The Evolving Nexus between Islam and Iran Essay -- Essays Papers

The Evolving Nexus between Islam and Iran The nexus between Islam and Iran is a complex one. Islam was brought to Iran via Arab-Islamic conquest in 650 AD and has played a shifting, anomalous role in this nation-state ever since. The ideas of nationalism, secularism, religion, and revolution are unique in this Muslim country. Iranians, unlike many of their neighbors, hold on very strongly to their pre-Islamic roots and achievements; sentiments of nationalism are apparent throughout Iranian history and in the everyday conversations of Iranians. In order to illustrate the role of Islam in Iran and the contemporary Iranian situation, I will analyze the concept of an Islamic state, the legitimacy of Islam in modern-day Iran with notes on the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the compatibility of Islam and Democracy, changes in access to information in Iran today, and recent movements and trends in Iranian’s youth population. Islam and the Islamic State The Islamic revival trend of the late 20th century forged the intellection that the ‘resurrected’ Muslim nations were akin to Islamic states. The region considered to make up the Muslim world indisputably comprises nations that maintain majority Muslim populations. The extent to which these nations may be labeled Islamic, however, is dubious. As the omnipresent uniformity ascribed to Muslim nations has intensified with heightened media attention, the variance among systems of governance in these countries has continued to be overlooked. The Islamic presence in these countries, in fact, ranges vastly, from Islamic social groups that strive to revive social morality and eradicate Western culture to established political systems that endeavor to enforce Islamic law. The definition a... ...rn Iran, Yale University Press, 1981. Kelley, Friedlander, and Colby, eds. Irangeles. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1993. Sanger, David E. â€Å"Allies Hear Sour Notes in ‘Axis of Evil’ Chorus,† New York Times, February 17, 2002. Wright, Robin B. In the name of God: the Khomeini decade, c1989. Zubaida, Sami. â€Å"Is Iran and Islamic State.† Zubaida, Sami. â€Å"Religion, State, and Democracy.† http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2002/December/Aghajari/index.html http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html#Econ http://www.iraniantrade.org/ http://www.ikco.com/ http://www.middleeastwire.com/iran/business/stories/20020124_2_meno.shtml http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/FEconomy/941215XXFE03.html http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/Art/010303XXAR04.html http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/BCSIA/Library.nsf/pubs/shaffer