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Lecture | The Iran-US War: A Delicate Balance Of Irrationality?

Tuesday 8th December
6.30pm-8.00pm

Join Professor Ali M Ansari as he examines the complex relationship between Iran and the United States and the struggle for influence between the two countries. Exploring Iran’s use of asymmetric power and narrative dominance, Professor Ansari considers how ideology, mistrust and emotion have shaped their long-running confrontation. He assesses the costs of this struggle for both countries and explores how the relationship has evolved from the Iranian Revolution to the present day.

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Why not Stay for a post lecture supper in the Bistro (See Menu)

2 courses £25 | 3 courses £30

Price range: £10.00 through £42.00

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In 1990 an Iranian journalist published a book which argued that on account of the difficulty Iran had caused a succession of US Presidents, it was Iran that deserved the accolade ’superpower’. His argument, viewed with some mirth at the time has since been echoed by serious scholars who have viewed Iran’s application with asymmetric power, and narrative dominance with barely disguised awe. This talk will interrogate this argument and assess the costs to both countries of a struggle defined by ideology and shrouded in a thick fog of war informed by emotion.’

Professor Ali M Ansari is Professor of Iranian History & Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews; Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute and a Senior Policy Fellow at Policy Exchange. In 2016 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, in 2023 he was re-elected President of British Institute of Persian Studies and 2020 he was awarded a two-year Knowledge Exchange Fellowship at the FCDO.

His publications include Modern Iran since 1797, 3^rdupdated Edition, Taylor and Francis, London, 2019, Iran, Islam & Democracy – The Politics of Managing Change 3rd updated Edition, Gingko, London, 2019; These Islands: A Letter to Britain, Haus Curiosities, 2018, Iran: A Very Short Introduction OUP, 2014, The Politics of Nationalism in Modern Iran CUP, 2012; Iran Under Ahmadinejad, Adelphi Paper, IISS, January 2008, Confronting Iran: the failure of US policy and the roots of mistrust Hurst, London, 2006. His latest book is a short history of Iran for Polity Press, published in 2024.

6.30pm Drinks Reception (Drink included in ticket price), 7.00pm Lecture Commences

£12 non members | £10 Friends

Become a Friends Member here

Why not Stay for a post lecture supper in the Bistro (See Menu)

2 courses £25

3 courses £30