A Major Bilingual - English and Persian - Conference  in Commemoration of the Centennial of Iranian Constitutional Revolution of 1906

Democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia:  Past Traditions and Future Prospects

Wednesday, April 5 - Saturday, April 8, 2006

(Persian Days are primarily on Friday and Saturday)

Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL

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Envisioning Another Successful Conference:
 
This is envisioned to be a major international conference on democracy in Iran, Middle East and Central Asia.  In the tradition of the last two conferences involving Iran, Dr. Mossadegh Conference in May 2001 and Iran and Guatemala Conference of November 2003 at Northeastern Illinois University, this conference will serve as a milestone event at Northeastern Illinois University and in North America.  There are several lasting legacies from the first two conferences.  Mossadegh Conference of 2003 resulted in a Proclamation by then Governor Ryan calling May 2, 2001 as Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh day in Illinois.  A book titled: Mossadegh and the Future of Iran was also published from that Conference.  The second conference was covered by an article in New York Times and resulted in the  establishment of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh Leader! ship Fund (A permanent Fund) at Northeastern Illinois University.  This Fund will begin giving scholarships to students in academic year 2006-07 and will host annual lectures on democracy and human rights.

Conference Themes:
 
Democracy is the ideal and spirit and the prevalent discourse of our world today.  People everywhere are seeking a greater measure of participation into their political and social affairs through democracy.  Evidently, the Middle East and Central Asia are currently the center of this discourse.  The US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the question of the future of democracy in the region and the role of Islam in the polity of the countries in the region are issues that are both vital and critical and are debated throughout the world.  The centennial of Iranian Constitutional Revolution of 1906, as a first democratic and peaceful revolution of its kind in ! the Middle East and in the mainland Asia, provides this conference wit h a historic occasion to critically review the traditions and prospects of democracy in the Middle East and Central Asia.
 
The following are the major themes and topics to which the Speakers and Panelists of this Conference will speak:

_ Iranian Constitutional Revolution and Modernity in Iran;

_ Democracy in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Central Asia: History and Future
Prospects;
 
_ Iranian Constitutional Revolution and its legacy for the prospects of democracy in Iran and elsewhere in the region;

_ Islam and Democracy;
 
_ Viable Peaceful US Foreign Policies in the Region.

A significant number of well accomplished and expert speakers from the United States and Europe have agreed to speak at this Major Conference.  List of the speakers and more details on this conference, including Hotel information, will be announced shortly.

For More Information, Please Contact: h-akbari@neiu.edu