The Politics of Religiosity and Secularism: Narratives from West Azerbaijan, Iran – Akbar Mohammadi Kahrizeh – İBER

In a world where the boundary between the sacred and the civil is increasingly contested, The Politics of Religiosity and Secularism provides a timely and nuanced exploration of the evolving religious landscape in contemporary Iran. By focusing on the diverse West Azerbaijan region –a crossroads of Shia and Sunni Muslims, Turks, and Kurds– this study moves beyond broad national narratives to capture the lived experiences of ordinary individuals navigating the tension between state-imposed religiosity and growing secular movements.
Through in-depth interviews and rigorous discourse analysis, the work reveals how modernization, generational shifts, and the perceived contradictions within religious institutions are fundamentally reshaping Iranian attitudes toward faith and governance. Grounded in qualitative research and framed through modern theories like post-secularism and post-Islamism, this book offers a critical bottom-up perspective on the "secular-religious pendulum" swinging across the Middle East. From the symbolic battleground of the mandatory hijab to the broader push for individual freedoms, it examines the legitimacy of secularism as an emerging alternative for a society in transition.
This study is an essential resource for scholars, policymakers, and anyone seeking to understand the dynamic struggle for identity and meaning in a society grappling with the demands of modernity. It offers more than just an academic analysis; it provides a glimpse into the evolving soul of a people looking for an alternative that can respond to the changing needs of the modern world with both reason and respect for their heritage.