Publications

Books

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. Ed. The Myth of Middle East Exceptionalism: Unfinished Social Movements. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2023 [link].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba and T. Keskin. Eds. Rethinking China, MENA, Asia Relations in a "Multiplex World". Leiden: Brill Publishers, 2022 [link].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba and Andy Knight. Eds. Towards ‘The Dignity of Difference’? Neither ‘End of History’ nor ‘Clash of Civilizations.’ Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd/Routledge, 2012. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. Ed. Ali Shariati and Beyond: Imagining Ethical Democratic Socialism in Muslim Contexts (in progress).

Mahdavi, Mojtaba and Siavash Saffari. Eds. and Trans. Towards a Progressive Post-Islamism: Neo-Shariati Discourse in Post-revolutionary Iran (in progress).

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. Iran: Is a Post-Islamist Democracy Possible? (in progress).

Guest Editor Journal Special Issues

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. Guest Editor. "The Many Faces of Contemporary Post-Islamism." Religions, 2021. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. Guest Editor. “Contemporary Social Movements in the Middle East and Beyond.” Sociology of Islam. Vol. 2, Issue 3-4, (2014). [link]

Selected Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Red Capitalism and Neoliberal Authoritarianism: Revisiting Sino-MENA Relations." Sociology of Islam. 2024, pp. 1-24 [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "The Myth of MENA Exceptionalism." In Mojtaba Mahdavi, ed. The Myth of Middle East Exceptionalism: Unfinished Social Movements. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2023, pp. 1-47 [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “The Velayat-e Faqih: Basis, Power, and Longevity." In M. Kamrava, ed. The Sacred Republic: Power and Institutions in Iran. London: Hurst Publishers, 2023, pp. 89-121. [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Non-Western Ideas." J. Brodie, S. Rein, M. Smith, eds. Critical Concepts: An Introduction to Politics. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2023, pp. 76-88 [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Ethical and Structural Critique of the 'Ethics Industry' in an Islamist State." In H. Mesbahian, Ed. Ethical Politics. Tehran: Agah Publishers, 2023, pp. 45-75 [pdf], [link].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "The Triple Pillar of Sino–MENA Relations in the Age of Neoliberalism." In Mojtaba Mahdavi and T. Keskin. Eds. Rethinking China, the Middle East and Asia in a "Multiplex World". Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Publishers, 2022, pp. 11-34 [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba and T. Keskin . 2022. "Introduction". In Mahdavi, Mojtaba and T. Keskin. Eds. Rethinking China, the Middle East and Asia in a "Multiplex World". Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Publishers, 2022, pp. 1-8 [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Ethical Democratic Socialism: Shariati's Legacy in the Age of Islamism and Neoliberalism." In Pooye: Iranian Studies Quarterly, No. 14, Winter 2021, pp. 89-112 [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “ From Nakhshab to Neo-Shariati: Three Generations of Iran’s Modern Muslim Left.” In R. Jahanbegloo. Ed. Mapping the Role of Intellectuals in Iranian Modern and Contemporary History. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books; Rowman & Littlefield, 2020, pp. 275-294. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba.“Charismatic Authority in a Hybrid State: Reading Max Webber and Beyond in Postrevolutionary Iran.” In Mehran Kamrava. Ed. Routledge Handbook of Persian Gulf Politics. London: Routledge, 2020, pp. 292- 307. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Whither Post-Islamism: Revisiting Discourse/Movement After the Arab Spring." In E. Mohamed and D. Fahmi, eds. Arab Spring and the Quest for New Metaphors: Modernity, Identity and Change. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, pp. 15-38. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “The Muslim Left in Iran in Three Episodes: From Nakhshab to Neo-Shariatis.” Azadiye Andisheh Journal. Vol. 6. June 2018, pp. 202-228. [Link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Iran: Multiple Sources of a Grassroots Social Democracy?" In P. Vahabzadeh, ed. Iran's Struggles for Social Justice: Economics, Agency, Justice, Activism. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017, pp. 271-288. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Ali Shariati’s Legacy and our Future.” In M. Jami, Ed. The Legacy of Shariati and the Future of Iran. London: H& S Media Ltd. 2017, pp. 244-256. [pdf] and/or [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place? Muslims and a Multidimensional Emancipatory Discourse." In M. Masaeli and R. Sneller, eds. The Root Causes of Terrorism: A Religious Studies Perspective. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017, pp.198-218. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “The Challenge of Democratization in Post-Revolutionary Iran: Beyond the Democratic Peace Theory.” In Y. Halabi, ed. Democratic Peace Across the Middle East: Islam and Political Modernization. London and New York: I. B. Tauris, 2016, pp. 95-137. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “A Postcolonial Critique of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in the Middle East." Perceptions: Journal of International Affairs - Centre for Strategic Research, Vol. XX, No. 1, Spring 2015, pp. 7-36. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Introduction: East Meets West? The Unfinished Project of Contemporary Social Movements in the Middle East and Beyond." Sociology of Islam. Vol. 2, Issue 3-4 (2014), 103-110. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “One Bed and Two Dreams? Contentious Public Religion in the Discourses of Ayatollah Khomeini and Ali Shariati.” Studies in Religion, Vol. 43, No. 1, 2014, pp. 25-52. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Postrevolutionary Iran: Resisting global and regional hegemony.” In T. Ismael and G. Perry, eds. International Relations of the Middle East Today: Subordination and After. Routledge, 2014, pp. 141-173. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “The Rise of Khomeinism: Problematizing the Politics of Resistance in Pre-revolutionary Iran.” In A. Adib-Moghaddam, ed. A Critical Introduction to Ayatollah Khomeini. Cambridge University Press, 2014, pp. 43-68. [pdf]

