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In this article, the author is trying to problematize the concept of critique in Critical Theory by arguing that we need to go beyond the traditional parameters of the Critical Theory Canon as defined by Euro-Atlantic historiographers and critical social theorists. But in order to achieve this goal the author has attempted to demonstrate alternative approaches in conceptualizing complexities of social reality by employing the concept of Istehmar as defined by Ali Shariati. What does Istehmar mean? How does Shariati articulate this concept in sociological fashion? How is this concept different than classical concepts such as anomie, alienation and disenchantment?

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Abstract: Demographic discourses in the media or public inform lay people and may impact population planning and policies. Understanding the situation and characteristics of public demographic discourses in Iran helps the government and policy makers to identify experts’ advice to use in effective policymaking and to discern public perceptions and understanding of population policies and promote changes in fertility behavior. The aim of this paper is to examine public demographic discourses which are produced and reproduced in the Iranian media to affect fertility policy and decision making after the announcement of General Population Policies by the Supreme Leader in 2014. This paper uses the critical discourse analysis for analyzing demographic discourses in websites of two influential Iranian newspapers, i.e., Keyhan and Iran, and demographers’ ideas and opinions available online during 21 March 2010 and 21 May 2016. The critical discourse analysis illustrates that the main discourse for public demography is “Conceptual”. Analyzing texts indicates that demographers have tried to reduce the gap between science – policy by disseminating simple and understandable demographic discussions in the media. They argue that demographic issues are specialized topics and require scientific and rigorous research. Therefore, the first step for policymaking and planning is the recognition and understanding of population situation. Public demography intends to facilitate the formulation of an evidence-based policymaking to achieve General Population Policy objectives. Policymakers are recommended to provide favorable social and economic contexts supporting family formation and childbearing towards sustainable population growth outlined in the General Population Policies. Public demography has a vital role in providing a deeper understanding of future population trends and policies.
 

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After moving from the asceticism (See Arberry 2007: 32–47), Sufism has always tended to redefine its basic beliefs and restrictive frameworks to getting out a number of groups who distanced themselves from certain frameworks and social behaviour and called them "non-Sufi" or "Sufi-pretenders." This method of differentiation was basically to reduce public criticism of contradictory behaviors of members of Sufi groups. This article focuses on the procedures of differentiation between members of Sufi groups in the Middle Iranian history, its goals and social consequences. The issues of this research are: Was the formation of a group called "Sufi-Pretender" among Sufi communities, due to the people's acceptance of the teaching of this movement or the weaknesses of Sufi organizations that provide the opportunity to form a group disproportionate to the invitation of Sufis? What solutions did the Sufi leaders find to deal with this problem and to settle the heterogeneous people from within their community? The methods of differentiation among Sufi groups were based on what necessitated and how were they defined? In this regard, it seems that the procedures of redefining the identity, in the form of formulating the practical life of mystics, emphasizing the practices of Sufi education, improving the livelihood of the group, informing the people.

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In order to study the formation of human’s perception, it is significant to determine what reconstructive reality perception is, how they are formed, and what are their positions in the categorization of intelligibilities and in the analysis and reconstruction of social theory. Relations between human beings and the ones between human beings and their surroundings fall under the category of reconstructive reality; therefore, it is important to understand what reconstructive realities are and how they can be reconstructed and ranked based on Allameh Tabatabai’s philosophy. Employing the descriptive analytical method, the present study focuses on the analysis of reconstructive reality perception in his philosophy, through which, moral and social systems can be shaped. Social theory does not discuss the truth of existence, instead, sheds light on the realm of accident. By introducing the reconstructive reality theory, Allameh Tabatabai links the scope of philosophy and wisdom in the Islamic tradition to the issues and possibilities of occurrence – and in the ratio of reconstructive reality that man provides. Assuming the power of human credibility, he introduces an abstract concept called society in his philosophy, and, in this sense, he creates a link between philosophy and sociology that has not been studied by many scholars. Society has not been seen as a real credible issue among Islamic philosophers. However, Allameh Tabatabai does not consider society as a truth rather speaks of it as a reconstructive reality perception, and this can be a turning point in the discussion of alternative social sciences.
 

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In this article, I will discuss the integration of the Sufi ideas into the Iranian ways of thinking. I will put forward some factors, which explain the reason why Sufi ideas could impact the Iranian ways of thinking and become an integrated part of it. This issue is important since one of the reasons for several social problems from which the Iranian society suffers can be found in the Iranian group-oriented ways of thinking and the lack of an individual-oriented perspective concerning every citizen’s not only rights but duties as well. The mystical dimension of Iranian ways of thinking is regarded as one of the factors, which counteracted the growth of concern for the individual self in the ways of thinking of Iranians.
 

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Abstract: In this paper the author is attempting to assess both Islamism and Post-Islamism discourses and sees whether it is possible to talk about a Post-Islamist turn in the Muslim World, in general, and Iran, in particular. The author believes that we are still in an Islamist era but the challenges ahead belong to competitions between different approaches to Islamism rather than post-Islamist discourses. By arguing this, the author attempts to analyze how these competing discourses may affect the notion and locus of the state in Iran.