Iranian History Initiative

The Iranian History Initiative is a recognised research group embedded in the Department of International History at LSE. It draws on the expertise of several faculty, research students, and visiting fellows in the department, as listed below.

Faculty

Research Students

Harriet Solomon

Student Affiliate

PhD Candidate, Department of International History

Visiting Fellows

N/A

Former Affiliates

N/A

Each year the Iranian History Initiative invites a world-leading historian of modern Iran to deliver the Gholam Reza Nikpay Annual Lecture at LSE. This annual lecture was established in 2023 to honour the memory of one of LSE’s most distinguished Iranian alumni, Dr Gholam Reza Nikpay, who served as Minister of Housing from 1966 to 1969, Mayor of Tehran from 1969 to 1977, and subsequently a member of the Iranian Senate.

2024 Annual Lecture (14 November - 6pm to 8pm)

Speaker: Professor Ali Ansari

Title, topic and venue TBC

2023 Annual Lecture (26 November - 6pm to 8pm)

Speaker: Professor Houchang Chehabi

"Iran's Struggle for Sovereignty, 1828 - 1928"

Listen to the recording

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The Iranian History Initiative hosts a limited number of visiting fellows each year that are selected by the IHI and appointed by the Department of International History’s Research Committee.

Amir Khosrow Afshar Visiting Fellowship

The Iranian History Initiative invites applications for the Amir Khosrow Afshar Visiting Fellowship for the 2025-26 academic year. This fellowship was established with the generous support of the Afshar family and honours the memory of Amir Khosrow Afshar, a distinguished Iranian stateman who served as Iranian Ambassador to France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and as Foreign Minister of Iran from 1978 to 1979.

The Amir Khosrow Afshar Visiting Fellowship provides an opportunity for an external post-doctoral scholar of modern Iranian history, including both early-career researchers and established scholars, to travel to London and be affiliated with LSE while conducting research on any aspect of the modern history of Iran between 1500 and 1979. This might include research at the UK National Archives, the British Library, the LSE Library and Archives, or other libraries and archives in London and the UK.

The Iranian History Initiative particularly welcomes applications from scholars based outside of the UK; from scholars whose research involves the use of Persian-language primary sources; and from scholars working on any aspect of the history of Pahlavi Iran (1921-1979).

The Afshar Fellowship is tenable for a period of one month during either the Autumn (29 September to 12 December 2025), Winter (19 January to 2 April 2026) or Spring (5 May to 19 June 2026) terms at LSE. Fellowships are not tenable outside of these dates of term. Afshar Fellows will be reimbursed up to £2,000 for the cost of return economy travel to London, up to £125 per night for accommodation for a maximum of 31 days stay in London, and up to £125 for UK visa expenses.

Fellows will be formally affiliated with the Iranian History Initiative and the Department of International History at LSE. Afshar Fellows will receive an LSE ID card, granting them access to campus buildings, including the LSE Library. An IT account, including LSE e-mail and access to the LSE Library’s online resources, will also be provided. Afshar Fellows are expected to attend IHI and departmental events during the period of their residency in London and to present their research in a departmental forum or public event.

Applications, consisting of a research proposal (no more than three pages) and CV, should be made by email to Dr Roham Alvandi in the first instance by no later than 20 January 2025. Applications will be assessed by a selection committee and the fellowship will be awarded by the Department of International History’s Research Committee.

Former Amir Khosrow Afshar Fellows

Non-Stipendiary Visiting Fellows

The Iranian History Initiative welcomes expressions of interest from external post-doctoral scholars at all levels, both established and early-career historians, who wish to be affiliated with the Iranian History Initiative during their appointment as an unfunded or externally funded visiting fellow in the Department of International History.

Details on the Department of International History’s visiting fellowship scheme are available here:

https://www.lse.ac.uk/International-History/Research/VisitingFellowships

Prospective visiting fellows who wish to apply under this scheme and be affiliated with the Iranian History Initiative should send a CV and research proposal to Dr Roham Alvandi in the first instance. All visiting fellows are appointed by the Department of International History’s Research Committee.

Former Non-Stipendiary Visiting Fellows

Dr Nasrollah Moghtader-Mojdehi PhD Scholarship

The Iranian History Initiative and the Department of International History welcome applications for the Dr Nasrollah Moghtadeh Mojdehi PhD Scholarship. This studentship is tenable for four years, commencing in September 2025, and covers full fees and an annual stipend for a PhD student in the Department of International History, whose research is focused on any aspect of the modern history of Iran.

This scholarship was established with the generous support of Mr John Moghtader-Mojdehi and honours the memory of Dr Nasrollah Moghtadeh-Mojdehi, a distinguished Iranian physician, educator, and public servant. From 1966 to 1974, Dr Mojdehi served as Professor Internal Medicine, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Tehran. He was then appointed Chancellor of the University of Mashhad in 1974, before being elected to the Iranian Senate in 1976. In 1978, he served as Iran’s Minister of Health.

Applications for the Mojdehi Scholarship are particularly welcome from applicants who propose to work on any aspect of the history of Pahlavi Iran (1921-1979); who plan to use Persian-language primary sources in their research; and who have completed their undergraduate degree at a university in Iran.

Applicants for the Mojdehi PhD Scholarship must submit their completed PhD application by the Department of International History’s deadline for funding consideration in January 2025 (to be announced). Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Roham Alvandi in the first instance with a CV and PhD research proposal (no more than three pages) by 1 December 2024. All applications for the Mojdehi PhD Scholarship will be assessed by a selection committee and the scholarship will be awarded by the Department of International History’s Research Committee.

Amir Khosrow Afshar Essay Prize

The Amir Khosrow Afshar Essay Prize is awarded annually to the best student essay, or essays, on any aspect of the modern history of Iran. This prize was established with the generous support of the Afshar family and honours the memory of Amir Khosrow Afshar, a distinguished Iranian stateman who served as Iranian Ambassador to France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and as Foreign Minister of Iran from 1978 to 1979.

Each year, a winner is selected in either one or both of two separately judged categories: graduate and undergraduate students. The prize(s) will be awarded to the best essay(s) on any aspect of the modern history of Iran spanning any period between 1500 and 1979. The winner will receive an award of £2,000 or, should two winners be chosen, £1,000 each.

Essay submissions should make use of primary sources and conform to the Iranian Studies journal style guide. Submissions should be no longer than 10,000 words, including footnotes, but excluding any bibliography. Submissions will be assessed by a selection committee based on the strength and originality of the research.

Eligible students are those currently registered for a degree programme in the Department of International History, or who have been registered in the previous academic year. Previous winners will not be eligible and submitted essays must not have been published elsewhere. Submissions should be sent by email to Dr Roham Alvandi by 7 May 2025.