Episode 2 of 3
Episode 1
The Origins of the Shia-Sunni Divide | Deep Dive: Iran Ep. 1
Episode 3
Iran vs. Saudi Arabia: Who Represents the Ummah? | Deep Dive: Iran Ep. 3
About this lecture
In this deep dive into Iran's political structure, the lecturer examines the foundational differences between Sunni and Twelver Shia concepts of political authority, tracing how the doctrine of the hidden imam and Khomeini's theory of *Wilayat al-Faqih* shaped the Iranian republic. Drawing on the political philosophy of Wael Hallaq and Carl Schmitt, the lecture argues that the nation-state model inherently subordinates the Sharia to state power — raising serious questions about how "Islamic" the Islamic Republic of Iran truly is. The episode also explores Shia sectarian history, the tendency of nation-states toward homogenization, and the gap between Iran's constitutionally stated pan-Islamic ideals and its real-world practices.