Iran, an Unexpected Sunni Hub between

2018 ◽  
pp. 177-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane A. Dudoignon
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Islamic Republic ◽  
Religious Networks ◽  
First Time

Looking at the Sunni religious networks in Iran, Stéphane Dudoignon shows how Iran is an interface between South Asia and the Gulf monarchies. This process went through the progressive building of a Sunni community of Iran, which is for the first time able to gather Sunnis from various ethno-national backgrounds. A recipient of Sunni influences from South Asia, the Shi‘a Islamic Republic, by coopting some influential Sunni religious leaders, has been able to re-export them to some Gulf monarchies, building for itself an unexpected form of Sunni soft power.

New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi 10

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 69-108
Author(s):  
S. Y. Kondratyuk ◽  
D. K. Upreti ◽  
G. K. Mishra ◽  
S. Nayaka ◽  
K. K. Ingle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
South Asia ◽  
New Combinations ◽  
Eastern Asia ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Mediterranean Europe ◽  
First Time ◽  
India And China

Eight species, new for science, i.e.: Lobothallia gangwondoana S. Y. Kondr., J.-J. Woo et J.-S. Hur and Phyllopsora dodongensis S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur from South Korea, Eastern Asia, Ioplaca rinodinoides S. Y. Kondr., K. K. Ingle, D. K. Upreti et S. Nayaka, Letrouitia assamana S. Y. Kondr., G. K. Mishra et D. K. Upreti, and Rusavskia indochinensis S. Y. Kondr., D. K. Upreti et S. Nayaka from India and China, South Asia, Caloplaca orloviana S. Y. Kondr. and Rusavskia drevlyanica S. Y. Kondr. et O. O. Orlov from Ukraine, Eastern Europe, as well as Xanthoria ibizaensis S. Y. Kondr. et A. S. Kondr. from Ibiza Island, Spain, Mediterranean Europe, are described, illustrated and compared with closely related taxa. Fominiella tenerifensis S. Y. Kondr., Kärnefelt, A. Thell et Feuerer is for the first time recorded from Mediterranean Europe, Huriella loekoesiana S. Y. Kondr. et Upreti is provided from Russia for the first time, and H. pohangensis S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkös et J.-S. Hur for the first time from China, Phoma candelariellae Z. Kocakaya et Halıcı is new to Ukraine, and Staurothele frustulenta Vain. is recorded from the Forest Zone of Ukraine for the first time. Twelve new combinations, i.e.: Bryostigma apotheciorum (for Sphaeria apotheciorum A. Massal.), Bryostigma biatoricola (for Arthonia biatoricola Ihlen et Owe-Larss.), Bryostigma dokdoense (for Arthonia dokdoensis S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkös, B. G. Lee, J.-J. Woo et J.-S. Hur), Bryostigma epiphyscium (for Arthonia epiphyscia Nyl.), Bryostigma lobariellae (for Arthonia lobariellae Etayo), Bryostigma lapidicola (for Lecidea lapidicola Taylor), Bryostigma molendoi (for Tichothecium molendoi Heufl. ex Arnold), Bryostigma neglectulum (for Arthonia neglectula Nyl.), Bryostigma parietinarium (for Arthonia parietinaria Hafellner et Fleischhacker), Bryostigma peltigerinum (for Arthonia vagans var. peltigerina Almq.), Bryostigma phaeophysciae (for Arthonia phaeophysciae Grube et Matzer), Bryostigma stereocaulinum (for Arthonia nephromiaria var. stereocaulina Ohlert), are proposed based on results of combined phylogenetic analysis based on mtSSU and RPB2 gene sequences. Thirty-one new combinations for members of the genus Polyozosia (i.e.: Polyozosia actophila (for Lecanora actophila Wedd.), Polyozosia agardhiana (for Lecanora agardhiana Ach.), Polyozosia altunica (for Myriolecis altunica R. Mamut et A. Abbas), Polyozosia antiqua (for Lecanora antiqua J. R. Laundon), Polyozosia bandolensis (for Lecanora bandolensis B. de Lesd.), Polyozosia behringii (for Lecanora behringii Nyl.), Polyozosia caesioalutacea (for Lecanora caesioalutacea H. Magn.), Polyozosia carlottiana (for Lecanora carlottiana C. J. Lewis et Śliwa), Polyozosia congesta (for Lecanora congesta Clauzade et Vězda), Polyozosia eurycarpa (for Lecanora eurycarpa Poelt, Leuckert et Cl. Roux), Polyozosia expectans (Lecanora expectans Darb.), Polyozosia flowersiana (Lecanora flowersiana H. Magn.), Polyozosia fugiens (for Lecanora fugiens Nyl.), Polyozosia invadens (for Lecanora invadens H. Magn.), Polyozosia juniperina (for Lecanora juniperina Śliwa), Polyozosia latzelii (for Lecanora latzelii Zahlbr.), Polyozosia liguriensis (for Lecanora liguriensis B. de Lesd.), Polyozosia massei (for Myriolecis massei M. Bertrand et J.-Y. Monnat), Polyozosia mons-nivis (for Lecanora mons-nivis Darb.), Polyozosia oyensis (for Lecanora oyensis M.-P. Bertrand et Cl. Roux), Polyozosia percrenata (for Lecanora percrenata H. Magn.), Polyozosia persimilis (for Lecanora hagenii subsp. persimilis Th. Fr.), Polyozosia poeltiana (for Lecanora poeltiana Clauzade et Cl. Roux), Polyozosia prominens (for Lecanora prominens Clauzade et Vězda), Polyozosia prophetae-eliae (for Lecanora prophetae-eliae Sipman), Polyozosia salina (for Lecanora salina H. Magn.), Polyozosia schofieldii (for Lecanora schofieldii Brodo), Polyozosia sverdrupiana (for Lecanora sverdrupiana Øvstedal), Polyozosia torrida (for Lecanora torrida Vain.), Polyozosia wetmorei (for Lecanora wetmorei Śliwa), Polyozosia zosterae (for Lecanora subfusca? zosterae Ach.)) are proposed.

