal structure. As the political context changed, the movement became less centralized. Its strategy shifted from one based in alliance with governing reformers to coalition building outside of the regime. In contrast, the women’s movement was organized as a densely linked web of non-centralized campaigns. The women’s movement overcame divisions as political opportunities closed in the mid-2000s and built a grassroots strategy during the latter part of the decade.
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Religion Compass, 2015
The following article surveys the relationships between fascist ideology and religion in interwar... more The following article surveys the relationships between fascist ideology and religion in interwar Europe. First, it provides a working definition for the term ‘clerical fascism’ through the exploration of 14 case studies presented at the 2006 international workshop on Clerical Fascism in interwar Europe. Next, it argues that fascism, understood as a syncretic coalition between political and politicized religion, improves the analytical understanding of how fascist movements and religious entities extended collaborations. This approach enables us to study not only how fascist and religious forces respond to political opportunities but also how these collectivities reshape political context in their favor and create new opportunities. In most cases, battles over two key factions, the ‘custody of youths’ and the ‘rebirth of nations’, provided both political and politicized camps with opportunities to cooperate or struggle.
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Project 01 (En) - Political Religion
After almost four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a puzzle to both political scient... more After almost four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a puzzle to both political scientists and policy makers alike. Lack of consensus over Iran’s political system makes a comparative study a challenging task. What regime type best explains the Islamic Republic? This project is an attempt to show how the question of whether the Islamic Republic is a political religion will help in understanding not only the nature of the regime, but also adds to the scholarship on political religion.
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Project 01 (Fa) - دین سیاسی
Goal: After almost four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a puzzle to both political ... more Goal: After almost four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a puzzle to both political scientists and policy makers alike. Lack of consensus over Iran’s political system makes a comparative study a challenging task. What regime type best explains the Islamic Republic? This project is an attempt to show how the question of whether the Islamic Republic is a political religion will help in understanding not only the nature of the regime, but also adds to the scholarship on political religion.
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Op-Ed/Analysis
Liberal Democracies and the Challenge of Far-Right Political Parties - (in Persian):
The article ... more Liberal Democracies and the Challenge of Far-Right Political Parties - (in Persian):
The article explores the emergence of far-right political parties in Europe and how these parties challenge democratic values. A version of this article published on BBC Persian. It is available at: http://www.bbc.com/persian/blogs/2016/07/160717_l44_nazeran_right_liberal_democracy
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What we might witness in the years to come is emergence of a Shia hegemonic power, the major bene... more What we might witness in the years to come is emergence of a Shia hegemonic power, the major beneficiaries of which, due to its ideological origin — nativism, monism and expansionism — are Iran’s local Shia clients, as well as those who seek to balance their powers by sending tribute to or making alliances with the Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic’s new regional order — based on a phantom formation of civilization — will escalate the sectarian conflicts that began in 2006. Domestically, the regime’s Shia expansionism will result in more human rights violations, especially against religious and ethnic minorities.
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This article explores the IRGC's political role expansion in Iran's domestic and foreign affairs.... more This article explores the IRGC's political role expansion in Iran's domestic and foreign affairs.
This article first published online October 09, 2013 at National Security Forum.
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This article explores how the Islamic Republic elites perceive the self-proclaimed Islamic State ... more This article explores how the Islamic Republic elites perceive the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.
This article first published on line December 23, 2015 at National Security Forum.
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Britain leaving the EU was the most recent achievement of populist far-right parties in Europe. A... more Britain leaving the EU was the most recent achievement of populist far-right parties in Europe. A content analysis of the leading far-right groups' Twitter accounts (and their main sympathizers) in the week leading to the EU referendum reveals how far-right rhetoric, through crafting messages and symbols, not only shaped Brexit debate, but also accessed to the liberal democratic political spectrum. Published on 09/08/2016 at Fair Observer.
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Thesis
I implemented a concept-to-speech (CTS) system based on the works of Mark Steedman, Scott Prevost... more I implemented a concept-to-speech (CTS) system based on the works of Mark Steedman, Scott Prevost, and Matthew Stone. I have designed and implemented the CTS system, TuTeTo, based on two scientific software products: SPUD (Speech Engine) from Rutgers University and Festival (Speech Synthesizer) from University of Edinburgh. TuTeTo is an acronym for contextually appropriate intonation generator.
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This thesis discusses the impact of a movement‘s reticulation structures on its ability to sustai... more This thesis discusses the impact of a movement‘s reticulation structures on its ability to sustain mobilization in the presence and absence of political opportunities. It initially focuses on the relationship between the nature of a movement‘s reticulation structure and the movement‘s behavior. It goes on to explore specific connections between varied reticulation configurations and specific behaviors they are associated with, based on a detailed comparison between the student movement and women‘s movement in Iran from 1997 to 2008. This study shows that a movement‘s reticulation structure will affect its behavior. The student movement employs a hybrid composed of cliques and polycephalous structures, which gives it the ability to respond quickly to opportunities as they arise. In contrast, the women‘s movement employs a hybrid structure that is segmented, decentralized, and reticulated. This enables the women‘s movement to utilize an abeyance structure to sustain its activity under longer repression than the student movement.
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A three-article dissertation: 1- Between Political Religion and Politicized Religion: Fascism and... more A three-article dissertation: 1- Between Political Religion and Politicized Religion: Fascism and Religion in Interwar Europe; 2- Fascism Analyzed: A Data Approach to Define Fascism; 3- The Islamic Republic of Iran: A Variety of Political Religion?
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Presentations
National Security Forum, 2015
A talk presented at the National Security Forum, where I discussed the role, influence and future... more A talk presented at the National Security Forum, where I discussed the role, influence and future of the Supreme Leader in the Islamic Republic. Originally presented on May 4, 2015.
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Uploads
The article explores the emergence of far-right political parties in Europe and how these parties challenge democratic values. A version of this article published on BBC Persian. It is available at: http://www.bbc.com/persian/blogs/2016/07/160717_l44_nazeran_right_liberal_democracy
This article first published online October 09, 2013 at National Security Forum.
This article first published on line December 23, 2015 at National Security Forum.
The article explores the emergence of far-right political parties in Europe and how these parties challenge democratic values. A version of this article published on BBC Persian. It is available at: http://www.bbc.com/persian/blogs/2016/07/160717_l44_nazeran_right_liberal_democracy
This article first published online October 09, 2013 at National Security Forum.
This article first published on line December 23, 2015 at National Security Forum.
ASMEA Conference - 2014
Constitutional Revolution in 1906 to the Revolution of 1979 and beyond.
The course pays special attention to historical, political, and theoretical
understanding of the 1979 Revolution and the nature of the Islamic Republic.
https://www.ariel.ac.il/wp/jimes/volume-4-spring-2019/