York political science professors to debate impact of Iran’s president

Two speakers will discuss different aspects of the global perception of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when the Iranian Human Rights Society and Founders College at York University presents "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Anti-Imperialist or Deceptive Populist?" on Nov. 25

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Anti-Imperialist or Deceptive Populist? will take place Nov. 25, from 5 to 7pm in the Founders Assembly Hall, 152 Founders College, Keele campus.

York political science Professors Saeed Rahnema and Sabah Alnasseri will debate the contentious reputation of Ahmadinejad, Iran’s current president. Ahmadinejad is the main political leader of the Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran, a coalition of conservative political groups in the country.

Left: Saeed Rahnema

In addition to being a professor of political science at York University, Rahnema was the founding director of York’s School of Public Policy & Administration. He was previously an associate professor in the Queen’s School of Public Policy at Queen’s University, and an officer of the United Nations Development Program. In Iran, Rahnema was an executive member of the Industrial Management Institute and during the revolution was a founder of the Union of the Workers and Employee Councils of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran. He is the author of several books and numerous articles on Middle Eastern politics, political economy, labour and left movements. 

Born in Basra, Iraq, Alnasseri is a professor of Middle East politics at York University. Prior to that he was a lecturer of political science at the J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. His research interests revolve around the political economy of the Middle East. His last article, "Understanding Iraq" was published in 2008.

Right: Sabah Alnasseri

The Iranian Human Rights Society at York University (IHRS-YU) is a student club that aims to facilitate an understanding of the cultural, social and political matters pertaining to the development and challenges of the human rights situation in Iran.

This panel is free and open to the public. All are welcome. For more information, contact the IHRS-YU at info@ihrsyu.com.