My OpenLearn Profile
- Personalise your OpenLearn profile
- Save your favourite content
- Get recognition for your learning

Subjects that inspire you
We have eight subject categories for you to explore containing thousands of free resources.
Dr Edward Wastnidge's OpenLearn Profile

Dr Edward Wastnidge
About me
Dr Edward Wastnidge is a Lecturer in Politics and International Studies.
Biography
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.
Edward Wastnidge (2017-08-16) Calling out Saudi misadventure: the Trump presidency and a plea for European diplomatic nous in an ever-turbulent Middle East, In Global Affairs
Edward Wastnidge (2017-06-19) Iran and Syria: An Enduring Axis, In Middle East Policy 2(24)
Edward Wastnidge (2017-02-20) Central Asia in the Iranian geopolitical imagination, In Cambridge Journal of Eurasian Studies(1)
Edward Wastnidge (2016-05-30) Diplomacy and Reform in Iran: Foreign Policy Under Khatami, I.B. Tauris
Edward Wastnidge (2016-03-10) Strategic Narratives and Iranian Foreign Policy into the Rouhani Era, In E-International Relations, E-International Relations (E-IR)
Edward Wastnidge (2016-01-05) Saudi Arabia is paying price of Iran’s global rehabilitation, The Conversation
Edward Wastnidge (2015-10-13) A cautious Iran ratifies the nuclear deal and starts to re-assert itself, The Conversation
Edward Wastnidge (2015-07-31) Iran, the US, and Letter Diplomacy: From Private to Public Debate, In Journal of International Affairs
Edward Wastnidge (2015) The modalities of Iranian soft power: from cultural diplomacy to soft war, In Politics 3-4(35)
Edward Wastnidge (2014-09-26) Rouhani positions Iran as a vital partner against Islamic State, The Conversation
Browse Dr Edward Wastnidge's latest research on Open Research Online
OpenLearn Search website
OpenLearn Links
Footer Menu
Our partners
OpenLearn works with other organisations by providing free courses and resources that support our mission of opening up educational opportunities to more people in more places.


©1999-2018. All rights reserved. The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.