Iran’s Minister of Science at the Unveiling of the 12-Volume Series Global Experiences of Post-War Reconstruction: In Post-War Reconstruction, We Must Reconstruct the Concept of 'We'
| Last update: 2026/10/13 |
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the 12-volume book series Global Experiences of Post-War Reconstruction, the Minister of Science, Research and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasized that post-war recovery is not confined to rebuilding infrastructure and economic systems. He stated: "The most crucial element that must be rebuilt after war is the concept of 'We,' which can only be achieved when diverse social groups rediscover shared interests in coexisting and living alongside one another."
According to the Public Relations office of the Institute for Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) of the Ministry of Science, Hossein Simaei addressed the audience on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the unveiling ceremony held at ISCS. Reflecting on the content of the collection, he remarked: "The most arduous day for a nation is not necessarily the day war breaks out; rather, it is the day the war ends—when people must figure out how to live together again, where to begin the rebuilding process, and what their priorities should be."
He added: "War does not solely bring physical and material destruction; it also erodes trust. Therefore, it is imperative to remain vigilant and understand how to restore lost hope."
Simaei continued: "Based on this, several policy lessons emerge. First, reconstruction begins with security. Security is not purely military; armed deterrence, defense shields, and missile or drone capabilities are absolute necessities, yet they are insufficient for building a country."
He noted: "We require psychological security, economic security, and food security. If property rights are not respected, if capital lacks security, and if a faction persistently strains the collective nerves of society, sustainable security cannot be attained. Therefore, we must pursue a security doctrine across all its dimensions and layers."
Invoking the teachings of Imam Ali (AS), the Minister stated: "In this regard, guidance can be drawn from the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS). This does not imply polarization; the future demands dialogue to discern priorities."
Simaei elaborated: "There is a profound narration from Imam Ali (AS) regarding the root causes of the decline and backwardness of nations. The question of why nations fall behind is an enduring one, subject to dozens of books, hundreds of articles, and thousands of research projects."
He explained: "Imam Ali enumerates four causes for the decline of nations, one of which is expending national capital on trivial matters and prioritizing peripheral issues over core fundamentals. This tradition holds great relevance for us today, as we must examine whether we are genuinely focusing on fundamental principles or not."
The Minister identified the swift resumption of normal daily life as the second policy lesson in the post-war phase: "In the post-war period, normalcy must be restored rapidly. By this, I do not mean the government should ignore mega-projects; large infrastructure projects are vital and must proceed. However, what is tangible to ordinary citizens are utilities, water, energy, schools, universities, and public transit."
Simaei added: "When people return to their lives, the state’s obligation is first to establish viability and livability, and subsequently pursue broader development."
#### "Justice Must Not Be Equated with Cycles of Retribution"
The Minister highlighted justice as the third post-war policy lesson: "Justice is imperative and assumes greater urgency post-war; however, justice must never be equated with a cycle of retribution."
He continued: "If war victims are forgotten, they experience profound injustice. The question arises: what should be done with the past? Completely ignoring the past creates severe hardship, while obsessing over vengeance breeds other disasters. A delicate balance must be struck between justice and forgiveness."
Simaei characterized the fourth and most vital dimension as reconstructing the concept of 'We': "The single most critical element to rebuild is 'We.' Buildings can be re-erected, but if social groups remain fractured after the war, genuine reconstruction has not occurred."
He argued: "Reconstruction is realized when human beings rediscover common ground and shared interests in living together. When university students from diverse backgrounds enter campus and recognize a shared interest in being together, that is when a collective 'We' forms and endures."
The Minister stressed: "Reconstruction is not solely economic. It must be guided from above, yet built from the ground up. Every sector must participate: the private sector in the economy, alongside civic associations and civil society institutions working collaboratively."
Pointing to the 12-volume series *Global Experiences of Post-War Reconstruction*, Simaei said: "My time is limited, but it is essential that this collection does not remain confined to library shelves or restricted circles; it must be converted into actionable policy recommendations and practical frameworks."
He noted: "This collection places international experiences at the disposal of our nation and its citizens, offering genuine hope. Over the past half-century, we have endured two devastating conflicts. The eight-year war lasted nearly a decade, yet younger generations who did not experience it might assume that everything is finished and life has reached a dead end."
The Minister added: "When we document how other nations endured war, rebuilt, and emerged stronger, society gains hope that a healthier, better-organized community can arise from ruins."
Simaei concluded: "We must promote these ideas across diverse formats, ensuring this effort does not end here. It must achieve public and social dissemination, while the compiled policy lessons must be formally submitted to government ministries and state agencies."
#### "Post-War Reconstruction Fails Without Grasping the National Interest"
Following the Minister's remarks, Dr. Seyed Mehdi Abtahi, Vice Minister for Research at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, addressed the gathering: "International experience demonstrates that post-war reconstruction cannot be limited to physical infrastructure; rather, reinventing social, economic, and political structures and attaining a precise understanding of the national interest are vital imperatives for navigating the post-war period."
