Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McGill University. / Written for the Dept. of Political Science. Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 453-489.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Glasgow, 2002. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Faculty of Divinity, University of Glasgow, 2002. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.

In this dissertation, I undertake an empirical analysis of Iranian punitive practices over the last century. In thiscontext, I set out to investigate three issues. First, I critically examine the claim that modernity is characterizedby a diminution of corporal punishments, considering both the older humanist-progressivist verions of this claim and therevisionist-Nietzschean versions that have been advanced by several scholars including Michel Foucault, David Rothman,Michael Ignatieff, John Langbein, Gerhard Oestreich and Marc Raeff. In particular, I examine the relationship betweenmodern torture and might be called the "disciplinary process" that is said to characterize modernization. Second, I evaluate Chomsky and Herman's hypothesis that developing societies are characterized by a specific economy of violence that might be described as "state terrorism." Third, I test the utility of Foucault's theoretical approach to the study of power. / Dans cette these, j'entreprends une analyse empirique des coutumes punitives iraniennes depuis un siecle. A cette fin, j'examine trois aspects. Premierement, j'examine d'une maniere critique le point de vue suivant lequel, la modernite se caracterise par une diminution des punitions physiques, tout en considerant l'interprétation traditionnelle humanistico-progressive de ce point de vue et les interpretations Nietzscheo-revisionnistes qui ont ete suggerees par plusieurs penseurs, tels que Michel Foucault, David Rothman, Michael Ignatieff, John Langbein, Gerhard Oestreich, et Marc Raeff. Plus precisement j'examine la relation entre la torture au XXieme siecle et ce que l'on pourrait appeler le "processus disciplinaire" qui, soi-disant, caracterise la modernisation. Deuxiemement, j'évalue les hypothèses de Noam Chomsky et d'Edward Herman suivant lesquelles les sociétés en voie de développement sont caractérisées par la violence d'une manière bien précise, et qui pourrait etre decrite comme "une économie de terrorisme d'état." Troisièmement, j'examine l'utilité de l'approche théorique de Michel Foucault pour l'etude du pouvoir. fr

No description available.

English, with some Arabic text / After justifying my rationale for this study, I have briefly propounded anthropological and philosophical perspectives for the institution and development of law in human society. Thereafter I have focused on the criminal law of Islām. With regards to invariable penalties for certain offences and variable penalties for others I have also stressed the oft-neglected issue of rehabilitation. Besides, I have also appraised criminal procedure and then concluded by refuting objections raised against Islāmic criminal law by critics. In sum, the following comes to light: • The Islāmic laws encompass all facets of criminality. • Islām believes in nipping the evil in the bud: treating the wound and then applying the plaster. If it comes to the worst that the wound becomes incurable, then for the betterment of the patient and others, it may as well be amputated. Its aim is not to castigate the criminals; rather to reprimand them and bring reform in the society. • How crucial this topic is and how urgently it should be addressed. • How temperate the Islāmic laws are in weeding out crimes from the societies. • Crime is a crime, whether it is perpetrated by an individual or state. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Islamic Studies)