The Iranian Studies Unit (ISU) was established by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) in March 2020, as a specialized platform providing in-depth study and analysis of Iran and its relationship with the Arab world. It was founded in response to the lack of specialized academic research on Iran in the region, which has led to widespread misconceptions, built on largely ideological or politicized and sometimes contradictory opinions – be they pro or anti Iran.
With this in mind, the ACRPS has recognized the importance of establishing an academic unit dedicated to the study of Iranian affairs, aiming to gain a deeper knowledge of Iran's social, economic, cultural, and political reality. The ISU also takes into account the perception of Iran prevalent in different Arab states. As one of the biggest non-Arab countries in the region, Iran’s domestic developments, foreign policies and international relations have a direct impact on the respective countries in the region.
The Iranian Studies Unit thus focuses on two main objectives:
Within this framework, the ISU provides political analyses and strategic briefings related to developments in Iran, while monitoring the publications of other units on the topic. It also aims to establish a database for all analyses, facts, and statistical data on Iran published worldwide, and make them available to specialized researchers and people interested in Iranian affairs.
Iranian affairs are explored through diverse activities, including an annual conference that brings together international, Arab, and Iranian researchers specialized in Iranian studies, to address topics related to Iranian foreign policy (prioritizing relations with the Arab world), Iran’s domestic political, social, or economic affairs, or other relevant topics that fall within the purview of the ACRPS.
To enhance and support the Iranian Studies Unit mission to deepen non-politicized scientific knowledge on Iran in Arabic, the Unit translates all papers and studies on Iran in Arabic. The unit organizes a series of periodic lectures and panels on Iran presented by prominent specialists on Iranian affairs.
The ISU is also launching a translation project which will oversee a wide range of translation from Persian to Arabic and vice-versa, offering Arab readers the opportunity to read prominent works published in Persian, especially those that fall within the scope of social sciences. It will also give Persian readers access to a number of key Arabic works, such as the ones published by the ACRPS and others that fall within its research agenda.
Among the Unit’s objectives is also the capacity building of Arab researchers interested in Iranian affairs. Students wishing to specialize in Iranian studies will be assisted, especially those enrolled in the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, through Persian language and Iranian studies courses. The Unit benefits from the rich expertise of researchers working at the ACRPS and the Doha Institute.
Publications
The Sacred Republic: Power and Institutions in Iran (Edited by Mehran Kamrava, Oxford University Press and Hurst Publishers)
Iran’s Foreign Relations under President Raisi (The Muslim World Journal)
Iran’s Domestic Politics One Year into the Raisi Presidency (The Muslim World Journal)
Annual Conferences
Events
For inquiries, contact us at: iranianstudiesunit@dohainstitute.org
Mehran Kamrava heads the Iranian Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Policy Studies and Research. He is also Professor of Government at Georgetown University Qatar. He is the author of a number of journal articles and books, including, most recently, A Dynastic History of Iran: From the Qajars to the Pahlavis (Cambridge University Press, 2022); Triumph and Despair: In Search of Iran’s Islamic Republic (Oxford University Press, 2022); A Concise History of Revolution (Cambridge University Press, 2020); Troubled Waters: Insecurity in the Persian Gulf (Cornell University Press, 2018); Inside the Arab State (Oxford University Press, 2018); The Impossibility of Palestine: History, Geography, and the Road Ahead (Yale University Press, 2016); Qatar: Small State, Big Politics (Cornell University Press, 2015); The Modern Middle East: A Political History since the First World War, 3rd ed. (University of California Press, 2013); and Iran’s Intellectual Revolution (Cambridge University Press, 2008). Personal website: mehran kamrava.com
Hamideh Dorzadeh is a researcher and coordinator of the Iranian Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS). Prior to joining the ACRPS, she was a translator and research assistant for the Islamic Bioethics Project at Georgetown University Qatar. She has also worked as a research consultant for the Quadrennial/Rubaiyat project at Qatar Museum, where she researched Qatar’s demographics, social, historical, environmental, and economic developments. Her expertise includes Baloch communities in the Gulf, as well as issues of citizenship, belonging, integration, and mobility.
