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research » symposia

Politics, Society, and Economy in a Changing Iran

May 20, 2004 to May 21, 2004

Stauffer Auditorium
Hoover Institution
Stanford University

"Is Iran ready to become a democracy?" asked Larry Diamond, Hoover senior fellow, in opening the conference. Participants addressed this question through presentations and discussions in several panel sessions. In addition, Shirin Ebadi, recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, was the keynote speaker at a reception and dinner May 20.

THURSDAY, MAY 20
8:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:30 A.M. Introduction
RICHARD SOUSA, Hoover Institution
8:45 A.M. Panel I: Theory and History
LARRY DIAMOND, Hoover Institution
MICHAEL McFAUL, Hoover Institution and Stanford University
"Theories and Experiences of Democratic Transition"
 
DISCUSSANT: HOSSEIN BASHIRIYE, Tehran University
CHAIR: ABBAS MILANI, Hoover Institution
10:00 A.M. Break
10:30 A.M. Panel II: The Political Landscape in Iran Today
HOSSEIN BASHIRIYE, Tehran University
"The Political Landscape in Iran Today"
 
AZAM TALEGHANI, Payam Hajar Weekly
"The Political Landscape in Iran Today: The Women's Perspective"
 
DISCUSSANTS: ALI ANSARI, University of Exeter
GUITY NASHAT, Hoover Institution
CHAIR: LARRY DIAMOND, Hoover Institution
12:00 NOON Lunch in the Staff Lounge and Hatfield Court
1:00 P.M. Panel III: Constitutional Reform
MEHRANGIZ KAR, University of Virginia
"Directions for Constitutional Reform"
 
DISCUSSANT: ABDULKARIM LAHIDJI, Attorney
CHAIR: MICHAEL McFAUL, Hoover Institution and Stanford University
2:00 P.M. Panel IV: Iranian Culture and the Question of Democracy
SIMIN BEHBAHANI, Poet
"The Struggle for Freedom in Contemporary Iranian Literature"
 
DISCUSSANT: FARZANEH MILANI, University of Virginia
CHAIR: ABBAS MILANI, Hoover Institution
3:15 P.M. Break
3:45 P.M. Panel V: The Mass Media
ALI REZA REJAI, Jame'e No
"The Role of the Media in Recent Political Changes in Iran"
 
BEHNAM TABRIZI, Stanford University
LILY SARAFAN, Stanford University
"The Implications of the Internet for Political Change in Iran"
 
DISCUSSANTS: ALIREZA HAGIGI, Journalist
NAJMEDIN MESHKATI, University of Southern California
CHAIR: JAMES BETTINGER, Stanford University
5:00 P.M. Conclusion
6:30 P.M. Reception and Dinner at the Crown Plaza Cabaña
SHIRIN EBADI
Recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize
 
 
FRIDAY, MAY 21
8:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:30 A.M. Panel VI: Religion and Politics
ABDULKARIM SOROUSH, Princeton University
"Islamic Democracy?"
 
DISCUSSANTS: ABBAS MILANI, Hoover Institution
ERIK JENSEN, Stanford Law School
CHAIR: LARRY DIAMOND, Hoover Institution
10:00 A.M. Break
10:30 A.M. Panel VII: Religious and Ethnic Minorities
MOHAMMED TAVAKOLI-TARGHI, University of Toronto
"Religious Minorities in Iran"
 
HAMID AHMADI, Tehran University
"The Question of Ethnic Minorities and the Future of Democratic Islam in Iran"
 
DISCUSSANTS: HORMOZ HEKMAT, IranNameh
GAIL LAPIDUS, Stanford Institute for International Studies
CHAIR: ABBAS MILANI, Hoover Institution
12:00 NOON Lunch in the Staff Lounge and Hatfield Court
1:00 P.M. Panel VIII: The Economy and the Question of Democracy in Iran
DJAVAD SALEHI-ISFAHANI, Virginia Tech
"The Contemporary Iranian Economy: Recent Trends and Future Prospects"
 
DISCUSSANT: MORTEZA ABDOLLAHI, Private Businessman
CHAIR: MICHAEL McFAUL, Hoover Institution and Stanford University
2:30 P.M. Break
3:30 P.M. Roundtable Discussion: U.S.-Iran Relations
GEORGE SHULTZ, Hoover Institution
ABBAS MILANI, Hoover Institution
HORMOZ HEKMAT, IranNameh
MICHAEL McFAUL, Hoover Institution and Stanford University
 
CHAIR: LARRY DIAMOND, Hoover Institution
4:45 P.M. Conference Concludes