[Bilimsel Haber] CONF.- Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia, April 5-8, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

CONF.:

Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia
April 5-8
Chicago, IL

Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia: Past Traditions and
Future Prospects

April 5-8, 2006

Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625-4699
USA

We would like to cordially invite you to attend a Major Bi-Lingual
(English and Persian) International Conference commemorating the
Centennial of the 1906 Iranian Constitutional Revolution at Northeastern
Illinois University from April 5-8, 2006.

You may also find updated information at the Conference Website:
http://www.neiu.edu/~acdevelo/1906DemocracyConference/

Please note that on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8, all sessions
will be in Persian, unless otherwise noted.

Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia: Past Traditions and
Future Prospects

An International Conference of the 11th 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

Program:

Wednesday, April 5, 2006

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

Chair: Yasmin A. Ranney, 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 Dep. Exec. Direct., Amnesty International, New York
The Arc of Justice: Current Human Rights Struggles in the Middle East
and Central Asia

Discussant: Mansour Bonakdarian, 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

Günes 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

Discussant: Russell Zanca, Northeastern Illinois University


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

Chair: Shahrzad Mahootian, 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 Correspondent in the US and at the UN
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, Northeastern Illinois University

Touraj Atabaki, University of Amsterdam
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),
Room TBA

in presence of the filmmaker, Mansooreh Saboori, IranDokht Productions,
Boston, Massachusetts

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



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

Chair: Charles Steinwedel, Northeastern Illinois University

Steve LeVine, Wall Street Journal Correspondent
Prospects for Democracy in Central Asia

Anora Mahumudova, BBC World Central Asia Service Correspondent
Are Central Asians ready for 'western style' democracy?

Discussants:
Touraj Atabaki, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Russell Zanca, Northeastern Illinois University



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

Chair: Azar Khounani, Founding Exec. 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, 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, Keshavarz & Associates, West Palm Beach, FL

Great Game and Democracy
A Slide Show on Central Asia, Caspian Sea and Afghanistan

Presented by Reza Deghati, National Geographic photojournalist and the
2005 Recipient of the Legion of Honor from the President of 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
The 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, Founding Exec. Director of Kids Academy, Illinois

Ario Mashayekhi, Chicago Based Artist



7:00pm - 8:00pm (Recital Hall)

Introduction:
Azar Khounani, Founding Exec. 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 grandfather (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 Forough 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, Northeastern Illinois University

Remarks about Mrs. Fakhri Forough:
Azar Khounani, Founding 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
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 the 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:
http://www.neiu.edu/~acdevelo/1906DemocracyConference/

Or call the Office of Academic Development at
(773) 442-5441 or (773) 442-6126




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