Dr Edward Wastnidge

Professional biography

Edward’s main area of research concerns the politics and international relations of the Middle East and Central Asia, with a focus on contemporary Iranian politics and foreign policy. His current research explores the intersection of ideas and foreign policy, soft power, cultural and religious diplomacy, and the role of identity in international relations. Other research interests include national identity and nationalism, political Islam, and modern Iranian history. He has also studied Persian language at the Dekhoda Institute, Tehran.

Edward is currently Deputy Director of the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project based at Lancaster University's Richardson Institute, and co-editor of the Identities and Geopolitics in the Middle East book series with Manchester University Press. He was also a co-founder of the journal New Middle Eastern Studies, serving as politics editor from 2011 to 2018. 

Publications

Peer-reviewed books, chapters, and journal articles

'Reinforcing the Resistance: Iran and the Levant in a Multipolar Middle East', Middle East Policy (earlyview, 2024)

'Ethno-religious Minorities and Electoral Politics in Iran', American Political Science Association: MENA Politics, Vol. 7, issue 1, 2024 (with Mansour Anbarmoo)

'The resistance axis and regional order in the Middle East: nomos, space, and normative alternatives', British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Vol 51, issue 5, 2024  (with Simon Mabon)

'Shi'i Diplomacy: Religious Identity and Foreign Policy in the Axis of Resistance', in Peter Mandaville (ed) The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power: How States use Religion in Foreign Policy, (Oxford University Press, 2023)

'Towards a post-imperial and Global IR?: Revisiting Khatami's Dialogue among Civilisations', Review of International Studies (firstview, 2023) (with Shabnam Holliday)

'Ali Shariati', in Simon Mabon & Edward Wastnidge (eds), Social Theory in the Middle East, SEPAD, 2022.

Saudi Arabia and Iran: the struggle to shape the Middle East (ed. with Simon Mabon) (Manchester University Press, 2022)

'Narratives of Power Politics in the Iran-Saudi relationship: the view from Tehran', in Edward Wastnidge & Simon Mabon (eds) Saudi Arabia and Iran: the struggle to shape the Middle East (Manchester University Press, 2022) (with Banafsheh Keynoush)

'Introduction', in Edward Wastnidge & Simon Mabon (eds) Saudi Arabia and Iran: the struggle to shape the Middle East (Manchester University Press, 2022) (with Simon Mabon)

'Conclusion' in Edward Wastnidge & Simon Mabon (eds) Saudi Arabia and Iran: the struggle to shape the Middle East (Manchester University Press, 2022) (with Simon Mabon)

'Iran: political history', in Christopher Matthews (ed) The Middle East and North Africa 2022 (Routledge, 2021, also updated for 2023, 2024)

'Iran's own 'War on Terror': Iranian foreign policy towards Syria and Iraq during the Rouhani Era', in Luciano Zaccara (ed) The Foreign Policy of Iran under President Hassan Rouhani (Palgrave MacMillan, 2020)

'Central Asia and the Iran-Saudi Rivalry', POMEPS Studies, 38, 2020

‘De-securitizing through Diplomacy: De-sectarianization and the View from the Islamic Republic’, The Review of Faith & International Affairs, Vol 18, issue 1, 2020 (with Samira Nasirzadeh)

'Transnational identity claims, roles and strategic foreign policy narratives in the Middle East', Global Discourse, Vol. 9, issue 4, 2019.

'Imperial grandeur and selective memory: Re-assessing neo-Ottomanism in Turkish foreign and domestic politics', Middle East Critique, Vol 28, issue 1, 2019.

'Transnational religious networks and geopolitics in the Muslim World', Global Discourse, Vol. 9, issue 4, 2019 (with Simon Mabon).

'Saudi misadventure in global politics', Global Affairs, Vol. 3, issue 2, 2017.

'Iran and Syria: An Enduring Axis', Middle East Policy, Vol. 24, issue 2, 2017.

'Central Asia in the Iranian Geopolitical Imagination', Cambridge Journal of Eurasian Studies, Vol.1, issue 1, 2017.

Diplomacy and Reform in Iran: Foreign Policy under Khatami (I.B Tauris, London, 2016).

'Strategic Narratives and Iranian Foreign Policy into the Rouhani Era', E-International Relations, March, 2016.

‘The Modalities of Iranian Soft Power – from Cultural Diplomacy to Soft War', Politics, Vol. 35, issue 3-4. 2015.

‘Iran, the US, and Letter Diplomacy: From Private to Public Debate’, Journal of International Affairs, July 2015.

‘Pragmatic Politics’ Iran, Central Asia and cultural foreign policy’, Central Asia and the Caucasus, Vol. 15, issue 4. 2014. Also available in Russian.

‘Iran and its Place among Nations’, Iranian Studies, Vol. 45, issue 1, 2012.

‘Détente and Dialogue: Iran and the Organisation of Islamic Conference’, Politics, Religion and Ideology, Vol. 12, issue 4, 2011.