Passover Plots

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 201-222
Author(s):  
Richard G. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Medical Student ◽  
Da Vinci ◽  
Popular Fiction ◽  
Divine Providence ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Modern Media ◽  
Human Actors ◽  
First Time ◽  
Foucault’S Pendulum

Various modern fictions, building upon the skeptical premises of biblical scholars, have claimed that the gospels covered up the real story about Jesus. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is one recent, popular example. While conspiracy theories may seem peculiar to modern media, the gospels have their own versions of hidden secrets. For Mark, e.g., Roman discourse about crucifixion obscures two secret plots in Jesus’ passion, which the gospel reveals: the religious leaders’ conspiracy to dispatch Jesus and the hidden divine program to sacrifice Jesus. Mark unveils these secret plots by minimizing the passion’s material details (the details of suffering would glorify Rome), substituting the Jewish leaders for the Romans as the important human actors, interpreting the whole as predicted by scripture and by Jesus, and bathing the whole in an irony that claims that the true reality is other than it seems. The resulting divine providence/conspiracy narrative dooms Jesus—and everyone else—before the story effectively begins. None of this would matter if secret plots and infinite books did not remain to make pawns or “phantoms of us all” (Borges). Thus, in Borges’ “The Gospel According to Mark,” an illiterate rancher family after hearing the gospel for the first time, read to them by a young medical student, crucifies the young man. Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum is less biblical but equally enthralled by conspiracies that consume their obsessive believers. Borges and Eco differ from Mark, from some scholarship, and from recent popular fiction, in their insistence that such conspiracy tales are not “true” or “divine,” but rather humans’ own self-destructive fictions. Therein lies a different kind of hope than Mark’s, a very human, if very fragile, hope.

scholarly journals Simulations over South Asia using the weather research and forecasting model with chemistry (WRF-Chem): chemistry evaluation and initial results

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kumar ◽  
M. Naja ◽  
G. G. Pfister ◽  
M. C. Barth ◽  
C. Wiedinmyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Ozone Production ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
First Time ◽  
Vertical Ozone

