My project explores why it is so difficult to reconcile questions about the nature and meaning of music in philosophy with the case of Iranian classical music. This tradition is highly performative, musicians rarely use scores, and, importantly, that anyone who calls herself a musician but cannot extemporize is not really considered much of a musician in Iran at all. Yet curiously, despite the emphasis on extemporization in this tradition, there is, nonetheless, a resounding sonic familiarity among performances considered as falling in the classical genre, so much so that it seems odd to say that extemporization is the extemporization of something new. Moreover, there is very little concern with musical works, as understood in the western classical sense. My first chapter articulates the methodology I advocate. This methodology is adapted from Lydia Goehr’s The Imaginary Museum of Musical Works (1992). Goehr offers a reading of the history western classical music that looks for the concepts around which its discourses center. I argue that the application of similar analysis to what scholars in other music traditions have to say about music will reveal something about the concepts around which their practices center. The emphasis is on reading the discourses of a practice for the concepts that dictate the thinking about it. This, I suggest, helps to make sense of what musicality means in the tradition in question. My central claim is that when Iranian classical music is read this way, one concept emerges as centrally significant. This concept is not of the work, but of embodied activity: a notion of doing in musical practice that relies heavily on the idea of musical dexterity in the performing moment, without this doing being oriented to the creation of something work-like. My second, third, and fourth chapters articulate and situate this reading against discussions about the ontological significance of performance in the philosophy of music. In my second chapter, I argue that the historical attention to mentally composed sound structures in Eduard Hanslick’s 1854 book, On the Musically Beautiful—a foundational text for the contemporary philosophy of music—leaves out the performing activity in musical practice. This, I suggest, is captured in the difference of approach to the musical nightingale: a metaphor that serves to illustrate musicality in the Iranian context but stands in Hanslick’s theory, for everything that music is not. In my third chapter, I offer a detailed reading of Iranian classical music to expose more fully the conceptual shape and force of the sort of embodied activity that the trope of the nightingale captures, when scholars of Iranian classical music analogize it—as they so often do—as the metaphorical aspiration of classical musicians, because it is considered the most musical being on earth in virtue of its dexterity. This, I contextualize using Polanyi’s notion of tacit knowledge (1966). In my fourth chapter, I explore the extent to which the reading I offer of Iranian classical music may be accommodated by contemporary discussions in the ontology of performance by turning to contemporary discussions that move away from addressing performances of works, but center on the significance of performative activity itself. This happens most commonly for the case of musical improvisation, after the question is introduced by Philip Alperson in “On Musical Improvisation” (1984). My claim here is that there is a crucial difference between the two cases. This difference is that embodied activity is not product-oriented in Iranian classical music practice, but rather, dexterity or technique oriented. In my final chapter, I explore how this insight can be extended more broadly into philosophical analysis, particularly in its comparative dimensions. I suggest there are implications not only for the ontology of performance, but notions of self-expression, creativity, and aesthetic attention, when they are considered in this culturally comparative light. In doing so, I hope to raise questions about the potential for doing non-reductive comparative ontology, and what can be gained, in a broad sense, from the effort of looking at artistic practice through a culturally different lens. / Philosophy

No / The tensions and pressures that mothers experience when they have to make decisions about combining the care of children with entry into the labour market are by now well established. Much of the research in this area, however, has focused on Europe or North America. In this article, the focus is on a society where women's employment and its relationship to childcare has seldom been explored: Iran. Iran has often been presented as a state that is not particularly women-friendly and as distinctly different from the seemingly more pluralistic and egalitarian states of Western Europe. The argument here is that mothers' employment in Iran should not be viewed through cliches of religion and patriarchy, rather that it is significantly affected, as in other countries, by care structures, the general acceptance of leaving one's children to a caregiver, the availability of employment opportunities and the general policy environment.

