Democrac

Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia:

Past Traditions and Future Prospects

(An International Conference of The 11^th Annual Asian-American Heritage Program in Commemoration of the Centennial of The 1906 Iranian Constitutional Revolution)

Co-Sponsored by: NEIU International Programs, NEIU Graduate College, Northeastern Programming Board, NEIU Honors Program, and Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh Leadership Fund at NEIU Foundation

(All Events, except otherwise indicated, are in Alumni Hall)

 Wednesday, April 5, 2006

9:00am - 10:50am Iranian Constitutional Revolution: Legacy and Impact

Chair: Yasmin A. Ranney, Assistant Dean, Academic Development, Northeastern Illinois University

Janet Afary, Purdue University, “Legacy of Iranian Constitutional Revolution”

Daryoush Ashouri, Writer and Linguist (France) “Abortive Birth of a Nation”

Ali Gheissari, University of San Diego, Iranian Constitutional Revolution: Democracy or State-Building?”

11:00am - 12:50pm Prospects and Challenges of Human Rights in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia

Chair: David Rustchman, Northeastern Illinois University

Curt Goering, Senior Deputy Executive Director, Amnesty International, New York, "The Arc of Justice: Current Human Rights Struggles in the Middle East and Central Asia"

Mansour Bonakdarian (Discussant), Hofstra University, Chair of the International Society for Iranian Studies Committee for Academic and intellectual Freedom

1:25pm - 3:30pm Islam and Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia: Future Prospects

Chair: T.Y. Okosun, Justice Studies, Northeastern Illinois University

Gunes Murat Tezcur, Loyola University,   "Is Islam really relevant for understanding democratization (or its lack thereof)?”

Norma Moruzzi, University of Illinois at Chicago, Citizenship and Participation: Iranian Women’s Public Presence”

Nader Hashemi, Northwestern University, "The Torturous Path to Liberal Democracy: Relevant Notes on the Tension between Islam and Democracy during Iran's 20th Century."

Russell Zanca, Northeastern Illinois University (Discussant)

4:15pm – 5:30pm Iranian Constitutional Revolution: The Role of Women and the Emergence of Modern Self

Chair: Shahrzad Mahootian, Linguistics Department, Northeastern Illinois University

Minoo Varzegar, Rutgers University, “The Role of Women in Iranian Constitutional Revolution”

Houra Yavari, Columbia University, "Is Public Life Publishable: Autobiography and Persian Self"

7:00pm – 9:00pm A Keynote Address

Introducer: Mohemad Talha Anarwala, NPB

Session Chair: Vali Siadat, Daley College, Chicago

Stephen Kinzer, Author and Senior New York Times Correspondent

“The American Way of Intervention: Is Iran Next?”

Followed by a book signing by Mr. Kinzer for his new book: Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Thursday, April 6, 2006

9:25am – 12:05pm The Prospects of Democracy and Viable Peaceful US Policies in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia

Chair: Professor David Leaman, Northeastern Illinois University

Stephen Kinzer, Author and Senior New York Times Correspondent, “Constitutional Rule in Iran: Is it Gone Forever?”

Anora Mahumudova, BBC World Central Asia Service Correspondent in the US and at the United Nations, "US's changing policy in the different 'Stans' in the post-Soviet environment"

Steve LeVine, Wall Street Journal Correspondent (based in Caucasus/Central Asia 1992-2003), “US Policy in Central Asia”

Danny Postel, Author, Journalist and Senior Editor of Open Democracy, “Reading Legitimation Crisis in Tehran: Liberalism, Internationalism, and the Upheaval in Iran Today”

12:15pm – 2:00pm International and Regional Significance of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution

Chair: Vicki Roman-Lagunas, Associate Provost, Academic Affairs, Northeastern Illinois University

Touraj Atabaki, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, “The Movement for Constitutionalism in Iran and its Trans-Caspian Dependencies”

Cyrus Bina, University of Minnesota at Morris, “The Heart and Soul of the Middle East: The Making of the Constitutional Revolution."

Mansour Bonakdarian, Hofstra University, “The international reception and impact of the Iranian revolution”

 2:00pm – 3:15pm Children of the Sun (A Documentary Film about Ancient Iran), in presence of the filmmaker, Mansooreh Saboori, IranDokht Productions, Boston, Massachusetts

Introduction and Chair: Simin Hemmati-Rasmussen, Northeastern Illinois University

Room TBA

2:50pm – 4:40pm Traditions and Prospects of Democracy in Central Asia

Chair: Charles Steinwedel, Northeastern Illinois University

Steve LeVine, Wall Street Journal Correspondent (based in Caucasus/Central Asia 1992-2003), “Prospects for Democracy in Central Asia”

Anora Mahumudova, BBC World Central Asia Service Correspondent in the US and at the United Nations, "Are Central Asians ready for 'western style' democracy?"

Touraj Atabaki, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (Discussant)

Russell Zanca, Associate Professor, Anthropology, Northeastern Illinois University (Discussant)

4:15pm – 5:30pm Reflections of Iran and Human Rights in Iran in Ario Mashayekhi’s works (Room TBA)

Chair: Azar Khounani, Founder and Executive Director of Kids Academy, Illinois

Ario Mashayekhi, Chicago Based Artist

7:00pm “Remember the Dead Candle, Remember!”  A Special Candle Lighting and Poetry Reading Ceremony for Peace on the occasion of the Centennial of the 1906 Iranian Constitutional Revolution.                                                                                                                                    

Ceremony Leader: Dan Creely, HPERA, Northeastern Illinois University                                               

Poetry Reading by Nahid Shafiei, Persian Literature Educator, Chicago

Songs will be performed by Gerald Chaney accompanied by Ms. Jane Kenas Heller on piano                                                                           

7:20pm Keynote Speech and Presentation, Reza Deghati

Welcome and Opening Remarks: Salme Harju Steinberg, President, Northeastern Illinois University

Chair: Maziar Keshavarz, Founder and President of Keshavarz & Associates, West Palm Beach, Florida

“Great Game and Democracy: A Slide Show on Central Asia, Caspian Sea and Afghanistan” Presented by Reza Deghati, Renowned National Geographic Photojournalist and the 2005 Recipient of Legion of Honor from the President of the France, the highest civilian honor in France,  and Founder of AINA (Paris, France/Kabul, Afghanistan).  This program includes a presentation of a DVD about the Concept and Realization of AINA titled: “A Human Adventure in Afghanistan,” Pictures and Narration by Reza.

