Spatiotemporal Politics in Contemporary Iran: Dynamics of Memory, Agency, and Ritual Among the Graduates of Islamic Schools (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9783119147705)

In contemporary Iran, commemorative rituals serve as spatio-temporal tools for fostering social bonds, yet they also represent contested spaces where the state and society negotiate power. The portrayal of the past by state institutions often clashes with how individuals remember, creating a conflictual dynamic. This dissertation investigates these dynamics, focusing on the interplay of competing worldviews. It examines how the Shi'i Weltanschauung of the Iranian state resonates with the younger generation raised in deeply religious contexts, particularly those born and educated in the first decade following the 1979 Revolution. It analyses how the state re-invents the sacred, deploying ideological platforms to reinforce its vision. It also explores how youth from aligned religious milieus interpret, experience, and remember this vision. These processes reveal how the generation constructs new, sometimes contradictory meanings within the Shi'a utopia the state claims to embody. Using grounded theory and qualitative interviews, this study highlights the divergences between the state's official narrative and individual memories, showcasing how micro-narratives express agency and resistance. Ultimately, it demonstrates how these narratives contribute to a shared generational knowledge that can challenge, transform, or even merge with the hegemonic Shi'a discourse at pivotal moments.

Author: Maryam Rahmani
ISBN-10: 3119147702
ISBN-13: 9783119147705
Publisher: de Gruyter Oldenbourg
Language: English
Published: 02/13/2026
Pages: 160
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.94lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.56d