Dr. Navid Pourmokhtari

Navid Pourmokhtari is Assistant Professor of Governance, Law, and Management with Athabasca University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. His research focuses on issues and concerns related to gender and feminism, global governance, social movements and revolutions, and international peace and security.

My first book, entitled Iran’s Green Movement: Everyday Resistance, Political Contestation, and Social Mobilization, was published by Routledge in 2021. The following book, entitled Toward a Paradigm Shift in International Relations Studies: (Re)Claiming World Peace, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2025.

Other published works have appeared in Third World Quarterly, Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis, the Journal of Human Trafficking, International Sociology, Jadaliyya, Against the Current, Sociology of Islam, Foucault Studies, and the Journal of International Women’s Studies.

The interdisciplinary orientation of my scholarship has led me to publish books and papers on topics and themes relating to feminist theory, state sovereignty, international law, and human trafficking, in addition to issues pertaining to the global order.

I engage and support students by prioritizing teaching as a profoundly meaningful endeavor. I take great satisfaction in providing detailed feedback to papers and in teaching in ways that equip students to strengthen the writing and research skills so crucial to academic development.

I am currently working on a third book, entitled Toward a Paradigm Shift in International Relations Studies: An Alternative. This work will map out the broad contours of a new international relations paradigm that might bring world peace closer to becoming a reality. I argue that, at this juncture in history, achieving a lasting, all‑inclusive global peace is within sight, notwithstanding the current state of international affairs. This does not mean the path ahead will be easy; rather, it suggests that the very tribulations plaguing the world are, themselves, preparing the groundwork for an all-inclusive peace.

It is also the case that my passion for world peace has led me to launch a YouTube channel entitled Toward Peace, dedicated exclusively to advancing peace studies. Its main focus lies in examining the prerequisites, i.e., theoretical, social, legal, gender, governmental, political, diplomatic, economic, religious,  philosophical, spiritual, psychological, among others, that might aid us in creating a more peaceful world. It also aims to highlight the critical role that social strata, particularly youth and women, might play in establishing international peace. With the channel’s viewership growing rapidly, the means are now at hand for introducing a broader audience to the cause of world peace.

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Research interests

• Peace and Security
• Global Governance and International Relations Theory
• Gender and Feminism
• Social Movements and Revolutions
• Middle East Studies

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Educational credentials

• Ph.D., Political Science, University of Alberta
• M.A., Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• B.A., Political Science, Simon Fraser University

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