Abtahi noted: "I have frequently reflected on how post-WWII Europe, despite continent-wide devastation, managed such a rapid recovery and growth trajectory."
He added: "Even the victorious allied nations faced deep social and economic scars. The question remains: how did war-ravaged Europe achieve extraordinary growth despite widespread losses?"
The Vice Minister continued: "Systems thinking emerged during those exact years; industrial engineering advanced, and balanced development gained prominence. How did European citizens and societies regenerate, reinvent themselves, and pursue modernization with such momentum?"
Abtahi stated: "Conversely, as documented in studies on the Muslim world and conflict-ridden nations like Afghanistan and Palestine, post-war environments often succumbed to corruption, structural collapse, and systemic decay."
He asked: "Why did innovative paradigms catalyze rapid development in some nations, whereas in several Islamic societies, post-war conditions generated fresh crises and systemic decay?"
Citing Lebanon's experience, Abtahi observed: "Years ago, around 2004, during a trip to Lebanon, a scholar remarked that Arab nations adopted the modern concept of 'homeland' (*vatan*) from Iran. To reconstruct Lebanon's national identity, he argued that every Lebanese citizen must define themselves against external threats."
Abtahi continued: "This prompted me to ask: do we in Iran have a forgotten concept that requires urgent recovery? Following the Imposed War (Sacred Defense), we advanced well initially, but what unfolded later?"
He added: "During wartime, various state bodies and ministries handled defense logistical demands. Afterward, several of these entities transitioned into direct economic actors, creating significant governance dilemmas for the state."
The Vice Minister stated: "The repercussions of that shift, including the emergence of capital concentrations that altered social strata, persist today. We engaged actively in reconstruction and relocated production lines, yet significant fractures emerged."
Abtahi asked: "To what extent did successive post-war administrations heal these fractures and address structural priorities? In my assessment, a primary casualty along the way was the concept of the 'National Interest'—the principle that Iran must precede everything else: not myself, not my faction, and not merely my economic gains, but the overarching interests of Iran."
He stressed: "This concept became diluted among political actors. Discussing it in our 'War Studies Desk' helps clarify what the national interest truly requires."
Highlighting the contributions of ISCS and the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Abtahi concluded: "Perhaps in previous post-war eras, factional rivalries and political infighting prevented us from addressing the lingering wounds of war. That ISCS has undertaken post-war reconstruction today is invaluable, as it analyzes the issue beyond narrow engineering confines and fosters deep comparative learning."
#### "Academia Must Record War Trauma and Derive Lessons"
Dr. Vahid Shalchi, Vice Minister for Cultural and Social Affairs at the Ministry of Science, addressed the gathering, stating: "The mandate of the academic community during conflict and crisis extends beyond data gathering; it involves recording citizens' suffering, analyzing historical lessons, and aiding society in navigating wartime aftermaths."
Shalchi noted: "The academic responsibility encompasses documenting public anguish, extracting lessons, and aiding societal resilience, alongside acknowledging the unyielding fortitude of people against imperialist powers."
He continued: "War is not merely an encounter with an adversarial power; it is a multifaceted experience loaded with vital societal lessons."
Emphasizing that war damages more than buildings, Shalchi said: "Conflict disrupts industrial systems and social institutions. It harms educational establishments and strains collective memory and visions of the future. Hence, reconstruction must be comprehensive."
He added: "We possess domestic reconstruction histories in Khorramshahr, Abadan, Kermanshah, and other damaged regions, but physical urban repairs represent only a single facet of post-war recovery."
The Vice Minister emphasized: "The university's duty is to aid societal reconstruction. ISCS has championed this concern, aligning with the Third-Generation University model—an institution committed to public welfare and societal suffering."
Shalchi concluded: "Beyond being a problem-solving body, the university serves as an arena for dialogue, foresight, and mediation. This 12-volume project marks an essential step toward defining how higher education can foster holistic recovery."
#### "War and Reconstruction Must Become Central to the Humanities"
Dr. Mohammad Taghi Karami, President of the Institute for Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS), highlighted the necessity of rigorous academic inquiry into warfare and its aftermath: "The experience of war and reconstruction is not merely an administrative or historical footnote; it must become a core inquiry for the humanities to dissect its social, cultural, and human dimensions."
Karami reviewed institutional initiatives within war studies, noting: "We have prepared four special war-focused issues across four peer-reviewed academic journals, with papers approved for publication."
He continued: "Second, ISCS has sponsored seminars and dialogues with research bodies and academic associations. Third, we designed 25 small-scale research projects, most of which have made notable headway."
Karami noted: "Fourth, a five-volume series titled *Social Studies of War*, featuring theoretical and personal reflections by faculty and academics, is currently in press. Furthermore, we commissioned a 10-volume collection to expand war literature, slated for completion by February."
