Shapour Rasek, a pioneer of sociology in Iran, passes away

Dr. Shapour Rasek, one of the pioneers of sociology in Iran, passed away at the age of 97.

Shapour Rasek was one of the pioneers of quantitative studies and surveys in Iran, serving as the Deputy Planning Director of the Planning Organization for 10 years before the 1979 revolution. He was also a professor at the University of Tehran for 19 years.

Shapour Rasek was born in Tehran in 1924. He completed his primary, secondary, and university education in Iran, earning a doctorate in Persian literature and a bachelor's degree in economics. He then went to Europe and earned a master's degree in social sciences and a doctorate in sociology at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

During that period, he wrote the books "Introduction to Iranian Sociology" and "Education and Training in Today's World" and published numerous articles.

Shapour Rasek was a UNESCO consultant on educational matters from 1980 to 2006 and wrote the books "Contents of Education," "A Look at Literacy," and "Education and the Culture of Peace."

He was a member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Iran and Switzerland for about 10 years and was a member of the Continental Advisory Board of the Baha'is of Europe for 12 years.

Since 1980, Shapour Rasek, in collaboration with a group, has been responsible for editing and publishing the magazine "Baha'i Message" and has published the books "Hopes and Promises," the series "Song of Passage," and "The World Needs a Global Civilization."

Source: Voice of America