USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Eliz Sanasarian

Professor of Political Science

Contact Information
E-mail: sanasari@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-3624
Office: VKC 231

LINKS
Faculty Profile on Departmental Website

Biographical Sketch

ELIZ SANASARIAN PhD, State University of New York, Buffalo Professor of Political Science Senior Fellow, Center for Religion and Civic Culture Faculty Associate, Gender Studies Program Contact: (213) 740-3624 or sanasari@usc.edu Expertise: • Iranian Studies • Religion and Politics • Women in International Development • Women and Minorities in Islam • Ethnic and Identity Politics • Comparative Politics • Middle East politics Additional Information: Author of Religious Minorities in Iran (Cambridge 2000, paperback 2006), The Women's Rights Movement in Iran: Mutiny, Appeasement, and Repression in Iran (Praeger 1982) and its edited Persian translation, Jonbesh-e Hoquq-e Zanan Dar Iran: Toqian, Ofool va Sarkoob az 1280 ta Enqelab-e 57 (2005) which won the first prize as the Best Research Book on Women in Iran. The award was granted by the Sedigheh Dovlatabadi Library in Tehran. Two hundred books were considered for the award; nine were selected as finalists [2007]. Her publications have appeared in book chapters and various academic journals such as the Journal of International Affairs, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Diaspora, Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, Natural Resources Journal, and the Journal of Developing Societies. Currently she serves on the editorial board of Politics and Religion published by Cambridge University Press, and is the co-recipient of a U.S. Agency for International Development grant for work on vulnerable children and youth in Kenya. Professor Sanasarian is on the editorial board of Politics and Religion (the official journal of the American Political Science Association Organized Section on Religion and Politics). She has been a member of various committees and executive councils of the American Political Science Association, Western Political Science Association, International Society for Iranian Studies, Society for Armenian Studies, and others. Professor Sanasarian has been awarded USC's President's Circle Faculty Award for outstanding merit in the areas of teaching, research, and service, and the Political Science Award for Outstanding Classroom Teaching and Dedication to Students.

Education

Ph.D. Political Science, State University of New York, Buffalo, 1980
B.A. , Findlay College
M.A. , State University of New York at Buffalo

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests

Professor Sanasarian specializes in religion and politics, comparative ethnic politics, women in international development, Iran, Women and Minorities in Islam, Middle East politics, and comparative politics.

Research Specialties

Middle East Politics, Women in International Development, Comparative Politics

Publications

Book Chapter

Sanasarian, E. (2011). "Nationalism and Religion in Contemporary Iran". Religious Minorities in the Middle East E.J. Brill.
Sanasarian, E. (2007). The Comparative Dimension of the Bahai Case and Prospects for Change in the Future. London: Routledge Curzon.

Book Review

Abu-Nimer, M., Khoury, A. I., Welty, E. (2010). Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Dialogue in the Middle East. Journal of Intercultural Studies.
Tsadik, D. (2010). Between Foreigners and Shi'is: Nineteenth Century Iran and Its Jewish Minority. Journal of American Oriental Society.
Sanasarian, E. (2007). Global Feminism: Transnational Women's Activism, Organizing, and Human Rights. Perspectives On Politics. pp. 842-843.
Sanasarian, E. (2007). The Fire, the Star and the Cross: Minority Religions in Medieval and Early Modern Iran. Middle Eastern Studies.

Journal Article

Sanasarian, E. (2007). Domestic Tribulations and International Repercussions: The State and the Transformation of Non-Muslims in Iran. Journal of International Affairs. Vol. 60 (2), pp. 55-69.

Other

Sanasarian, E. (2006). Religious Minorities in Iran. Cambridge University Press.
Sanasarian, E. E. Sanasarian. Religious Minorities in Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2000).
Sanasarian, E. E. Sanasarian. The Women's Rights Movement in Iran: Mutiny, Appeasement, and Repression from 1900 to Khomeini (Praeger, 1982). .

Multimedia Scholarship and Creative Works

PBS Interview, PBS documentary on Sunni and Shia in Islam, Fall 2009
Book Review, "A Brief Look at Parvin Paydar's Book: Commentary and Review," translated by N. Mehdian for the website Zanestan, Fall 2007

Honors and Awards

Remarkable Women Award, Women’s Student Assembly and Office of Campus Activities, 2010-2011
USC Associates Award For Excellence In Teaching, It is the highest honor the University Faculty bestows on its members for outstanding teaching. It recognizes the career achievements of outstanding faculty with a proven track record as exceptional teachers with a positive, inspiring, and long-lasting effect on students and their learning, along with extraordinary, unique, or pioneering contributions to excellence in teaching., 2009-2010
Best Research Book on Women, Sedigheh Dovlatabadi Library, Tehran, 2006-2007
USC or School/Dept Award for Teaching, Political Science Award for Outstanding Classroom Teaching and Dedication to Students, 1997-1998
USC Raubenheimer Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, President's Circle Faculty Award for Outstanding Merit in Teaching, Research, and Service, 1987