We are deeply honoured that Professor Ali Ansari of St Andrews University has agreed to deliver this year’s Daniel Salbstein Memorial Lecture. This is the sixth in this series of Memorial Lectures dedicated to the memory of our founder and former Chairman and Talks Organiser, Daniel Salbstein OBE (1937-2020), in recognition of his unique role in the creation and development of the Society.
The title of Professor Ansari’s lecture is Relations between Iran and Russia: An Historical Perspective. In the first part of his lecture Professor Ansari will focus on relations between the two countries in the 19th century in the context of what we now describe as the Great Game, looking in particular at the Constitutional Revolution in Iran (1906) and its consequences through the end of the Great War. The second part will take up the story following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, looking at the changing nature of relations as a consequence of changed geopolitics, shared visions and the consolidation of the ‘alliance’ from 2015 onwards.
In conclusion, he will look at what lessons can be drawn from history in terms of state-society relations and how a people-centred approach might yield better results for broader relations going forward.
Ali M Ansari BA (Lon) PhD (Lon), FRSE, FRAS, FRHistS
Ali 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. In 2020 he was awarded a two-year Knowledge Exchange Fellowship at the FCDO.
His publications include Modern Iran since 1797, 3rd updated 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.
Please note that for this event tickets for GBRS members are free, whether for in-person or online attendance and that members need to log in to their account before booking. Only online tickets are available for non-members, at the cost of £7 each.