Yes / Approximately 97% of the country is experiencing drought conditions. Due to gross water mismanagement and its damaging impact on the country, Iran faces the worst situation in water resources of any industrialized nation. Tens of thousands of villages have been deserted and most of the major urban centers have passed their limits to absorb new rural migrants. Some officials predict that in less than 25 years, 50 million Iranians would be displaced from their current homes because of the pressing ecological conditions. This is happening at the time that the gap between the grassroots and the state has widened and there is increasing dissatisfaction with governance plagued by corruption, nepotism, economic mismanagement, unaccountability and a foreign policy which has produced various regional and trans-regional adversaries. This paper evaluates the pressing ecological challenges in Iran and by conceptualizing political resilience it critically evaluates whether the Islamic Republic is prepared to face the devastating ecological crisis and its socio-economic consequences.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2999-01-01

No / There are few today who can claim that the US occupation of Iraq has been a success, for Iraq or the US. A War Too Far takes this on by looking back on the many unanswered questions about the invasion itself. What was the real reason for the Iraq War? Did George Bush ever have a strategy to confront al-Qaida in one arena? How does the invasion alter Iraq's relationship with Iran? And what does this mean for the future? World-renowned security expert Paul Rogers tackles these questions, offering a uniquely insightful analysis of events during and after the war. Examining the delicate balance of power in Iraq, he explores the options for a US exit strategy, and how the invasion affects America's relationship with Iran. Paul Rogers predicted in 2000 that the US would experience a terrorist attack on its own soil. Subsequent events proved how accurate he was. This book is required reading for students, journalists, policy-makers and anyone interested in getting the whole story about the dangerous consequences of the latest American venture in the Middle East. Paul Rogers explores: ¿ The neo-conservative vision of a US-dominated Middle East ¿ The oil link ¿ Iraq's significance in energy geopolitics ¿ Links with Israel ¿ the development of close military cooperation between the US and Israeli military ¿ The growing possibility of a war on Iran and its potential repercussions.

As an oil exporting country, Iran heavily depends on the revenues generated from the sale its oil to the world. Oil revenues currently constitute about ninety percent of the nation's foreign exchange earnings, and serves as the most important determinant of all economic activities in the country. The dependency on oil incomes is anticipated to continue in the future, however, with the given proved stocks of oil and the country's potentials to instal higher production capacity, the rapidly increasing demand for oil in the domestic market may soon create undesirable consequences by severely limiting the availability of oil for export purposes. This is a factor of major concern for Iran as a developing country whose development plans and projects are to be met remarkably through the exports of its oil. The present study reviewed the domestic pricing policies for oil products in Iran and investigated the effects of these policies on the rapidly increasing demand for oil which has been experienced in the past few decades. The varying effects of these policies which have for a long time persisted on an artificially low domestic prices were examined in relation to the role of the world market structure for oil. Also, the alternative policies for optimal pricing of oil products based on the opportunity cost of the oil consumed in Iran were introduced in order to control and moderate the current rate of increase in demand for oil, thereby securing a longer availability of oil for both domestic consumption and export purposes. The opportunity cost of the oil was in turn analyzed under both competitive and non-competitive scenarios for the world oil market. In the non-competitive scenario, the role of OPEC policies and strategies which might restrict the total production and/or exports of oil from Iran were discussed and their impacts on the opportunity cost of the oil used in the internal market were examined. In another attempt, the opportunity cost of oil and the opportunity cost of foreign exchange were used to determine the amounts of real subsidies paid by the government on four main petroleum products including gasoline, kerosene, gas oil, and fuel oil consumed in Iran every year. The real subsidies paid in the years surveyed in this research were derived by applying the appropriate exchange rate for dollar to the international price of each product in any given year. The results of this study revealed that the nation could increase its revenues and promote the overall welfare of the country by optimally pricing of its oil for the internal consumption. / Master of Science

The usual explanations of the events leading to the Iranian Revolution have been either an analysis of Iranian culture or an analysis of the exploitation of Iran by imperialist powers. This thesis seeks to expand on imperialist theory by using post-imperialist theory to explore the reciprocal affects of transnational class formation which came about with the growth of transnational corporations. This approach is well suited to the Iranian case because of the strong ties that Iran under the Shah had with the international community. / Master of Arts / incomplete_metadata

