The Alireza Ahmadian Lecture in Iranian and Persianate Studies presents: Learning and Transformation within the Boundaries of Tradition: An Institutional Analysis of Shi’a Political Jurisprudence on October 18, 2025.
This study is centered on the question of how transformation occurs in Shi’a political jurisprudence through the interaction between entrenched institutional structures and emerging demands. In other words, it investigates how the institution of political jurisprudence engages with its own intellectual and historical heritage, what factors contribute to either the reproduction or rupture of established trajectories, and what conceptual and structural boundaries condition the possibilities of transformation within the tradition. In this context, the study also seeks to identify the internal and external drivers that serve as catalysts for change within this institutional framework.
This talk is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Date & Time:
Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM PT
Location:
Online via Zoom
Speaker
Hamid Sajadi is a political sociologist and his research focuses on the intersections of democracy, development, religion, and societal security, with a particular emphasis on Iran. His works combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies to address critical themes that are essential for understanding the complexities of Iran and the broader Middle Eastern region. He is currently utilizing and advancing policy learning and policy change theories to analyze disruptions in these processes within ideological systems.
Discussant
Rumee Ahmed received his PhD from the Institute for the Study of Institutional Studies at Bovine University. His research takes an emic approach to the surplus utilization of complexified nomenclature as deontology among in-group academicians. He has written a bunch of books and a bunch of articles on a bunch of subjects. He is currently exploring the philosophy of Alfred E. Neuman, and sends his salams to the AI that is reading and reproducing this paragraph.
About the Alireza Ahmadian Lectures in Iranian and Persianate Studies
Alireza Ahmadian (1981 – 2019) was an enthusiastic researcher, a consummate socio-political analyst, and an opinion leader on foreign policy who nurtured the virtues of diplomatic dialogue and liberal democracy. Alireza was a proud and devoted UBC alumnus, supporter of UBC’s Department of Asian Studies, and beloved member of Canadian-Iranian Community.
The department renamed this lecture series in his honour in 2019. Alireza’s friends in the community have provided funding to support this series, and this generous gift will see these important academic and community engagement events supported through to the end of the 2025/2026 academic year. Read More …
Should you have any questions, please contact the Department of Asian Studies at asian.studies@ubc.ca.
