Thomas Krüger

President of the Federal Agency for Civic Education

Ali Samadi Ahadi

Chairman of Transparency for Iran

1. Ahmadinedjads second presidency

Despite the stagnation of civil society mobilization, there are indications of turbulence and power shifts within the system. This talk will explicate the traces that “Project Ahmadinedjad’’ left domestically.

Lecture/English
A domestic “inventory“
Prof. Ali Ansari
15 Minutes

2. The coming of the Mahdi

Accompanying the talk about the Re-Islamification of the state and society, the clergy seems to be falling apart as the pillar of legitimacy in the theocracy. What function is religion assuming in Ahmadinedjad’s militarized, security apparatus? Should the “New Right” be understood as a rational actor, or are we dealing with a new religious “sense of mission”?

Lecture/Persian
Religion and politics under Ahmadinedjad
Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari
15 Minutes

3. It’s the Economy, stupid!

It could ultimately be a little noticed political field that brings Iran to the tipping point again: dramatic inflation rates, escalating unemployment, the extreme rising costs of consumer goods are symptoms of Iran’s economic policies. Dilettante mismanagement, or deliberate calculation in the political economy?

Lecture/Persian
Iranian economic policy
Dr. Fereydoun Khavand
15 Minutes

Discussion
Domestic Politics
With: Prof. Ali Ansari, Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari, Dr. Fereydoun Khavand
Moderation: Kamran Safiarian
60 Minutes

1. The composition and significance of Iran’s Civil Society

The largest and most promising potential for political and social change lies in the development of civil society structures. Authoritarian systems present civil society actors with enormous challenges. A culture of civil discourse must be developed, and for that reason a domination-free public sphere needs to be created. On strengths and weaknesses, strategies and challenges of the Iranian civil society.

Lecture/Persian
State of Civil Society in Iran
Dr. Sohrab Razzaghi
15 Minutes

Lecture/Persian
The role of women as civil society-actors
Mehrangiz Kar
15 Minutes

Discussion
Irans Civil Society
With: Dr. Sohrab Razzaghi, Mehrangiz Kar, Christiane Hoffmann
Moderation: Golineh Atai
60 Minutes

2. Human Rights in Iran: Universal and indivisible, or political bargaining chips?

Although numerous human rights reports document a constant and increasing number of blatant human rights violations, the subject is in danger of degenerating into an inconvenient marginal question in the course of nuclear negotiations. The panel discussions examine the breadth of human rights violations in Iran, and subsequently question the appropriate venue for the international community to approach human rights in Iran. Which outcomes could ensue from an aggressive approach by the international community with regards to human rights? What would a serious judicial and political implementation of human rights look like?

Words of Welcome/English
Words of Welcome from the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the German Parliament
Tom Koenigs
15 Minutes

Lecture/Persian
The Iranian judicial system and Human Rights
Dr. Abdol-Karim Lahidji
15 Minutes

Lecture/English
International instruments and political implementation
Prof. Payam Akhavan
15 Minutes

Discussion
Human Rights in Iran
With: Dr. Abdol-Karim Lahidji, Prof. Payam Akhavan, Markus Löning, Ruprecht Polenz, Omid Nouripour
Moderation: Isabel Schayani
90 Minutes

1. The Iranian blogosphere: “Counterpublic“ and censorship in cyberspace

The myth of the “Twitter-Revolution” suggests the importance the internet has attained. Due to the strictly controlled public sphere, the numerous blogs and forums can be understood as the digital equivalent of the public sphere. Virtual spaces serve as a way to measure social and political dynamics apart from state controlled media. The lectures spotlight the use and significance of internet in Iran.

Lecture/English
Internet, politics and social change in Iran
Dr. Gholam Khiabany
15 Minutes

Lecture/English
The Web and Censorship
Mahmood Enayat
15 Minutes

Lecture/English
Case Study: Can You Solve This? A digital Grassoot Human Rights Campaign
Ruha Reyhani
15 Minutes

Discussion
The Iranian blogosphere
With:Dr. Gholam Khiabany, Mahmood Enayat, Ehsan Norouzi
Moderation: Dieter Bednarz
60 Minutes

2. Media work in Iran

Year after year Iran finds itself lowly ranked in global freedom of the press rankings (Reporters Without Borders). Journalistic work in Iran takes place under strict government supervision. Utmost caution, censorship, and self-censorship are a part of a journalist’s everyday life. For foreign journalists it is almost impossible to obtain a press visa. The contributions give an overview of Iranian media work and through personal stories, describe journalistic everyday life in Iran.

Lecture/Persian
Journalism and media landscape in Iran
Nooshabeh Amiri
15 Minutes

Lecture/Persian
The story of an illustrator
Mana Neyestani
15 Minutes

Discussion
Mediawork in Iran
With: Nooshabeh Amiri, Mana Neyestani, Mehdi Mohseni
Moderation: Dieter Bednarz
60 Minutes

3. International reporting in the digital era

The obstruction and prevention of media reporting belongs to the classic repression and control mechanisms of authoritarian regimes. The digital era of New Media and “citizen journalists” yield new opportunities and formats for media work in and about Iran. With these developments, international reporters face new challenges in the established journalistic work methods.

Lecture/English
Dealing with Social Media and citizen journalism: A case study from BBC
Pooneh Ghoddoosi
15 Minutes

Lecture/English
Messages from closed societies: The media, politics and the dilemma with web 2.0
Olaf Böhnke
15 Minutes

Discussion
International reporting in the digital era
With: Olaf Böhnke, Pooneh Ghoddoosi, Dr. Jamsheed Faroughi
Moderation: Farhad Payar
60 Minutes