۱.
The empowerment of Zoroastrian Magi as a social class was intertwined with the emperors’ power to the extent that the political power of Magi can be regarded as a discontinued historical process with ups and downs. This paper attempts to reassess an apparent contrast between historical narratives and archeological findings (e.g. rock reliefs) concerning the political empowerment of Zoroastrian Magi in the beginning of Sassanid Empire until the reign of Narseh. According to the historical narratives, the Sassanid founding fathers, Ardashir and his Successor Shapur I, emphasized ecumenism (i.e. the possession of political sovereignty and religious power by emperor.) However, according to the rock reliefs of the 3rd century, shortly after Shapur I, with the rise of Bahram I, a structural split occurred between the emperor’s power as the sovereign and the power of Magi. Bahram I’s reign is the first historical period in which Zoroastrian Magi, represented as a social class, obtained a political superiority. Roughly speaking, in this epoch which spanned for almost two decades (the reign of Bahram I, Bahram II, and Bahram III,) one institutionalized reading of Zoroastrianism developed by an elite Magi, i.e. “Kartir”, became dominant over others and turned steadily into the Imperial religion. The above contrast can be formulated, as follows: given the fact that an ecumenical power is the ultimate form of sovereignty in a monarch system, why and how a Kartir could gain authoritatively a significant share of power? Through adopting an historical approach, the authors pursue the roots of answer in three related political phenomena: First, the quarrel between Bahram I and Narseh; second, the trial and the execution of Mani the prophet; and third, the institutionalization of Zoroastrianism as the Imperial religion.
۲.
Persian language and literature have a presence of about one thousand years in the Indian subcontinent. The growth of this language is indebted to Ghourid rulers whose mother tongue was Persian. However, we should not be negligent of the significant role of great Iranian Sufis and mystics such as Ali Ibn Othman Hojviri, Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti and Sayyed Ali Hamadani. The necessity of a research about the continuation and growth of Persian language in Pakistan is due to the questions as when this language and literature found its way and what is their importance in this country, as well as to what extent they have influenced Urdu and eventually their effects on Iranian studies. The research method is based on the review of historical documents with emphasis on numerous manuscripts kept in national and private libraries in Pakistan. The outcome of this research shows that the strength and solidity of Urdu is in critical need of more manuscript sources and stone-print documents for better understanding of spiritual culture, historical and public identity of Pakistan and seriously demands preservation of the ancient heritage of this region and production of new sources for the modern history and culture of Pakistan. Persian language and its heritage no doubt have a great share in this regard.
۳.
In comparison with similar age groups in the general population, students who are studying in universities are more at risk of having mental health problems. Surprisingly, several studies reveal that international students are highly affected by mental health issues than their local counterparts. Seemingly, it is more related to their decision to study overseas that might present them several challenges, including mental health issues. Malaysian universities host a substantial number of international students but the issue of international students’ mental health lack substantial attention there. The current research applying a mixed method, aims to address the mental health issues of newly registered international students at Universiti Sains Malaysia. In-depth discussion on the study findings’ implications for practice, policy, and research for social work profession will be addressed in this research paper.
۴.
Shifting from collectivism to individualism has changed pleasure types along time and created a generation gap in Iran. So, how can the post-colonial design mix positive aspects of old collective and new individualist pleasure as a cultural builder and catalyst for change? The purpose of this research is finding culture-oriented pleasure which can decrease generation gap and make a more peaceful pleasurable experience for both collectivists and individualists. We suggested a counterpoint instead of the hegemony of collectivism or individualism. For decreasing the generation gap we proposed: Applying behavioral design for promoting and reviving socio-pleasure among young and old people; balancing between psychological pleasure (with respect to the other's choice, creativity and diversity (Individualism)) and normative pleasures (with respect to unanimous ethnic and cultural norms (collectivism)). As a suggestion “Safa” can introduce a culture-oriented pleasure which may satisfy both sides. It means hedonism, pleasure, calm, change hatred to love, honesty, treatment, purity, enlightening, sublime, and also sympathy, friendship, sincerity and unification of spirits. Safa refundable in different forms of Iranian arts, artifacts, texts, proverbs and behaviors and can be defined as a positive cultural design approach.
۵.
This study investigates political culture in the city of Tehran, focusing on three of its domains including typology of political culture, classification and typology of political citizens, as well as examination of some variables affecting political culture in Iran. The applied research method is in the form of a survey and questionnaire-based data. The study sample size includes 612 citizens residing in Tehran in 2018. Findings show that most citizens are tended to a subject- parochial political culture. It is indicated that political variables i.e. the cost of political activity, government officials’ responsiveness, and institutional political trust are effective on political culture. Using cluster method, the citizens were divided into four categories: critical, obedient, unmotivated, and disappointed. Political culture factors are categorized in three groups by analyzing exploratory factors. These are: pluralistic, value, and involvement -behavioral. Findings show that, citizens have been grown higher in pluralistic, and with value aspects, but are in a low level with behavioral aspect, and this factor could be effective on political culture's type.
۶.
This study aims to predict the relationship between organizational solidarity and external image in Iranian technical and vocational training organization with mediating role of response to environment. Research population include employees and stakeholders all of organizations. As such, 224 people from each group were selected as sample through multistage cluster sampling as well as available sampling methods in the southwestern Iranian province of Fars. Research instruments used in this study include a set of questionnaires on organizational solidarity, response to environment and external image which were distributed among samples and collected after calculating their reliability and validity. Results showed that organizational solidarity is the positive and significant predictor of external image and the power of response to environment. In addition, this showed that organizational solidarity with a mediating role of response to environment is a positive and significant predictor of external image.
