Overview

This book explores Iran's soft power in two of its eastern neighbours namely Afghanistan and Pakistan in key areas including the cultural, religious, social, media, ideological and educational spheres. It explains what resources and instruments Iran has used to project its soft power in the two selected countries since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, and how Iran's attempt to increase its reach has been perceived by elites and opinion makers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It therefore offers the most up-to-date examination of Iranian soft power tools and strategies and how they are received in both countries topics which have not hitherto been fully explored. The book reflects the ideas of local Afghan and Pakistani participants from civil society, government, military, media, academia, think tanks and policymaking, explaining the extent to which research participants perceived Iranian soft power in a positive or negative manner.

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9781399517461

Table of Contents

Reviews

Soft power is not the exclusive preserve of superstates like the US and China in influencing the world around them. Focusing on Iran this new book spotlights the ways Iran brings soft power to bear on neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan in shaping the cultural, economic and strategic relations in its immediate region. -- Howard Brasted, University of New England A fascinating study of the soft-hard power nexus that sheds light on how historical memories, language, culture, institutions and instruments of influence used by Iran have resulted in differing outcomes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while enabling Tehran to recruit Shi’a youth in these two states to advance its strategic interests in the ‘Shi’ite crescent’. -- Samina Yasmeen, University of Western Australia Iran’s Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan is a timely and insightful offering that sheds much needed light on Iranian relations with both of the other states [...] The book will certainly be a useful reference work for scholars interested in Iranian foreign policy and soft power. -- Edward Wastnidge, Open University * Middle East Journal * A valuable contribution to understanding the specifics and issues of Iran's soft power policies in individual countries, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan. The research value is enhanced by its use of not only existing theoretical literature and media publications but also data obtained from qualitative interviews. -- Artyom Tonoyan * Contemporary Eurasia *

Soft power is not the exclusive preserve of superstates like the US and China in influencing the world around them. Focusing on Iran this new book spotlights the ways Iran brings soft power to bear on neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan in shaping the cultural, economic and strategic relations in its immediate region.--Howard Brasted, University of New England Iran's Soft Power in Afghanistan and Pakistan is a timely and insightful offering that sheds much needed light on Iranian relations with both of the other states [...] The book will certainly be a useful reference work for scholars interested in Iranian foreign policy and soft power.--Edward Wastnidge, Open University ""Middle East Journal"" A fascinating study of the soft-hard power nexus that sheds light on how historical memories, language, culture, institutions and instruments of influence used by Iran have resulted in differing outcomes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while enabling Tehran to recruit Shi'a youth in these two states to advance its strategic interests in the 'Shi'ite crescent'.--Samina Yasmeen, University of Western Australia

Author Information

Zahid Shahab Ahmed, Associate Professor in Security and Strategic Studies, National Defense College of the UAE. Ali Akbar, Research Fellow, Deakin University and at the University of Melbourne.

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