International Relations Researches

International Relations Researches

Analyzing the Role of University Faculty in the Political Socialization of Graduate Students: A Case Study of Shiraz University in the Context of Transnational Academic Interactions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hossein Pourgholam 1
Alireza Biabannavard Sarvestani 2
Karamatollah Rasekh 3
1 PhD Candidate in Political Science-Sociology, Shrz.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
2 Corresponding Author, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Political Sociology, Shrz.C, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
10.22034/irr.2026.581047.2849
Abstract
Universities, as key institutions for elite training, play a vital role in the process of political socialization, which gains added significance at the postgraduate level due to the depth of academic interactions. This research aims to analyze the role of Shiraz University professors in the political socialization of postgraduate students within the context of transnational academic interactions and to explain how they influence students’ political attitudes, values, and behaviors. The research method is based on a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative content analysis of findings from semi-structured interviews with experts and an examination of documents related to the university’s international interactions, employing an explanatory approach for data analysis. Findings indicate that professors influence students’ political insights through three main mechanisms: critical educational guidance, behavioral role-modeling in the academic environment, and the transfer of lived experiences from transnational academic interactions. These interactions lead to the broadening of intellectual horizons, the strengthening of a questioning spirit, and the enhancement of sensitivity toward social and global issues among students. Ultimately, the research concludes that political socialization in the university context extends beyond the mere transmission of political concepts and leads to the formation of social capital and informed activism. By linking specialized knowledge to social responsibilities, professors play a key role in nurturing participatory and responsible elites capable of analyzing power structures and public issues within the framework of university political culture at both national and international levels.
Keywords
Political Socialization
Transnational Academic Interactions
University Political Culture
Social Capital
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