Abstract:

This article examines the challenges and precarity faced by diasporic women scholars researching Iranian politics during and after the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising. Drawing on personal reflections and broader academic experiences, I explore how transnational repression, surveillance, online harassment, and political polarization shape the work and lives of Iranian diaspora scholars. This article highlights the gendered dimensions of intimidation, the emotional and ethical challenges of conducting remote research on authoritarian contexts, and the tensions surrounding solidarity, accountability, and academic freedom within diasporic communities. Ultimately, I argue that while diasporic scholars benefit from greater academic freedom outside Iran, they remain deeply affected by the Iranian regime’s transnational reach and by the complex politics of representation, responsibility, and belonging.

The full article is available here.

Published by Ladan Rahbari