About this Event
The passing of the Prophet Muhammad profoundly impacted political leadership within Muslim communities. While the Caliphs maintained control for centuries, enhancing Islamic civilization to its pinnacle, the advent of the Industrial Revolution, new scientific discoveries, and the rise of nation-states heralded the decline of the Islamic Caliphate. In response, new leaders sought to assert control over Islamic societies through nationalism. With the dawn of the Internet Age, the grip of these traditional leaders weakened, culminating in the movements collectively known as the Arab Spring. Now, as we stand on the cusp of another significant global shift with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), questions arise about the current state of leadership in Muslim communities and the potential impact of AI on leadership in the Islamic world. Join us to explore the dynamic evolution of political leadership in Islamic societies and envision the future of such leadership in the era of AI.
Speaker:
Dr. Vahid Abedini
Dr. Vahid Abedini is a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations and an affiliate scholar at the Jaffer Center for Muslim World Studies at Florida International University, where he also earned his Ph.D. His dissertation, "The New Generation of Political Elites in Iran: Genealogy, Evolution, and Trajectory," delves into the formation of political elites and the ongoing tension between secular and religious approaches to leadership training in Iran. Dr. Abedini's current research spans across political science and international relations, with a sharp focus on leadership and elite formation, the impact of new technologies and social media, youth development, generational dynamics, and the broader dynamics within Muslim communities, especially pertaining to contemporary Middle Eastern issues. His scholarly contributions have been recognized in leading journals and venues such as Comparative Politics, Middle East Report (MERIP), and the Project on Middle East Political Science (POMEPS) as well as the Yale Journal of International Affairs.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Florida International University, 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, United States
USD 0.00