He added: "Our final major milestone was contributing to the 12-volume *Global Experiences of Post-War Reconstruction*. ISCS handled logistical support through its War Studies Desk. Given that two of our faculty members led the editorial team, we hosted this unveiling ceremony honored by the Minister’s presence."
#### "Building National Capacity for Cognition, Learning, and Collective Action"
Dr. Jabbar Rahmani, one of the chief lead editors and translators of the series, explained the origin and core rationale of the project: "The initiative emerged from a discussion during the first week of Farvardin (late March), formulated precisely amid bombings near Mehrabad."
Expressing gratitude to co-editor Dr. Leila Ardabili, translators, copyeditors, page designers, and publishers, Rahmani stated: "This collection was produced during holidays under the acute anxiety of bombardment—facing what felt like our final moments—from the heart of wartime Tehran."
He defined the project's central premise as "supplying foundational resources for rational reconstruction led by the institution of science," adding: "The primary challenge for policymakers is not simply 'what to rebuild,' but rather: with what knowledge, whose participation, under what rules, and through which learning and self-correcting mechanisms do we rebuild?"
Introducing the concept of **"war as destructive creation,"** Rahmani stated: "War is humanity's most highly organized collective action; it stems not from primal instinct, but from political, ideological, and social mechanics. In a Middle East shaped by two centuries of colonial and internal frictions, war has recurred relentlessly, leaving deep intergenerational trauma."
Discussing findings concerning higher education, Rahmani observed: "There is no universal blueprint for reconstruction. An effective model depends on four variables: how the war concludes, state capacity and legitimacy, the severity of social trauma and division, and the condition of the scientific and university network."
He added that higher education is often sidelined in reconstruction literature, despite being both a victim of conflict and a potential engine for peacebuilding, state-building, and renewal.
Rahmani highlighted the dual nature of universities during post-war periods: "The university can function as an open space for critique, collaboration, and public knowledge, or it can reproduce discrimination and monopolistic narratives. Reopening campus doors is not enough; governance rules, curricula, social missions, and distributive justice must be thoroughly redesigned."
He concluded: "The task is not merely repairing damaged campuses, but building national capacity for cognition, learning, and collective action. Scientific institutions must produce empirical data on damages, test policy alternatives, critique state claims, train human resources, and translate knowledge into administrative capacity. Omitting any of these duties results in a crippled system."
#### "Post-War Reconstruction Cannot Be Completed with Bricks and Mortar"
Dr. Leila Ardabili, co-lead editor of the collection, addressed the need to reimagine Iran’s future: "The issue is not merely ending the war; the fundamental question is what we will do with the inner world that conflict has transformed. Will we return to the pre-war world, or contemplate building a new world out of ruins?"
She asked: "Can we restore the exact trust, relationships, and visions of the future that existed prior to the war? War forces us to think about alternative futures, and this 12-volume collection emerged from that inquiry."
Ardabili emphasized that the series is not an ordinary translation project: "We translated and edited these volumes when physical destruction was not an abstract historical concept. Translation became a mode of thinking—thinking through the experiences of others to reflect on conditions of possibility and impossibility in Iran."
She added: "Our goal was not merely observing what other nations did, but discovering what pertinent questions we should pose regarding Iran's post-war trajectory. When translating historical experiences, we integrate them into our culture, time, and intellectual landscape; translation thus becomes a global dialogue."
Ardabili observed: "What these 12 volumes demonstrate—the common denominator across diverse cases—is that **reconstruction never occurs through bricks and mortar alone.**"
She posed critical sociological questions: "Buildings can be rebuilt, but how do we repair broken trust? Roads can be resurfaced, but how do we heal a nation's collective memory? Schools and universities can reopen, but how do we restore a generation's hope? Post-war is not just physical infrastructure; it is rebuilding the viability of life, the capacity to trust, and the ability to envision tomorrow."
Highlighting higher education, she argued: "The university must not only generate knowledge about what has transpired; it must conceptualize what has not yet occurred. While many consider the university the nation's rational faculty, it must above all be the crucible of collective social imagination—where society envisions itself 10, 20, or 100 years ahead."
She noted that one volume specifically explores Middle Eastern universities, while several others examine knowledge institutions in post-war eras.
Reflecting on the perilous working environment, Ardabili noted: "I speak on behalf of roughly 25 translators, researchers, and editors. At times, we debated the translation of a conceptual term while explosions resonated outside. We feared for colleagues' lives, then feared the project might remain unfinished. It was surreal: reading, translating, and planning for the future when uncertain of surviving the day."
She expressed deep appreciation to domestic contributors and overseas scholars who helped acquire literature amid severe internet disruptions: "Colleagues abroad used their academic access to retrieve critical papers and books for us."
Ardabili concluded: "Despite every hardship, we believe that although the future is never guaranteed, it can still be envisioned and built."
Keywords: #PostWarReconstruction #ISCS #MinistryOfScience #HigherEducation #SocialSciences #HosseinSimaei #JabbarRahmani #LeilaArdabili #PublicPolicy #NationalResilience #RebuildingSociety |
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