Mojtaba Mahdavi. "Iran, Islamic Republic of." In Emad El-Din Shahin, ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Politics. Oxford University Press, 2014. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Muslims and Modernities: from Islamism to Post-Islamism?” Religious Studies and Theology, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2013, 31-56. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Ayatollah Khomeini” In John L. Esposito and Emad El-Din Shahin, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Islam and Politics. Oxford University Press, 2013. pp.180-201. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Iran? It’s the Geopolitics!” Caribbean Journal of International Relations and Diplomacy, Vol. 1, Issue 4, December 2013, pp. 23-37. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba and Andy Knight. “Introduction: Towards ‘The Dignity of Difference? Neither ‘The End of History’ nor ‘The Clash of Civilizations.’” In Mojtaba Mahdavi and Andy Knight, eds. Towards ‘The Dignity of Difference’? Neither ‘End of History’ nor ‘Clash of Civilizations.’ Ashgate Publishing Ltd/Routledge, 2012, pp. 1-23. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Civil Society Approach to Democratization in Iran: The Case for Bring it Back in Carefully.” In R. Jahanbegloo, ed. Civil Society and Democracy in Iran. Lexington Books, 2012, pp. 79-93. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “R2P in the Middle East and North Africa” In A. Knight and F. Egerton, eds. Routledge Handbook of the Responsibility to Protect. Routledge, 2012, pp. 257-275. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Post-Islamist Trends in Post-Revolutionary Iran.” Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, 31:1 2011, 94-109. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Islam/Muslims and Political Leadership.” In J. Masciulli, M. A. Molchanov, and A. Knight, eds. The Ashgate Research Companion to Political Leadership. Ashgate Publishing Ltd/Routledge, 2009, 287-306. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Universalism from Below: Muslims and Democracy in Context.” International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory, Vol. 2, No. 2, December 2009, 276-291. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Rethinking Structure and Agency in Democratization: Iranian Lessons.” International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory, Vol. 1, No.2, December 2008, 142-160. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “The West and the Rest.” In Janine Brodie and Sandra Rein. Eds. Critical Concepts: An Introduction to Politics. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2008, pp. 265-275. [pdf]

Selected Other Publications

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "In Search of the 'Oneness of Humanity'." Canadian Dimension. December 5, 2023. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "The Myth of MENA Exceptionalism." Translated into Persian by A. Shabani. In journal of Critique of Political Economy. June 6, 2023, pp. 1-35. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Iran in Ukraine: “Look to the East” Policy, or Trapped in a Moral and Political Predicament?" Peace Magazine, April 1, 2023. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Iran: A Post-Islamist Society Revolts Against an Islamist State." In Media Res. February 6, 2023. [link]; republished [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Iran: A Post-Islamist Society Revolts Against an Islamist State."Translated into Persian by A. Shabani. Radio Zamaneh. February 17, 2023. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "The Triple Pillar of Sino–MENA Relations in the Age of Neoliberalism." Translated into Persian by A. Shabani. In journal of Critique of Political Economy. April 2022, pp. 1-37. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Iran-US Relations: Past and Present." Peace Magazine. April-June 2022, 8-13. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Dystopia, Retrotopia, and Utopia in Today's Iran Crisis."
Daftar hay Bonyad Journal, Vol 2, No. 6, July 2022, 78-91. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Ethics Against Ethics; An Ethical Critique of Islamism in Ali Shariati's Thought." Zeitoon. June 19, 2020. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. "Religion and State in a Post-Islamist Era." Andishe Pouya. No. 54. Tehran, Iran. November 2018, pp. 63-65. [pdf].

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “The Old is Dying.” Ferment in the Middle East: A Symposium on Uncertainty and Hope for the Region. Seminar, No. 679. India. March 2016. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Forbidden Fruits should be allowed! Socio-political Rights in Contemporary Iran.” Interview. Tehran, Iran. Shahrvand Daily. No. 597. June 25, 2015, pp. 9-11. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Nativism and Modernity.” Interview. Radio Zamaneh, June 18, 2015. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Lessons from the Ukrainian Crisis.” Andishe Pouya. No. 15. Tehran, Iran. February 2014, pp. 48-49. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. Interview. “China: Red Capitalism and the Engineered Reforms.” Andishe Pouya. No. 12. Tehran, Iran. December 2013, pp. 22-23. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Cyberspace as a New Domain of Power?” Andishe Pouya, Tehran, Iran. September 2013, pp. 50-51. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Structure and Agency in the 1979 Iranian Revolution.” Interview. Bahar Daily. No. 181. Tehran, Iran. July 25, 2013, pp. 8-9. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Chavismo: Toward Socialism of the 21st Century?” Andishe Pouya. Tehran, Iran. May 2013, pp. 89-90. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Islamism in Iran: Backlash against Autocratic Modernity.” Interview. Bahar Daily. No. 71. Tehran, Iran. February 5, 2013, pp. 22-23. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Mohammad Mosaddegh: A Case Study of Revolutionary Reform?” Radio Zamaneh, March 19, 2013. [link]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Neither End of History nor Clash of Civilizations.” Andishe Pouya. Tehran, Iran, Fall 2012, pp. 133-139. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Democratic Alternatives to Liberal Democracy;” and “Liberalism, Universalism and Liberal Democracy – Conversation with Prof. Richard Vernon.” In Ali Ghasemi. Ed. Religion and Ideology. Tehran: Bonyad. 2012, pp. 257-278, 303-326. [pdf]

Mahdavi, Mojtaba. “Muslim Forces in the 1979 Iranian Revolution: A Critique of Cultural Essentialism.” Shahrvand Weekly. June 25, 2004. [pdf]