Iran’s Arduous Journey after 40 Years of the Islamic Revolution
Wednesday Forum – 25 September 2019
The Islamic Revolution of Iran marks its 40th anniversary this year since the popular movement led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini succeeded in dethroning the Western-backed Shahanshah (King of Kings) Mohamed Reza Pahlevi. Since then, the Iranian nation and government have been embarking on a treacherous journey from political domination and capitulation toward independence, autonomy and isolation. While its foreign policy, based on the principle of Laa Syarqiyah, walaa Gharbiyah (Neither East, nor West)—founded on the Quranic injunction (Q. 24:35)—has been consistently and steadfastly held, it does come with a heavy price, both politically and economically. The talk will focus on Iran’s revolutionary journey, its difficult relationship with Western powers, the seemingly inevitable clash with the USA and its allies, its sponsorship of Shi’ism and Khomeini’s vision around the world and the challenges its nation and government face amid a hostile region of the Middle East.
Guest of Honor:
Dr. Mehrdad Rakhshandeh is the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jakarta, Indonesia, as of 2018. Previous to his appointment in Jakarta, Dr. Rakhshandeh was Director General of ICRO (Islamic Culture and Relations Organization) in Tehran, Iran. He also served as a Cultural Attaché and Head of Iran’s Consulate General in Shanghai, China.
Speakers:
Dr. Nasir Tamara is Chairperson of the Indonesian Writers’ Association. He teaches national security and international relations at Prodi Ketahanan Nasional UGM. Author of Indonesia Rising: Islam, Democracy and the Rise of Indonesia as a Major Power (2009), his book Revolusi Iran was a best seller in 1980, and its new updated edition was published in 2017 by KPG.
Dr. Dicky Sofjan is a Core Doctoral Faculty in the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) and was the author of Why Muslims Participate in Jihad: An Empirical Survey on Islamic Religiosity in Indonesia and Iran (Mizan/ATF Press 2006) and editor of Sejarah dan Budaya Syiah di Asia Tenggara (Pascasarjana UGM 2013).
Look at the full poster of this event here.