Students

Student spotlight: Mustafa Tikka

Mustafa Tikka

Mustafa Tikka graduated with a degree in international relations and minors in global studies (with a specialization in Iran), history, and political science. 

Mustafa (class of 2021), will be joining the University of Chicago in Fall, 2021 as an MA Candidate with a concentration in Political Science.

Mustafa chose to pursue a Global Studies Minor in Iranian studies because he wanted to understand the interdisciplinary elements of the field better. He pursued minors in Political Science (concentrating on political economy and development), History (Global History), and Global Studies' Iranian Studies Sub plan. These individual programs built on each other as supporting elements to aid his understanding of International Relations. Mustafa said: “The Global Studies minor, however, directed my focus towards Iran, commencing my study and research of Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Therefore, while International Relations, Political Science, and History formed interrelated study pathways to help me concretely conceptualize the interdisciplinary realm of my studies, Iranian Studies prepared me for my future research into the political states of the Islamic Republics.”

When asked why he chose to study about Iran and what he found most interesting, Mustafa said: “Iran's cultural heritage, the melodic and mystic prosody of the Persian tongue, and the historical significance of Iranian figures in Islamic history inspired me to pursue the Iranian Studies sub-plan. I was attracted to Iran due to the ties Persian holds to my mother tongue, Urdu. It felt like a culture and people I could openly navigate. Moreover, Iran is among the prominent Islamic Republics shrouded in its conflicts and occupies a contested position in global politics throughout its history. Planning to continue my research and exploration of Islamic Republics after my bachelor's and having already dealt with Kashmir in my undergraduate thesis, Iran was a realm I could traverse comfortably. The surprising transformation of women in Iranian society and the subtle symbolism the hijab acquired in the call for societal reformation were the elements that sparked my interest. Time tends to conflate ideas and concepts, restructuring the importance of movements, ideologies, and symbols to a populace. Recognizing these changes and seeing their potential to empower the oppressed delighted me. Reminding me to keep myself vigilant and my perspective open, the program helped me draw connections between various aspects.”

He mentions that even though the entire program has been an enriching experience, he would like to make specific mention of the courses he took under Professor Abbas Milani, Professor Bahram Beyzaie, and Professor Robert Crews. While Professors Milani and Beyzaie are historians, critics, and erudite scholars of Iranian studies, Professor Robert Crews has a command over Afghanistan in particular. He had a deep interest and thirst for knowledge of these two countries, both of which are neighbors to Pakistan, his home country, and their issues affect his country and the Muslim world in general. Mustafa said: “Besides enlightening, interactive, and immersive lectures by Professor Milani, another best opportunity to learn about Iran during the study has been through the stream of webinars and conferences under Hamid and Christina Moghadam Program in Iranian Studies and the Stanford Festival of Iranian Arts. Scholars from various fields shed light on the cultural, political, social, intellectual, and artistic aspects of Iran and its affairs. Therefore, the entire program has been marked by diversity and attractions.”

When asked what he’s most proud of over the course of his time at Stanford, Mustafa said: “The stimulating atmosphere, challenging ideas, and intellectual peers have given me much to treasure at Stanford. However, I am most proud of how the International Relations course sparked a metamorphosis from superficial understanding to drawing deeper connections through interdisciplinary learning. Changing my approach from a cause-effect model to exploring possibilities and perspectives is a development I value. The Global Studies program and the challenges it posed were fundamental to this growth - for it forced me to place myself in that time, culture, and language to fully appreciate the socio-political, economic, and gender-based development of the nation. Being open to ideas and the connections it has helped me foster are invaluable to me.”

After completing the minor, Mustafa says Iranian Studies, together with two other courses - Sex, Gender, and Power in Modern China and a directed reading course with Dr. Milani: Women’s Struggle for Equal Rights during the Pahlavi and Post-Revolution Iran, have transformed his understanding of how movements for gender equality and minority rights are agents to challenge and reform national and international structures. Moreover, it has allowed him to consider conflicts from different scales - from homes, localities, and provinces to national and international. “The minor has reformed my preconceptions of conflict and revealed how it differs everywhere. It has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and perspectives to explore other conflicts and socio-political conditions of Islamic Republics to assist my future research - and eventual work in policy formation.”

 Congratulations Mustafa, and best of luck in your future endeavors!