Policy briefings, reports

'Iranian Identities in Motion: politics, protest, and the international' (ed), SEPAD Report, May 2024.

'Social Relations after Covid-19: Lebanon', SEPAD report, December 2023. 

'Identities and Foreign Policy in the Islamic Republic: the Dynamics of Geopolitical Expediency', IEMed: Aula Mediterranea, July 2023.

'Iran's Shia Diplomacy: Religious Identity and Foreign Policy in the Islamic Republic', Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, September 2020: https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/publications/iran-s-shia-diplomacy-religious-identity-and-foreign-policy-in-the-islamic-republic

'Saudi Arabia and Iran: Resilient Rivalries and Pragmatic Possibilities', in SEPAD Report Saudi Arabia, Iran and De-escalation in the Persian Gulf, June 2020 (with Simon Mabon):  https://www.sepad.org.uk/announcement/saudi-arabia-iran-resilient-rivalries-and-pragmatic-possibilities​

'The Death of a General: What’s next for Iran, Iraq and the wider Middle East?', written contribution to article published by the Foreign Policy Centre, Januray 2020: https://fpc.org.uk/the-death-of-a-general/

'Religion and Geopolitics in Iranian Foreign Policy', in Simon Mabon (ed) Saudi Arabia and Iran: The Struggle to Shape the Middle East (Foreign Policy Centre, 2018)

Analysis, interviews, commentaries and blog pieces

'Who is Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and why does he matter?', Middle East Eye, April 2024: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-who-is-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-profile 

'“Cautious distance” between Iran and U.S. will continue under Raisi, expert says', Interview with Tehran Times, June 2021: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/462461/Cautious-distance-between-Iran-and-U-S-will-continue-under 

'Richard Nephew a Worryig Signal to Tehran: Expert', Interview with Tehran Times, March 2021: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/458860/Richard-Nephew-a-worrying-signal-to-Tehran-expert Interview with Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) on assassination of Qassem Soleimani (in Persian)​, February 2020: https://www.ilna.news/fa/tiny/news-870660   

Interview with Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) on regional developments (in Persian), November 2019: https://www.ilna.news/fa/tiny/news-836136 

'US-Iran Crisis: a misleading narrative makes conflict more likely' Middle East Eye. May 2019: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/us-iran-crisis-how-we-got-here

'Britain's ban on Hezbollah is hypocritical and unhelpful' Middle East Eye. February 2019: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/britains-ban-hezbollah-hypocritical-and-unhelpful​ 

Interview with Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) on regional developments (in Persian). February 2019: https://t.co/xN0iqF8WIG 

'The U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA was a short-sighted, political move'. Interview with Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, January 2019: http://www.odvv.org/blog-2542-ODVV-interview-The-U-S-withdrawal-from-the-JCPOA-was-a-short-sighted-political-move

'Flawed Policy': US Actions Toward Tehran Will Unify Iranians - Lecturer', article based on interview with Sputnik News World Service Radio, August 2018:  https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201808021066873167-iran-usa-policy-sanctions-deal/ 

Article based on interview with Sputnik News World Service Radio, May 2018:  https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201805121064397982-irgc-commander-prominent-in-iran/   

'Syria: who’s involved, and what do they want?', written contribution to article in The Conversation, April 2018: https://theconversation.com/syria-whos-involved-and-what-do-they-want-95002

'Challenging the Narrative' . Part of the OU's Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance (CCIG) 'Methods in Motion' blog series. September 2017: http://www.open.ac.uk/ccig/blogs/methods-in-motion-30-edward-wastnidge-challenging-the-narrative 

'Iran's foreign policy under its diplomat par excellence' -  a profile of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Aftab-e Yazd, August 2017 (in Persian): http://aftabeyazd.ir 

'Why Iran's Abandoning Its Nuclear Deal Would Play Into Washington's Hands', article based on interview given to Sputnik News World Service Radio, August 2017: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201708151056489487-us-iran-nuclear-deal/ 

'Obama’s Iran legacy is noble, complicated – and endangered', The Conversation, January 2017: https://theconversation.com/obamas-iran-legacy-is-noble-complicated-and-endangered-65928 

'Methods in Motion: The magpie'. Part of the OU's Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance (CCIG) 'Methods in Motion' blog series. October 2016: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/people-politics-law/politics-policy-people/social-policy/methods-motion-the-magpie

'Saudi Arabia is paying price of Iran’s global rehabilitation', The Conversation, January, 2016. https://theconversation.com/saudi-arabia-is-paying-price-of-irans-global-rehabilitation-52718

'Stability and cooperation is an asset for Iran, as tough sanctions are lifted', OU News, January, 2016. http://ounews.co/arts-social-sciences/society-politics/stability-and-cooperation-is-an-asset-for-iran-as-tough-sanctions-are-lifted/

‘A cautious Iran ratifies the nuclear deal and starts to re-assert itself’, The Conversation, October, 2015. https://theconversation.com/a-cautious-iran-ratifies-the-nuclear-deal-and-starts-to-re-assert-itself-48398

