Dr Edward Wastnidge's OpenLearn Profile

Edward Wastnidge joined the Department of Politics and International Studies in November 2013. Prior to this he has held positions at Manchester Metropolitan University, Keele University and the University of Manchester. He also works for the Open University as an Associate Lecturer on the module Introduction to Social Sciences (DD101) and has previously taught on A World of Who’s Making? (DU301).

Edward’s main area of research concerns the politics and international relations of the Middle East and Central Asia, with a particular focus on contemporary Iranian politics and foreign policy. His doctoral thesis explored the role of culture in Iranian foreign policy during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, examining the development of his concept of Dialogue among Civilisations and how it was applied in Iran’s foreign relations from 1997-2005. His current research builds on themes explored in the PhD, including the nexus between ideas and foreign policy, soft power, cultural diplomacy, and the role of identity in international relations.

He has carried out research in Iran at the Institute for Political and International Studies and the National Library in Tehran. He has also studied Persian language at the Dekhoda Institute, Tehran.

Other research interests include national identity and nationalism, political Islam, constructivist IR theory, ethnic and religious minority groups in the Middle East, and modern Iranian history.

Edward was also a co-founder of the journal New Middle Eastern Studies, for which he currently serves as politics section editor.

He has commentated on Iranian politics and culture for CNN, Press TV and IRIB news channels.