From Palace to Prison: Sociology and Its Trials in Iran


Zohreh Bayatrizi, University of Alberta

We plan to present a 20-minute documentary about the history of sociology in Iran. Sociology is a highly politicized field in Iran. From its foundation in 1958 to the present, both sociologists and the state have had a politicized view of the field. It has been attractive for students and academics of all political stripes who have pursued sociology in hope of finding revolutionary, reformist, or reactionary solutions to social problems. From Marxist and leftist guerillas in the 1960s to Islamists, and reformers after the 1979 Revolution, sociological research and teaching has been heavily politicized. The state in turn has often treated sociology with suspicion and, especially after the 1979 Revolution, sought to control and subject it censorship. After chronicling this history, the documentary looks at ways in which the current generation of sociologists and students of sociology are coming to terms with this legacy. In particular, it will discuss private sociology classes outside the university as a space within which scholars and students resist state control and censorship.

Non-presenting authors: Reyhaneh Javadi, University of Alberta; Hajar Ghorbani, University of Alberta

This paper will be presented at the following session: