The Islamic Republic of Iran was born from the upheaval of revolution in 1979. The Iranian regime has faced repeated political demonstrations and popular protests since then, but it has defied all predictions of its demise. What are the grievances that have fueled these recurring waves of dissent? How have the unique institutions of Iranian government interacted with protest movements and how has the response to dissent evolved over time? What does the latest wave of protest in Iran teach us about the future of Iranian politics?
Dr. Bahman Baktiari is the Executive Director of the Baskerville Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes understanding and respect between Americans and Iranians. He received his Ph.D. in International Law and Government from the University of Virginia. He has held academic and administrative positions at multiple universities and published extensively on Iranian culture and politics. He is the author of Parliamentary Politics in Revolutionary Iran: Institutionalization of Factional Politics.
Part of the Kennedy Center's winter 2024 lecture series, "Authoritarianism and Its Discontents."