I was reading a book by Russian historian Kolesnikov about Iran at the end of Sasanid period. The first thing that I noticed (notwithstanding his valuable history research) was this preconception of the 'class warfare' that he -and all historians of Bolshovik era- had about ancient Iran and were trying to fit everything in it accordingly. Daryaee has it very right here.

This lecture is given in Simon Fraser University in British Colombia, Canada. And I'm pleased that he did not mention anything about Fatemeh!

This fellow along with Daryoush Shayegan's Son ( * ) aim at revising History and the Sassanian Era for purely ideological reasons.

The IRI has since the Khatami years attempted to depict the Sassanian era as one of corruption and class dissent because they know that the Pahlavis saw themselves as the inheriters of the Sassanian Era ( the Last PRe Islamic Dynasty prior to the Arab Invasion) where as the Khatami Lobbyist ( such as the filmmaker Asghar Farhani with subtle references in his movie " A Separation" ) want to present the IRI's reformist President as the continuation of the "Safavid Era" and Golden Age of Shi'a ISlam.

The Reason is simple. Bury the idealisation of the Monarchy as a concept of government in favor of Republicanism ( once the IRI is "reformed" or replaced by a massalan "secular" republic).

That Russian Historians have validated this "history" is of no surprise ... They wanted to dismantle Iran early on be it under the Tsars or under Stalin.

(*)  whose dad was one of the think tank members of the Shahbanou's famed "institute for a Dialogue of Civilizations" which was since highjacked by Khatami cronies and sponsored academics.

Dear Darius, let's not mix academic research with politics. I know you don't want to do it. You suspect THEM doing it, and with reason. I know the game. Carefully chosen words that imply a political agenda without being overly evident.

But let's not fall in their trap. Let's keep the academic issues academic and carry the politics in politics. The fact of the matter -as any historian should know!- is that the only legitimate and legal historic documents of progressivists and modernists Iranians is the constitutional monarchy which has not been changed yet in a modern and democratic manner. And according to our only legitimate document, Iran is a monarchy and this won't change unless the progressivists regain power and leave the fate of this constitution to the hand of a democratic process in a free Iran.

Now this is our political agenda. Let's see how these pseudo intellectuals face with this historic fact and political agenda. Everything reveals itself in its natural habitat... and very clearly so!

Dear Benross 

You say: " let's not mix academic research with politics." 

Answer: I'll stop "mixing"  the day they stop "mixing"  ... ;)

WATCH  : 

Related :

Oxford in row over 'cash for thesis' | The Sunday Times

Oxford investigates former Iranian president's son over DPhil application ( Guardian)

And it's not limited to Iran ... Libya's Gaddafi also invested in "academic" research so as to revise it's royal history as "corrupt" in order to fit his own regime's  ideological agenda  :

Blair's government tried to get Oxford place for Saif Gaddafi - Telegraph

Verdict on Gaddafi exposes roles of Blair, LSE and Oxford | Education