Video edited by Farzad Tabatabaie -On Saturday January 25, 2014, a conference organized by Iranian activists, students, workers and academics took place at the University of Toronto to discuss Iran's current political situation and the solidarity politics of Iranian opposition in a globalized context through three panels in Farsi and English. Iran's politics and society continue to be the focus of public discussion across the world. Yet rarely does the complexity deserving of these subjects receive adequate consideration. Iran in (Re)View aimed to make this complexity legible. Rather than reproducing conventional narratives and convenient clichés, perpetuated by the mainstream media and the ruling classes, the organizers of this conference intended to foster an open atmosphere for the exchange of critical and alternative perspectives. A dialogue that addressed a range of key issues pertaining to social, economic and political realities of Iran today. These include: the workings of class in the Islamic Republic, movements for social and economic justice - particularly those of the working class, women, students, and LGBTQ - the effects of economic sanctions, and the threats of war by the US and its allies, including the Canadian government. Iran in (Re)view was made possible by support from Opirg Toronto and Opirg York, CUPE National, and CUPE Ontario. The recent presidential election in Iran in June 2013, which ended up with Hassan Rouhani's victory, has faced mixed reactions among Iranians and various organizations and circles. Some believe that victory of Rouhani, who is being declared as a moderate figure, implies that the Islamic Republic of Iran has changed its approach, and, accordingly, is following a new agenda in respect to its domestic and foreign policies. In other words, it is being argued that Rouhani is capable of opening up the political realm inside Iran on the one hand, and reaching an agreement with the Western powers on Iran's nuclear program. Others, in contrary, refute this view, and deem it as an inaccurate and unrealistic analysis. They maintain that such developments within Islamic Republic of Iran are not unprecedented, and the transition of power in this state is merely confined to a small group of staunch adherents of it. Therefore, they would argue that progressive and profound transformation would not occur through elections or within the Islamic Republic of Iran or by the reliance on the power struggles between the Western imperial powers and the repressive Islamic regime of Iran. In the Panel titled "Iran after election: change or consolidation", which is in Persian, presenters talk about the recent presidential election and its implications. -Shahrzad Mojab, scholar, teacher, and activist, is internationally known for her work on the impact of war, displacement, and violence on women's learning and education. She is professor of education and women's studies at OISE/University of Toronto. Two of her most recent publications are Educating from Marx: Race, Gender and Learning (co-editor, 2012) and Women, War, Violence, and Learning (editor, 2010). -Amir Hassanpour has taught and conducted research on the history and politics of the Middle East. At the University of Toronto, he has taught nationalism, social movements and mass media of the region and is currently doing research on nationalist and peasant movements. -Mohammad Ashrafi is a well-known Iranian labour and socialist activist and former political prisoner. He has been in Canada since December 2013. Mohammad Ashrafi is a member of central council of The Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Workers Organizations in Iran and was a representative of The Committee at the Collaborative Council of Labor Organizations and Activists. He is also a member of Shahrokh Zamani Defense Committee. -Behnam Amini is a graduate student at York University in the program of Social and Political Thought. He has been actively involved in Iranian student movement since the year 2000. Amini has also written a number of articles in various Persian journals. You can find his recent articles and interviews on contemporary Iran, in particular, his recent views on 2013 presidential election in Radiozamaneh, BBC Persian and Akhbar Rooz. http://iraninreview.com/ Email: info@IranInReview.com

• published: 08 Apr 2014
• views: 91