Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/10/2025
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Location
LR Wilson Hall 1055

Iran and Shi’ism: troubled alliance or natural union?

This lecture explores the complex and evolving relationship between Iran and Shi’ite Islam, tracing its origins from the early development of Shi’ism through to the modern Islamic Republic. While the formal alignment of Iran with Shi’ism is often dated to the Safavid Dynasty (1501 CE), this talk investigates deeper historical roots, examining whether a “natural union” between Iran and Shi’ism existed from the outset. This talk also highlights long-standing countercurrents within Iranian culture that resist or critique Shi’ite influence. The lecture questions how Shi’ism came to define Iranian Islam, shaped the Islamic Republic, and influenced national policies—while also asking whether this union has become a source of internal conflict. By unpacking both the theological and political dimensions of this alliance, the talk raises critical questions about the past, present, and future of Shi’ism in Iran.

Dr. Robert Gleave, the University of Exeter

Robert Gleave is Professor of Arabic Studies in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. His research focuses on Islamic legal theory and practice, particularly legal hermeneutics, and the history of Shi’ite legal thought and institutions. He has directed a number of international research projects over the past 20 years exploring these issues.

This event is Hosted by the Department of Religious Studies, and sponsored by the following Departments: Anthropology, Communications and Multimedia Studies, Philosophy, and Wilson College