This program will be followed by a Poster Signing Ceremony by Mr. Deghati.

10:00pm Peace Fire Ceremony for the Centennial of Iranian Constitutional Revolution

Dan Creely, Northeastern Illinois University

Friday, April 7*, 2006

*Sessions are in Persian, except noted otherwise.

9:00am – 3:15pm Children of the Sun (A Documentary Film about Ancient Iran), This film in English will be shown in presence of the filmmaker, Mansooreh Saboori, IranDokht Productions, Boston, Massachusetts

Introduction and Chair: Simin Hemmati-Rasmussen, Associate Professor, Northeastern Illinois University

10:00am – 12:00noon Two Perspectives on Iranian Constitutional Revolution

Chair: Hamid Akbari, Northeastern Illinois University

Daryoush Ashouri, Writer and Linguist (France), Abortive Birth of a Nation

Hamid Shokat, Writer and Researcher (Germany), Constitutional Revolution: Factors Impacting Passage from Despotism to Freedom

1:00pm – 2:50pm Literary Legacy of Constitutional Revolution

Chair: Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa, Columbia College, Chicago

Houra Yavari, Columbia University, Persian Novel and Modernity

Saeed Yousef Ghahramani, University of Chicago, The Offerings and Aspect of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution for the Poets: From Changing the Addressee to a Dilemma of the Addressee

3:00pm, Reflections of Iran and Human Rights in Iran in Ario Mashayekhi’s works

Chair: Azar Khounani, Founder and Executive Director of Kids Academy, Illinois

Ario Mashayekhi, Chicago Based Artist

7:00pm – 8:00pm (Recital Hall)

Introduction: Azar Khounani, Founder and Executive Director of Kids Academy, Illinois

Dr. Mehdi Forough, Founder of College of Dramatic Arts, “Haj Mirza Yahya Dowlatabadi and His Poetry”

8:30pm – 9:45pm (Recital Hall, In English) A Special Violin Recital of Classical Music performed by Mr. Cyrus Forough (Violin) and Tatyana Stepanova (Piano) in Memory of Mr. Forough’s Grand Father (Haj Mirja Yahya Dowlatabadi, a prominent Constitutionalist of 1906 Revolution Era and among the main founders of the modern school systems in Iran) and his Mother, Mrs. Fakhri Forough Dowlatabadi (One of the Iranian women pioneers in playing and teaching Western Classical Music).

Professor Cyrus is a full time faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is on the faculty at Roosevelt University's College of Performing Arts in Chicago.

Welcome and Opening Remarks:  Murrell J. H. Duster, Dean, Academic Development, Northeastern Illinois University

Remarks about Mrs. Fakhri Forough: Azar Khounani, Founder and Executive Director of Kids Academy, Illinois

Remarks about Haj Mirza Yahya Dowlatabadi, Janet Afary, Purdue University

Recital Program:

Sonata for Piano and violin in G major K 301                              Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
           Allegro con Spirito                                                               (1756-1791)
           Allegro


Sonata for Piano and Violin in C minor Op. 30 No. 2                    Ludwig van Beethoven
            Allegro con brio                                                                 (1770-1826)


Three Arias                                                                                    Dr. Mehdi Forough
            Aresou (Longing)                                                                (1911)
            Al-Ninn Atu Li, Liah
            Caravan
          
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso                                            Camille Saint Saens
                                                                                                       (1835-1921)

Saturday, April 8*, 2006

* All programs in Persian, except the National Geographic Film showing at 5:30pm

10:00am – 12:00noon, International and Regional Significance of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution

Chair: Dr. Janet Afary, Purdue University

Touraj Atabaki, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, “The Movement for Constitutionalism in Iran and its Trans-Caspian Dependencies”

Cyrus Bina, University of Minnesota at Morris, “The Heart and Soul of the Middle East: The Making of the Constitutional Revolution"

Fariba Zarinebaf, Northwestern University, “Constitutionalism and Modernity in Iran and Ottoman Empire”  

1:00pm – 3:30pm, Legacy of Iranian Constitutional Revolution

Chair: Daryoush Ashouri, Writer and Linguist, France

Houshang Keshavarz Sadr, Writer and Researcher, France, “Lessons from the First Constitutional Parliament”

Janet Afary, Purdue University, “Legacy of the Constitutional Revolution”

Ali Gheissari, University of San Diego, “Iranian Constitutional Revolution: Democracy or State Building?”

3:45pm – 5:00pm, Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, the Prominent Figure Among the Constitutional Freedom Fighters

Chair: Behrouz Azarnoush, Iran House of Greater Chicago

Speaker: Dr. Saeid Fatemi, Personal Translator of Dr. Mossadegh at Hague Tribunal

5:30pm, Reza Deghati will speak (in Persian) after the showing of his Film ("True Originals" Reza Shooting back) A national Geographic television Documentary on Reza's work, ideas, retracing all the period from the start of work through Iran revolution, and 25 years of coverage of the world's most important events, to the funding of AINA, and the creation of an independent media in Afghanistan.

For more information, please check the conference website at: