| Hossein Bashiriyeh | |
| Birth Date: | 1953 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Hamedan, Iran |
| Nationality: | Iranian |
| Fields: | Political Science |
| Workplaces: | University of Tehran National Endowment for Democracy Syracuse University |
| Alma Mater: | University of Tehran University of Essex University of Liverpool |
| Thesis Title: | The State and Revolution in Iran: Social Classes and Political Conflict |
| Thesis Url: | https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/318940751 |
| Thesis Year: | 1982 |
| Notable Students: | Saeed Hajjarian Javad Etaat |
| Partners: | )--> |
Hossein Bashiriyeh (born June 15, 1953) is an Iranian scholar in political theory and political sociology. He is a professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. His work chiefly focuses on political sociology, democratization, and political theory within the context of the Middle East and Iran.
Bashiriyeh has been described as the "father of political sociology in Iran," and was a prominent academic figure influencing the Iranian reform movement. He taught at the University of Tehran for 25 years until being expelled from his post amid political tensions in 2007.
Bashiriyeh was born on June 15, 1953 in Hamedan, Iran. His education began in his hometown, after which he pursued a bachelor’s degree in political theory at the University of Tehran, graduating in 1975. Bashiriyeh continued his studies abroad, obtaining a master’s degree from the University of Essex and a Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool in political theories. He returned to Iran shortly after the Islamic revolution of 1979 and began teaching political science at the University of Tehran in 1982. He also taught at Imam Sadegh University in Tehran and Bagherol-'Olum University in Qom.[1]
Recognized for his scholarship in political sociology and democratization, Bashiriyeh became a leading academic figure in Iran, known for his liberal and democratic perspectives. His influence on Iran’s reform movement grew as he taught a generation of students who would later become prominent in Iranian politics. However, his progressive ideas, particularly regarding democratization, put him at odds with the conservative government in Iran, especially as political tensions heightened in the early 2000s.[2]
In 2007, Bashiriyeh was dismissed from his position at the University of Tehran amid a government-led purge of liberal academics. Known for his support of democratic ideals and secular political thought, Bashiriyeh’s views conflicted with Iran’s conservative, theocratic administration, which increasingly targeted intellectuals and reform-minded scholars. His work with the reformist movement and democratic organizations created further scrutiny, ultimately leading to his forced departure from academia in Iran.
Following his expulsion, Bashiriyeh accepted a position as a visiting professor at Syracuse University in the United States, where he began teaching courses on Middle Eastern politics and democratization. His relocation allowed him to continue his academic work in a less restrictive environment, although visa constraints initially raised concerns about his ability to remain in the U.S.[3] As of 2024, Bashiriyeh continues to teach at the university.
Hossein Bashiriyeh was born into a Sufi family in Hamedan, Iran, which influenced his early perspectives on religion and politics. He resides in the United States with his wife and two children, who joined him during his relocation from Iran.
During the last 15 years he has published 35 articles in Persian language journals published in Iran. These essays have all been assembled in Reason in Politics: 35 Essays on Political Philosophy and Sociology (referred to above). These articles deal with the following topics: Reason in Politics; Main Concerns of Political Philosophy; Theories of Tolerance; Philosophy of Justice; New Liberalism; The Frankfurt School and Habermas; The fate of Modernity; Ethical aspects of Art; Weber and Islam; Opposition in Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes; Consensus and Conflict; Anarchist Ideals in Political Development; Political Culture in the Pahlavi Period; Civil Society after the Revolution; Traditionalism as Counter-enlightenment in Iran; Class Struggles after the Revolution; Political Ideology and Identity-Building after the Revolution.