Abstract. This study presents annual simulations of tropospheric ozone and related species made for the first time using the WRF-Chem model over South Asia for the year 2008. The model simulated ozone, CO, and NOx are evaluated against ground-based, balloon-borne and satellite-borne (TES, OMI and MOPITT) observations. The comparison of model results with surface ozone observations from seven sites and CO and NOx observations from three sites, indicate the model's ability in reproducing seasonal variations of ozone and CO, but show some differences in NOx. The modeled vertical ozone distribution agrees well with the ozone soundings data from two Indian sites. The vertical distributions of TES ozone and MOPITT CO are generally well reproduced, but the model underestimates TES ozone, OMI tropospheric column NO2 and MOPITT total column CO retrievals during all the months except MOPITT retrievals during August–January. Largest differences between modeled and satellite retrieved quantities are found during spring when intense biomass burning activity occurs in this region. The evaluation results indicate large uncertainties in anthropogenic and biomass burning emission estimates, especially for NOx. The model results indicate clear regional differences in the seasonality of surface ozone over South Asia with estimated net ozone production during daytime (11:30–15:30 h) over inland regions of 0–5 ppbv h−1 during all seasons and of 0–2 ppbv h−1 over marine regions during outflow periods. The model results indicate that ozone production in this region is mostly NOx-limited. This study shows that WRF-Chem model captures many important features of the observations and gives confidence to using the model for understanding the spatio-temporal variability of ozone over South Asia. However, improvements of South Asian emission inventories and simulations at finer model resolution, especially over the complex Himalayan terrain in Northern India, are also essential for accurately simulating ozone in this region.

Policy of Religious Media in Iran: Interactive, Dynamic and Convergent System of Religious Communication

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-255
Author(s):  
Nasser Bahonar
Keyword(s):  
Islamic Republic ◽  
Religious Literature ◽  
Religious Media ◽  
History Of ◽  
Islamic Republic Of Iran ◽  
Islamic Belief ◽  
First Time ◽  
Large Groups ◽  
Communications System ◽  
Interactive Dynamic

AbstractThe presenting of religion has been indebted to traditional media for centuries. The presence of mass media, especially Radio and Television, in the twentieth century makes it possible to transfer messages to large groups of addressees. This important situation has caused groups and official religious organizations, from eighty years ago, to take great measures in this respect by using electronic media. During the pre-history of Islam and afterward, Iran has always been challenged with crises of the legitimating of communication. The penetration of the Islamic belief among people is caused by traditional Islamic communication, and the legitimacy of Islamic leaders also assigns a legitimacy for the modern media. Whereas governments in the history of Iran have never had a religious and politic legitimacy among people so the communications system of Iran has been abandoned from media convergence. The Islamic Republic of Iran is experiencing a convergence in traditional and modern communications for the first time. Lack of scientific research and a shortage of religious literature in broadcasting make for continual disorder in the process of policy-making for the planning of the religious medium. In this article the writer benefits from the result of two researches conducted in Iran, in the field of religious media, and analyses the content of religious programmes of television followed by the presentation of a theoretic view in making for a desired religious media policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN'S FOREIGN POLICY AND CONSTRUCTION JIHAD'S DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Lob
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Islamic Republic ◽  
Development Organization ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
One Year ◽  
Organization Construction ◽  
First Time

AbstractThis article adopts the theoretical framework of complex realism to trace the evolution of the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy and developmental activities in Africa between the 1980s and the 2000s. Contrary to common assumptions, the deradicalization of the Islamic Republic's foreign policy in Africa began not under the moderates in the early 1990s, but under the conservatives in the mid-1980s. This period marked the first time that the Islamic Republic instrumentalized development to advance its strategic interests in Africa—a policy that has continued despite the factionalization of Iran's political elite. Based on one year of archival research and interviews in Iran, this article is the first to investigate the history and activities of the Islamic Republic's rural development organization, Construction Jihad, in Africa. It posits that development, instead of arms or ideology, has enabled Iran to make the farthest inroads into the continent due to Africa's sizeable agrarian economies, widespread rural poverty, and formidable developmental challenges.

