The Islamic revolution of 1979 in Iran has turned out to be a major event in world history. Iran plays a major role in the resistance against Western imperialism together with countries like Russia, China, Cuba and Venezuela. Other modern revolutions are secular and rooted in socialism and nationalism. The Iranian revolution is embedded in the Islamic civilization, and more particular in a tradition that is vested on a concept of social justice. The anti-colonial and anti-imperialist stance of Iran can be traced back to this that tradition.
Many people across the world have little understanding of the framework, thinking and policies of the Islamic revolution. We are in the transition from an old colonial world civilization based on the universalism of the European Enlightenment to a new world civilization based on justice, peace and pluriversality. This civilization draws on old civilizations in the global south, including the Islamic civilization.
This book is a dialogue between Mohammad Marandi, a prominent Iranian defender of the Islamic revolution, and Sandew Hira, a decolonial theorist and promoter of the concept of a new world civilization. It provides insight into the Islamic revolution of Iran from a world historical perspective.
Mohammad Marandi is professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Teheran and a political analyst. He is a frequent commentator in international media on Iranian views on world politics.
Sandew Hira is a decolonial scholar and activist and secretary of the Decolonial International Network Foundation. In 2023 he published a book titled Decolonizing The Mind. A Guide to Decolonial Theory and Practice.