Discover the Intriguing Connection Between Persia and the Enlightenment: Now Available at Your Favorite Bookstores!

The recent release of the Persian translation of “Persia and the Enlightenment,” authored by Cyrus Masroori, Whitney Mannies, and John Christian Laursen, marks a significant milestone in the exploration of Persian influence on European thought. This insightful book, now available in bookstores across Iran, offers a comprehensive examination of how Persia has been perceived and represented in European intellectual history.

Translated by Shahrbanoo Masoumi and published by Qoqnoos Publication, this 358-page volume delves into the complexities of how Persia has shaped and been shaped by Enlightenment ideas. The book’s release is timely, given the ongoing interest in intercultural relations and the historical narratives that have influenced modern identity.

Since the 5th century BCE, Persia has played a pivotal role in defining the notion of “the Other” against which European identity has been constructed. One of the most fascinating aspects of this relationship is the ambivalent attitude that Europe has adopted toward Persia, revealing a tapestry of imagery that oscillates between admiration and disdain.

Key Themes Explored in “Persia and the Enlightenment”

• The appeal of Persia to the diverse intellectual community of Enlightenment Europe.
• Engagement with factual representations of Persia by European thinkers.
• The role of Persia in shaping modern European identities.

This volume, originally published in 2021, features contributions from an international array of scholars who tackle these complex questions regarding the Enlightenment’s engagement with Persia. By doing so, “Persia and the Enlightenment” challenges simplistic narratives that reduce the interaction between Modern Europe and the Middle East to mere confrontations between liberalism and Islam or exaggerated Orientalism.

Through a careful examination of the narratives surrounding Persia during the Enlightenment, the book sheds light on the intricate nature of intercultural encounters and their significant impact on the formation of collective identities. It emphasizes the importance of representation in understanding how European perceptions of Persia have been utilized in various intellectual and political contexts.

Contributors and Their Insights

Cyrus Masroori, Whitney Mannies, and John Christian Laursen, all distinguished scholars in political science, have assembled a diverse group of contributors from countries such as the United States, France, Spain, Italy, and Brazil. Their collaboration addresses a subject that has captivated scholarly attention since Paul Hazard’s discussion of Montesquieu’s “Persians” in “La Crise de la conscience européenne, 1680–1715” (1935).

In the introduction, Masroori and Mannies advocate for a theoretical diversity that reflects the multiplicity of connections between Persia and the Enlightenment. They draw a clear distinction from Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, suggesting that understanding Persia’s significance can enhance our comprehension of the Enlightenment and modernity itself. They define the Enlightenment as an “effort to generate a new narrative of identity for Europe.”

The volume thus argues for the central role of representation in how Europeans have interpreted and utilized their perceptions of Persia to navigate various intellectual and political battles. The breadth of topics and methodologies employed in this collection offers insightful analyses on familiar subjects, making it accessible to both seasoned scholars and newcomers alike.

Highlighted Essays in the Volume

• John Marshall’s exploration of Persian tolerance.
• Masroori and Laursen’s investigation of European knowledge of Persia prior to the Enlightenment.
• Mannies’s insightful discussion of Persia in the Encyclopédie.
• Myrtille Méricam-Bourdet’s analysis of Voltaire and his representations of Persia.

About the Authors

Cyrus Masroori serves as a professor of political theory at California State University San Marcos. His research interests encompass the history of Persian political thought, utopian discourses, and the philosophical insights of Rumi.

Whitney Mannies is a political theory instructor at Cal Poly Pomona, focusing her research on the history of feminist thought in the eighteenth century across France, Britain, and the United States. She is currently working on a monograph that examines the debates surrounding women’s rights ignited by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “Letter to d’Alembert.”

John Christian Laursen is a Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside, where he contributes significantly to the field of political theory.

The release of “Persia and the Enlightenment” not only enriches the academic landscape but also invites readers to reconsider the intricate narratives that have shaped intercultural dialogue throughout history.