On October 27, 2023, the Iran 1400 Project had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Amir Yahya Ayatollahi about his new book Political Conservatism and Religious Reformation in Iran (1905-1979): Reconsidering the Monarchic Legacy. Dr. Ayatollahi delved into the intricacies of Iranian conservatism, discussing its historical roots, political implications, and its ties to religion. He also explored the concept of secularism and contemplated how the monarchy had influenced Iran’s democratic evolution. During the Q&A session, Dr. Ayatollahi shared insights on a range of topics, including the relationship between Iranian conservatism and nationalism, and how the lessons from his book can be connected to the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
Amir Yahya Ayatollahi received his Ph.D. in political sciences at the University of Vechta/Germany. His fields of interest are the modern Middle East, Iranian studies, Shiism, theories on state, political power and democracy, the democratization process, political philosophy, as well as social organizations and movements. Additionally, living among Shiite seminarians provided him with a first-hand invaluable experience of how the public and formal teachings of Shiism are manifested in the political thoughts of clergies in Iran.
