Course: An Overview of Iran's History, Culture, Poetry, Society, and more (OSH-IRANHST)

Iran is an enigma: from empires to an Islamic Republic. These three classes will give us an overview of Iran's history, culture, society and poetry which is very important to better understand the country and its people. First class will be an historical overview starting with the Safavids, the Qajars leading to WWI and to the present. Second class will cover the role of Shia Islam religion and the 'bazaar' in Iran's history. Third class will discuss the role of Iranian women in literature, culture, and society. Plus, an overview of Iran's famous poets, their poetry and its impact on Iranian society.

Session: OSH127.IRANHST

Schedule:

Tuesdays; Oct 6, 13, 20

Times:

01:00pm - 02:30pm

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Instructors

Name

Additional Resources

Heba F. El-Shazli

Biography: Heba F. El-Shazli was an Associate Professor of Political Science (retired June 2025) at George Mason University?s Schar School of Policy and Government, and she was an adjunct faculty (for 4 years) at Georgetown University?s Master?s Degree Program at the Center for Democracy and Civil Society. She was also an affiliate faculty at the Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University. She taught courses on governments and politics of the Middle East and North Africa, Islam and politics, international relations theory, Israeli Palestinian politics/history/society, civil society and social movements, and the role of civil society in democratization. Professor El-Shazli earned a Ph.D. in political science from Virginia Tech (VT) School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA).She was the Regional Program Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) programs at the Solidarity Center (SC), AFL-CIO from September 2004 until June 2011. El-Shazli was also the Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) from 2001 until 2004. Before joining NDI, El-Shazli worked at the American Center for International Labor Solidarity working in Central and Eastern Europe from 1987 to 1994.Dr. El-Shazli has 28 years of experience in civic and union organizing, institution building, leadership skills training, labor education and training methodologies, political advocacy, and development, implementation and management of international programs. She is fluent in Arabic and English; and speaks French very well; plus, she can manage a basic conversation in Spanish and Romanian. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and DACOR, "an organization of foreign affairs professionals dating back to 1952, fosters frank dialog about current foreign policy matters".

Facility Detail

TBD - UR Campus

Richmond, VA 23173