This study develops a landscape design, which demonstrates how to change the microclimate in a historical public space (Towers of silence, in city of Yazd, designated as World Heritage Site, in the heart of Iran). The arid historic city of Yazd is getting hotter. The increasing temperatures make it more and more difficult to use the public space. Towers of silence inherited from Zoroastrianism are stone cylindrical structures located on top of the hills within infertile land located south east of the city of Yazd. This historic site brings visitors from around the world every year but the microclimate of the site it is not welcoming. The current layout does not provide information about the rich culture it entailed, and visitors are not able to understand the meaning that is behind these structures. This design aims to improve the current conditions of these magnificent towers and utilize techniques like historical plan analysis, comparative analysis and experimental design study. Using landscape architecture to address the climate issue the proposed design translates Zoroastrian's beliefs to visitors as well as creating a more hospitable environment. / Master of Landscape Architecture / All around the world people must deal with climate change and the effects of extreme weather. City of Yazd in the heart of Iran is not immune to such changes and has traditionally faced a harsh desert like climate. This study focuses on improving the climate surrounding a unique and magnificent historic site in city of Yazd called the Silent Towers (a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site). The design uses material and natural elements that are local to the site (stone, plants and trees) and infuse Zoroastrian and ancient Persian beliefs to bring about a more pleasant conditions (reducing the heat) for the visitors to this site. The outcome of merging tradition and natural elements to mitigate extreme temperatures brings about a layout that is inviting to visitors and hospitable to the local population without changing any of the values or the integrity of the main attraction: The Towers of Silence.

Although Islamism could be traced back to the seventh century when prophet Mohamad died and conflict between Shia and Sunni started, the recent growth of Islamism and emerging of new phenomena such as establishing Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 1920s, Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979, and some other Islamists groups like Hezbollah, and Al-Qaida highlighted the importance of Islamism. Moreover, forming the new Islamists in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen after the Arab uprising in 2010 which intensified the conflict between Shia and Sunni increased the concerns over increase in sectarianism in the Middle East. Considering the significance of Shia groups in recent movements, it is important to have a deep and comprehensive understanding of the nature and function of Shia Political Islam. Despite internal and external concerns, Shia Political Islam has emerged and continued to have control over power in Iran for more than four decades. The post-revolutionary Islamic government has been able to keep its power through reviving the Shia Movement since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Therefore, this thesis asks ‘how has Shia political Islam managed to survive in Iran over the past four decades? The answer to this question relies specifically on understanding the nature of Shia ideology and how the Shia control entities’ access to petrodollars. The study aims to clarify the concept of Shiism and explain the mechanism of the survival and continuation of the Shia movement in Iran through the lens of Social Movement Theory. This thesis argues that the essential mobilisers of the Shia Movement like the IRGC, the Basij and mosques have succeeded in sustaining the survival of the Shia Political Islam. The durability of this political approach lies in actively reviving the origins of the Shia movement, utilising Shia values, religious symbols and holy events such as Ashura, and financially rewarding the Movement with petrodollars. The mobilisers, especially the IRGC, use these values as a steering fuel to run the Shia Movement and suppress any security threat to its survival. For instance, after the 2009 presidential elections, the Green Movement was a serious security threat to the Islamic Republic and the political approach Shia political Islam. However, the IRGC and the Basij employed Shia symbols to mobilise their social base in a counter-movement in 2019 to overcome the threat of the Green Movement. The thesis concludes that if the Shia mobiliser organisations keep supporting the Shia Movement by utilising Shia values, religious symbols, and available economic resources such as petrodollars, Shia political Islam will stay resilient and survive.

ABSTRACT Realism is considered one of the most prominent schools of thought for foreign policy strategies. Realism focuses on the notion of self-interest that often gives a sense of security that earns the favor with many U.S. policymakers and ordinary people as well. This style of foreign policy has often required the United States to intervene in the affairs of developing nations in order to protect its assets. Now many of those nations, destabilized by U.S. intervention, are causing serious issues on the world stage. Some of modern history's most notorious revolutions have spurred out of years of foreign intervention. The Cuban Revolution of 1959, and the 1979 revolutions in both Iran and Nicaragua are the direct result of U.S. intervention. The United States has never had a clear foreign policy except to protect itself from perceived threats to national security. Although this may seem like a simple, safe strategy it seems that every conflict ends in the same confusion surrounding the actual objective of the United States government. The solution is a new look at the effectiveness of realist based interventionism. It can be argued that rather than focusing on failed realist strategy, actual promotion of liberalism and protection of human rights, will eventually result in greater economic and political gain for the United States.