Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Inside Politics
Coordinator
Michael Olsson
This class is devoted to the hot political issues of the day. We cover the President, senators, members of Congress, governors, mayors, and state and local issues. We cover foreign policy, domestic policy, the media and the gridlock in Washington, D.C. All opinions are welcome. This is a chance to learn from one another, not change each other’s views. Spend a few minutes talking through different perspectives by joining this popular political discussion class.
APRIL 13, 2026 ONLY:
The History of the Iranian Civilization
Iran's history has come into focus during this most recent conflict, and this lecture will provide a history of Iran, the birthplace of Zoroastrianism, a religion that influenced Judaism and Christianity, to the shahs or kings of the Achaemenid Empire, the first superpower in history that was conquered by Alexander of Macedon to the last Iranian empire under the Pahlavi dynasty of the 20th century. In many ways, the Islamic Republic of Iran still inherits the borders of the empire. We will examine Iranian culture, architecture, and poetry, as well as the heritage that came under threat during the 2026 war.
Professor Ibrahim Al-Marashi
Presenter: Ibrahim Al-Marashi is Associate Professor of Middle East History at California State University San Marcos, and an advisory board member of the International Security and Conflict Resolution (ISCOR) program at San Diego State University (SDSU). He has lived in Yemen, Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey. He is also a visiting lecturer at the US Foreign Service Institute and at the international relations departments at the Catholic University of Milan, John Cabot University of Rome, and IE University in Madrid. He received his BA. from UCLA, his MA from Georgetown, and his PhD from the University of Oxford.
APRIL 13, 2026 ONLY:
The History of the Iranian Civilization
Iran's history has come into focus during this most recent conflict, and this lecture will provide a history of Iran, the birthplace of Zoroastrianism, a religion that influenced Judaism and Christianity, to the shahs or kings of the Achaemenid Empire, the first superpower in history that was conquered by Alexander of Macedon to the last Iranian empire under the Pahlavi dynasty of the 20th century. In many ways, the Islamic Republic of Iran still inherits the borders of the empire. We will examine Iranian culture, architecture, and poetry, as well as the heritage that came under threat during the 2026 war.
Professor Ibrahim Al-Marashi
Presenter: Ibrahim Al-Marashi is Associate Professor of Middle East History at California State University San Marcos, and an advisory board member of the International Security and Conflict Resolution (ISCOR) program at San Diego State University (SDSU). He has lived in Yemen, Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey. He is also a visiting lecturer at the US Foreign Service Institute and at the international relations departments at the Catholic University of Milan, John Cabot University of Rome, and IE University in Madrid. He received his BA. from UCLA, his MA from Georgetown, and his PhD from the University of Oxford.
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