Iran in the Middle East ─ Transnational Encounters and Social History

Iran’s interaction with its neighbours is a topic of wide interest. But while many historical studies of the country concentrate purely on political events and high-profile actors, this book takes the opposite approach: writing history from below, it instead focuses on the role of everyday lives. Modern Iranian historiography has been dominated by ideas of nationalism, modernization, religion, autocracy, revolution and war. Iran in the Middle East adds new dimensions to the study of four crucial areas of Iranian history: the events and impact of the Constitutional Revolution, Iran’s transnational connections, the social history of Iran and developments in historiography. Featuring eminent scholars such as Ali Ansari, Janet Afary and Erik-Jan Zurcher, this book makes a significant contribution to the understanding of Iran in a transnational context by exploring the key social actors in the constitutional revolution, trade and the role of women. The authors emphasize the role of societal transformations, social movements, class, gender and ethnic identities, analyzing both national and individual identity. What emerges is a concise and unique look at Iranian social history, from both within the country’s internal relationships with its social groups, and from its external relations with neighbouring countries. It will prove essential reading to scholars and students of Iran and the wider Middle East region.

H.E. Chehabi is a professor of international relations and history at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University. He has also taught at Harvard University and has held visiting appointments at UCLA and the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of Iranian Politics and Religious Modernism, editor of Distant Relations: Iran and Lebanon in the Last 500 Years, and co-editor, with Vanessa Martin, of Iran’s Constitutional Revolution, all I.B.Tauris.