What is the U.S.-Iran crisis about? This seminar course examines the background and daily developments of the crisis in U.S. - Iran relations. We most especially study the history and political-economy of Iran within the oil order since 1900, and examine Iran's nuclear program, and its rights and apparent intentions in light of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as Vs. the positions of the U.S., E.U.-3, Russia, India and China at the IAEA and UN.

We also examine the history of U.S. relations with Iran since WWII, and especially since the Iranian Revolution, and the policies of the national Republican and Democratic Parties, neo-cons, etc. We study Iran's policies and relationship to the U.S.-British occupation of Iraq, the Palestinian-Israeli question, relations with Saudi Arabia, E.U., China, India, and other states. In addition, we will examine the internal economic, political and ideological policies of the mullahs' regime, of the Ahmadinejad government, and of the previous government of "liberal reformers," and look closely at examples of resistance and mass struggles by students and others who favor a democratic transformation of Iran. Throughout the semester, we will very closely follow and discuss daily developments in Iran - U.S. relations as they unfold. See HOMEPAGE: http://www.umich.edu/~twod/iran

- REQUIREMENTS: Read, prepare and participate actively in discussions; occasional written summary-of-research reports, midterm, and final research paper.

Grading: