40 Years On: Reflections on the Iranian Revolution

Atrium Conference Room

Aga Khan Centre

10 Handyside Street

London

N1C 4DN

United Kingdom

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 is widely seen as one of the most significant events of the 20th century, due to its dramatic consequences not only for the political, social and cultural landscape of Iran and the Middle East but also at a global scale. Marking the 40th anniversary of this historical event, this panel discussion brings together renowned scholars of Iran to revisit the debate on the causes and the impact of the revolution for Iran and beyond. In particular, it aims to address three main questions: What were the national and international conditions underpinning the revolutionary dynamics in Iran in the global context of the 1970s? How should the Iranian revolution be analysed in an historical-comparative perspective? And, what is the legacy, or rather, the multiple legacies, of the revolution for the political struggles in Iran and the Middle East today? By focusing on these questions, the panel seeks to reconsider some of the most salient issues stemming from the Iranian Revolution, such as Islamisation and the consequences for women and the national question in Iran, forty years on.