Course

This course examines the comparative dynamics of revolutionary transformation in three pivotal Middle Eastern states — Turkey, Iran, and Egypt — and uses the post-1945 experiences of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary to illuminate the conditions under which mass uprisings succeed or fail. We will explore how revolutionary change has been driven sometimes by state elites attempting to remake society from above (Atatürk’s Turkey, Reza Shah’s Iran, Nasser’s Egypt) and sometimes by mass movements rising from below (the Iranian Revolution of 1978–79, the Egyptian uprising of 2011, the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the Prague Spring of 1968, Poland’s Solidarity movement of 1980–81, and the revolutions of 1989).

Faculty Bio

Dariush Zahedi is the founding director of the AMENA Center for Entrepreneurship & Development at UC Berkeley. He has published three books on the political economy of the Middle East. 

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365 (3rd floor), at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
• Classes will also stream live simultaneously, and be recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and ends on Tuesday, Oct. 20
• Classes meet for six weeks, two hours per session (10 a.m.–noon)
• All course materials will remain in Member Dashboards through Dec. 31

Member Praise for Dariush Zahedi

He is the BEST prof! Very engaging, presented a lot of material with humor. Great course. A+.

Professor Zahedi was outstanding in every respect.

Dariush was so well prepared and respected his students' ability to process the material. I learned more in this class about the Middle East than I have in any other class I've taken. His knowledge was truly incredible and the readings he provided were spot-on. 

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Dariush Zahedi from our archive.