Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Topic, Methodology and Background Studies
Chapter 1. Soft Power: Theories, Approaches and Its Importance in International Relations
Chapter 2. Iran’s Soft Power in a Broader Context
Chapter 3. Iran’s Soft Power in the Middle East
Chapter 4. Iran’s Soft Power in Latin America: The Case of Venezuela
Chapter 5. Iran’s Soft Power in Africa
Chapter 6. The Problems and Challenges Facing Iran’s Soft Power
Conclusion
Bibliography
Biography
Ali Akbar is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Melbourne in Australia, where he received his PhD in Islamic studies. He is an expert in the field of Islamic studies with a focus on contemporary Islamic thought and Middle Eastern politics as well as Iranian politics. He has taught courses in Islamic studies, international relations and Middle East politics. He is the author of several books and more than 40 articles in top-tier journals.
"Iran’s Soft Power by Ali Akbar is a timely and comprehensive exploration of how the Islamic Republic has strategically projected influence far beyond its borders. By examining Iran’s cultural, ideological, and humanitarian engagement across the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, the book offers valuable insights into Tehran’s evolving foreign policy toolkit. It stands out as an essential resource for scholars, policymakers, and readers seeking to understand the global dimensions of Iranian soft power in an era of geopolitical competition."
Alam Saleh, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Australian National University.
"In this wide-ranging, rigorously researched book, Akbar offers the most up to date assessment of Iranian soft power and the ways in which this is operationalised globally. A book-length treatment of this crucial, and yet still comparatively underexplored aspect of Iran’s global soft power outreach, is well overdue. Rich in empirical detail and conceptual insight, this book will be essential reading, not only for those interested in Iranian soft power but for scholars and students researching Iranian foreign policy and its interactions with the world more broadly."
Edward Wastnidge, Senior Lecturer and Head of Politics and International Studies at the Open University, specializing in Middle Eastern politics and contemporary Iranian foreign policy.
