true new-york-iran-politics-of-resistance-under-a-theocracy 3 2009-12-22T11:50:09Z 0 2010-02-12T01:30:00Z IRAN: Politics of Resistance under a Theocracy Host: Pooyan Kheppel Date: Friday, February 12, 2010 Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm Location: New York City, Tishman Auditorium What do social movements require to succeed? What are the internal and external elements involved? And, what are the non-violent options for resistance when people’s call for change is constantly and violently suppressed by the government? This conference’s aim is to explore the strategies and tactics of everyday resistance, in particular that of women and youth, under the rule of a non-democratic constitution, a ruler with virtually unrestricted power, a constant crack-down against civil society, and when faced with the inefficacy of elections due to systematic electoral fraud. How should this internal dynamic, action against a repressive theocratic regime, be supported from the outside? Focusing on the recent Iranian case, the controversial June presidential elections, the conference will be organized through three panel discussions. Panel I: Contentious Politics: From Revolution (1979) to “Revolution” (2009)? From Western media to the authorities in Iran, both those who support and oppose what has come to be known as the Green Movement have used the term “velvet revolution” to describe what the country has gone through in the aftermath of the June Presidential Election. What are the local, regional and global factors that facilitate and block socio-political changes in Iran? - Intro: Simon Critchley (The New School) - Charles Kurzman (University of North Carolina) - Abdolali Rezai (University of Calgary) - Nayereh Tohidi (California State University) - Danny Postel (Journalist and Activist) Panel II: Everyday Life: Women, Youth, and Endangered Scholars Even when deprived of their civic and political rights, people do not cease to develop new methods of resistance against the ideological and suppressive discourses of power. In particular, the role of youth and Iranian women has been the most essential in this struggle. To illustrate the many aspects and continuation of resistance, both inside and outside Iran, the second panel will discuss several recent examples. - Intro: Jeffrey Goldfarb (New School) - Bita Mostoufi (Lawyer and Activist) - Shadi Sadr (Lawyer and Activist, the 2009 Lech Walesa Prize winner) - Soheila Vahdati (Journalist and Activist) - There will also be a video at the end of panel II. Panel III: Ethical Demands of the Green Movement What is the nature of the political and ethical demand generated by the Green Movement in Iran with regard to the International Community? The future of Iran is a determinative factor in the whole Middle East region and, ultimately, plays a key role in geopolitical developments. What forms should Western support and solidarity take and which “solutions” are to be avoided? - Intro: Andrew Arato (The New School) - Ramin Jahanbegloo (University of Toronto) - Ervand Abrahamian (CUNY) - Representative of “International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran” - Representative of “Reporters Without Borders” 1113 New York City, Tishman Auditorium 2010-02-12T10:30:00Z 2009-12-22T12:00:42Z 41 true http://www.politicsofresistance.com