معرفی
Mojtaba Mahdavi-Ardekani is Professor of Political Science and the ECMC Chair in Islamic Studies at the University of Alberta, Canada, within the Faculty of Arts and Department of Political Science. He maintains an active academic profile with upcoming courses scheduled for Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 terms.
Dr. Mahdavi's research spans critical Middle East Studies, Political Economy, Contemporary Islamic Studies, and Decolonial/Postcolonial Studies, focusing on socio-structural transformations in Muslim contexts and the intellectual evolution of political thought in the MENA region. His work critically examines post-Islamism, social movements, democratization processes, and the intersection of religion and politics in Muslim-majority societies.
His publication record reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining the evolution of Islamic political thought beyond traditional Islamism, analyzing China-Middle East relations within shifting global power structures, and exploring ethical democratic socialism in Muslim contexts through the lens of Ali Shariati's intellectual legacy. His work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of both theoretical frameworks and empirical realities in the Middle East.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Fulbright Canada Visiting Scholar Award at Princeton University
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Connection Grant
- SSHRC Conference Fund
- IDRC Canada Partnership Grant
- Killam Research Operating Grant
- Visiting Fellow Grant at the Liu Institute and Green College at UBC
Dr. Mahdavi actively supervises graduate research and has organized numerous international scholarly events, including the 2019 International Symposium on 'Imagining Indigenous and Glocal Democratic Socialism,' the 2015 International Conference on 'The Unfinished Project of the Arab Spring,' and the 2013 International Conference on 'The Challenge of Democratization from Within' at the University of British Columbia. His scholarly leadership extends to editorial roles for special journal issues and academic volumes that have shaped contemporary discourse on Middle Eastern politics and Islamic studies.