scholarly journals The Role of Iran’s «Soft Power» in Confronting Iranophobia

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-238
Author(s):  
S. M. Mirmohammad Sadeghi ◽  
R. Hajimineh
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Public Diplomacy ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
American Foreign Policy ◽  
International System ◽  
Islamic Republic ◽  
Domestic Sphere ◽  
Islamic Republic Of Iran

«Soft power» is a set of activities designed by a government or regional and international actors aimed to influence external public opinion, promote external image or attract support for a particular policy, which is implemented through all the available tools and new technologies. The non-governmental actors also play an effective and important role in this diplomacy. Considering the public diplomacy and soft power of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a deliberate and conscious approach can be of great importance in the country's grand strategies that will strengthen national interests in the domestic sphere and influence them at regional and global levels. The article analyzes the role of Iran’s soft power in confronting Iranophobia. The study is aimed at presenting a theoretical definition of public diplomacy and soft power in foreign policy and international system, and then examines its role in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran with an emphasis on confronting Iranophobia.The authors answer the research question: “What is the role of soft power in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in confronting Iranophobia?” The research method is descriptive-analytical based on historical evidence, documents, and analytical issues of theorists, authors, and media being expressed in the theoretical framework of soft power. The paper is based on a synthesis of Stephen Walt’s “balance of threat” theory with Alexander Wendt’s social constructivism to explain the Iranian “threat” in American foreign policy.The findings of this research show that without the use of force and disturbing the balance in the international relations, using a variety of tools and instruments the Iranian public diplomacy and soft power might be effective to reduce the global and regional atmosphere of Iranophobia and undermine anti-Iranian solidarity.

scholarly journals The Economic Effects Of Chinas Belt And Road Initiative On Selected Southeast European Countries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Grossmann ◽  
Samuel Grossmann ◽  
Samuel Grossmann ◽  
Samuel Grossmann ◽  
Samuel Grossmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Eu

During the current political atmosphere in Europe with rising nationalism and the fact that for the first time in the EUs history a country plans to leave the union, Montenegro and Serbia still face lots of challenges before they will be able to become EU member states. Until then it is likely that they will continue to look for fast and, at least on the first look, uncomplicated and unproblematic financing methods. The low bureaucratic hurdles and the fast implementation of Chinese-backed infrastructure projects will continue to be a lucrative alternative to the funds provided by the EU. That these advantageous parameters are also caused by the bypassing of EU regulations, as well as national laws on tendering, procurement, safety or labor laws are partially circumvented. The 16+1 format could be a good way to coordinate these investment flows across European borders. But it also poses challenges to the cohesion of the EU as a whole through the growing influence of China through its financing activities and a wide range of other soft power activities in the East and Southeast European countries involved in the format.

The Iranian Metaphysicals

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Doostdar
Keyword(s):  
Science And Religion ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Islamic Republic ◽  
The Past ◽  
Intellectual Inquiry ◽  
Late Nineteenth ◽  
The Relationship

What do the occult sciences, séances with the souls of the dead, and appeals to saintly powers have to do with rationality? Since the late nineteenth century, modernizing intellectuals, religious leaders, and statesmen in Iran have attempted to curtail many such practices as “superstitious,” instead encouraging the development of rational religious sensibilities and dispositions. However, far from diminishing the diverse methods through which Iranians engage with the immaterial realm, these rationalizing processes have multiplied the possibilities for metaphysical experimentation. This book examines these experiments and their transformations over the past century. Drawing on years of ethnographic and archival research, the book shows that metaphysical experimentation lies at the center of some of the most influential intellectual and religious movements in modern Iran. These forms of exploration have not only produced a plurality of rational orientations toward metaphysical phenomena but have also fundamentally shaped what is understood as orthodox Shiʻi Islam, including the forms of Islamic rationality at the heart of projects for building and sustaining an Islamic Republic. Delving into frequently neglected aspects of Iranian spirituality, politics, and intellectual inquiry, the book challenges widely held assumptions about Islam, rationality, and the relationship between science and religion.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document