‘What Iran nuclear framework deal could mean for the region – and the world’, The Conversation, April, 2015. https://theconversation.com/what-iran-nuclear-framework-deal-could-mean-for-the-region-and-the-world-39730

‘Rouhani positions Iran as a vital partner against Islamic State’, The Conversation, September 2014. https://theconversation.com/rouhani-positions-iran-as-a-vital-partner-against-islamic-state-32192

‘Across Pakistan, Iran wields its softest power’, IranWire, July 2014. http://en.iranwire.com/features/5901/

‘EU sees hope in Ashton’s Iran visit’, Asia Times, March 2014. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-01-200314.html

‘Iran and Pakistan: It’s Complicated’, International Policy Digest, March 2014. http://intpolicydigest.org/2014/03/03/iran-and-pakistan-it-s-complicated/

Video and podcasts

Interview with France24 on Iran-UK tensions, July 2019:  https://www.france24.com/en/video/20190722-uk-calls-european-led-maritime-protection-force-strait-hormuz?ref=tw

'End of year reflections' Interview for the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) podcast, SEPADPod, July 2019: https://soundcloud.com/richardsoninstitute/sepadpod-end-of-year-reflections

Interview for the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) podcast, SEPADPod, March 2019: https://soundcloud.com/richardsoninstitute/sepadpod-with-edward-wastnidge

Interview with The East is a Podcast, March 2019: https://www.eastpodcast.com/#/episode42/

Interview given to Sputnik World Service Radio, 'Pompeo and Bolton keen on regime change', August, 2018: https://soundcloud.com/radiosputnik/mike-pompeo-and-john-bolton-are-really-quite-keen-on-regime-change-in-iran-edward-wastnidge

Interview given to Sputnik World Service Radio, 'Soleimani has been a key component building a strategy to combat Islamic State', May 2018:  https://soundcloud.com/radiosputnik/soleimani-has-been-a-key-component-in-building-a-strategy-to-combat-the-islamic-state-analyst

Interview given to Sputnik World Service Radio on Iran-US relations and the nuclear deal, August 2017: https://soundcloud.com/radiosputnik/withdrawing-from-the-nuclear-deal-is-not-in-the-interests-of-iran-edward-wastnidge 

Podcast on  the impact of Trump's election victory on intetrnational politics. 2017: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/people-politics-law/what-impact-will-trumps-victory-have-on-international-politics

Video Q&A from the 2016 PSA Conference. Dr Edward Wastnidge discusses how Soft Power influences his own research and the future of Soft Power in Iran: https://youtu.be/HpuDP_KUZxc 

'The spaces of politics', OpenLearn video. 2015: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/people-politics-law/politics-policy-people/politics/the-spaces-politics 

Audio interview with the Open University's PodMag on Edward Wastnidge's new book Diplomacy and Reform in Iran. 2016: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/people-politics-law/podmag-april-2016 

Edward has contributed to a range of modules accross Politics and International Studies and the Social Sciences.  He chaired the production of the new MA in International Relations,  and currently chairs the MA in International Realtions: part 1 (D818) in presemtation. Dr Wastnidge has previously chaired Investigating the Social World (DD103), and led the university's International Studies programme from 2015-2021. Edward wrote the global politics section in the level two politics module Understanding Politics: Ideas and Institutions in the Modern World (DD211), and has contributed teaching to Investigating the Social World (DD103), International Relations: Continuity and Change in Global Politics (DD313) and Modern Political Ideas (DD316).  

Open University teaching publications

'International divisions: territory and economic inequalities', with Emma Clarence for MA in Internationa Relations: part 1 (D818), 2023

'Conceptualising International Division', with Emma Clarence for MA in Internationa Relations: part 1 (D818), 2023

'Theorising International Divisions', with Filippo Boni, William Brown, and Precious Chatterje-Doody, for MA in Internationa Relations: part 1 (D818), 2023

'Change from within: The Iranian Revolution, 1979', in Andrews, G., (ed) Modern Political Ideas,  Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2019

'Change from without: US neoconservativism and the invasion of Iraq', in Andrews, G., (ed) Modern Political Ideas,  Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2019

‘Thinking Globally: The Globalisation of World Politics’, in Heffernan, R. and Wastnidge, E. (eds.) Understanding Politics: Ideas and Institutions in the Modern World, Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2015.

‘The European Union’, in Heffernan, R. and Wastnidge, E. (eds.) Understanding Politics: Ideas and Institutions in the Modern World, Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2015.

‘Culture, Rights and Justice in Global Politics’, in Heffernan, R. and Wastnidge, E. (eds.) Understanding Politics: Ideas and Institutions in the Modern World, Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2015.

‘Challenging the State: Terrorism in Global Politics’, in Heffernan, R. and Wastnidge, E. (eds.) Understanding Politics: Ideas and Institutions in the Modern World, Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2015.

(with Conway, D.) ‘Governing Common Resources’, in Drake, D., Morris, A., Shipman, A. & Wheeler, K. (eds.) Investigating the Social World 2, Milton Keynes: The Open University. 2015.