Identities in Crisis in Iran : Politics, Culture, and Religion

Identities in Crisis in Iran aims at finding answers to the questions about the puzzling character of the Iranian identity. The contributors acknowledge that identity, especially when it is faced with fundamental tensions as in the case of Iran, is a phenomenon that is constantly developing via factors involving the private self and common social components. This book addresses the tension many Iranian people face that lie between the Persian culture and the Shi'a religion, women versus men, and culture versus traditions. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Historical and Current Perspectives on Persian, Islamic, and Contested Religious Identities 1 The Unending Battle between the Persian and Islamic Identities of Iran 2 National Identity or Political Legitimacy Part II: An Islamic-National Identity and Nuclear Program 3 The Islamic Identity Project 4 Iran’s National Identity and the Nuclear Program 5 Overcoming “the –isms” Part III: Sexuality, Beauty, and Social Networking: Between the Private, Self, and the Public Sphere 6 The Identity Designers of the Self in Sexuality, Beauty, and Plastic Surgery in Iran 7 Iranians against the “Other” Conclusion Bibliography Index About the Contributors AcknowledgmentsIntroduction, Ronen A. CohenSection One: Historical and Current Perspectives on Persian, Islamic, and Contested Religious IdentitiesChapter One: The Unending Battle between the Persian and Islamic Identities of Iran, Harold RhodeChapter Two: National Identity or Political Legitimacy: The Reconstruction of the City of Bam, Ladan ZarabadiSection Two: An Islamic-National Identity and Nuclear ProgramChapter Three: The Islamic Identity Project: Between Coercion and Voluntarism, Ofira SeliktarChapter Four: Iran's National Identity and the Nuclear Program: A Rational Choice Theory Anal Identities In Crisis In Iran Describes How Identity, Especially When It Is Faced With Fundamental Tensions As In The Case Of Iran, Is A Phenomenon That Is Constantly Developing Via Factors Involving The Private Self And Common Social Factors Such As The Conflict Between The Persian Culture And The Shi A Religion.