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Iranian History Initiative

Welcome to the Iranian History Initiative at LSE.

The Iranian History Initiative (IHI) was established in 2024 to promote the study of modern Iranian history at LSE. The IHI brings together faculty and research students at LSE who teach and research various aspects of the history of modern Iran from the 16th century to the present, including the history of Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi Iran. Dr Roham Alvandi, Associate Professor of International History, was appointed as the founding Director of the Iranian History Initiative.

The Iranian History Initiative promotes the production of scholarly work on the modern history of Iran at LSE and provides an intellectual hub in London for both established and early career historians to exchange knowledge and engage in scholarly debate on the major issues and controversies in the historiography of modern Iran. The main objectives of the IHI are as follows:

  • To promote scholarly research, teaching, and public engagement on modern Iranian history at the LSE;
  • To encourage cooperation and knowledge exchange amongst historians of modern Iran within the United Kingdom and across Europe;
  • To serve as a world-leading institution for the organization of scholarly lectures, workshops, and conferences on modern Iranian history;
  • To promote and support doctoral students and early-career researchers in the field of modern Iranian history.

The Iranian History Initiative is a recognised research group embedded in the Department of International History at LSE. Through its regular activities and events, the IHI facilitates cooperation on the study of modern Iranian history within the wider LSE community. The IHI is subject to the policies, procedures and regulations of Research Governance at LSE

 

Alvandi portrait 2024

Director of the Iranian History Initiative

Dr Roham Alvandi

Contact email: R.Alvandi@lse.ac.uk

 

People

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

Motadel

Dr David Motadel

Faculty Affiliate

Associate Professor of International History

Email: D.Motadel@lse.ac.uk

Sood

Dr Gagan Sood

Faculty Affiliate

Associate Professor of International History

Email: G.Sood1@lse.ac.uk

 


Research Students

Ollieric

Jean-Baptiste Ollieric

Student Affiliate

PhD Candidate, Department of International History

Thesis title: TBC

Roush 2026 CROP

Jack Roush

Student Affiliate

PhD Candidate, Department of International History

Thesis title: 'Friends of the Family: Informal actors in Iran-US relations during the late Pahlavi period (1953-1979)'

 

Solomon 2

Harriet Solomon

Student Affiliate

PhD Candidate, Department of International History

Thesis title: 'Beyond the Headlines: The Representation of Islam in Western Media – a Four Case Study Approach'

 

Zalpour crop

Hooman Zalpour

Student Affiliate - Mojdehi PhD Fellow

PhD Candidate, Department of International History

Thesis title: 'European Military Advisors and Their Role in the Making of Modern Iran'

 


Visiting Fellows

N/A

Former Affiliates

Farian Sabahi LONG CROP

Dr Farian Sabahi
Visiting Research Fellow

Research interests: 
Pahlavi Iran, Gender issues, Religious minorities

Email: farian.sabahi@uninsubria.it

 

 

Gholam Reza Nikpay Annual Lecture

Nikpay
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

"History and Historical Writing in Pahlavi Iran"

Listen to the recording

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

Speaker: Professor Houchang Chehabi

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

Listen to the recording

Other Events

You can view our PAST EVENTS below:

Past Events

Visiting Fellowships

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.

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.

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.

 

Scholarships and Prizes

Dr Nasrollah Moghtader-Mojdehi PhD Scholarship

 

Mojdehi

The Iranian History Initiative and the Department of International History welcome applications for the Dr Nasrollah Moghtader-Mojdehi PhD Scholarship. This studentship is tenable for four years, commencing in September 2025, and covers full fees and an annual stipend of £21,660 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 the LSE PhD Academy. It honours the memory of Dr Nasrollah Moghtader-Mojdehi, a distinguished Iranian physician, educator, and public servant. From 1966 to 1974, Dr Mojdehi served as Professor of 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 Moghtader-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.

Further information on how to apply for the MPhil/PhD in International History is available HERE.

Please indicate in your Statement of Academic Purpose that you wish to be considered for the Moghtader-Mojdehi scholarship. 

Applications are now closed for 2025.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Roham Alvandi (r.alvandi@lse.ac.uk) in the first instance with a CV and PhD research proposal (no longer than 1,500 words), before submitting their application to LSE.

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.