Alen Shadunts specializes in Iran’s foreign affairs, non-western identity in international relations, poststructuralist discourse theory, and conceptual developments at the intersections of International Relations theory and Area Studies. His latest article, “From Knowledge to Wisdom: Uncertainty and Ontological (In)Security in Iran’s Foreign Policy,” has been published by Global Studies Quarterly. Alen holds a DPhil (Ph.D.) in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Oxford, where he wrote his dissertation on Iran’s foreign policy in the South Caucasus. Alongside his academic endeavors, Alen works at the Democracy Development Foundation (DDF) as a Research and Advocacy Officer.
Education
University of Oxford
DPhil (PhD) Oriental Studies (Modern Middle Eastern Affairs)
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
MSc in International Relations (Research)
American University of Armenia
Master’s in Political Science and International Affairs
Yerevan State University
Bachelor’s in International Relations
Office Location: 607M, AUA Main Building
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Fridays 2:00-3:00 pm
Areas of research and teaching specialization
Iranian foreign policy, ontological security, discourse and subjectivity in international relations.
Courses Taught:
PSIA273 Geopolitics of Asia
PSIA272 Geopolitics of Europe
PG203 Qualitative Research Methods
Research Activities
Monograph in Preparation
Shadunts, A. Beyond Pragmatism: Iran’s Foreign Policy in the South Caucasus.
Chapters in Edited Volumes
Shadunts, A. (Upcoming). Political Trauma, Ontological Insecurity, and the 44-Day War. In Social and Political Transformations in Armenia post-2018. Peter Lang Publishing House.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Shadunts, A. (2023). “From Knowledge to Wisdom: Uncertainty and Ontological (In)security in Iran’s Foreign Policy.” Global Studies Quarterly 3 (3). https://doi.org/10.1093/isagsq/ksad036
Other Publications and Conference Presentations
Shadunts, A. (2021). (Re)interpretinng the Revolution: Iran, the Post-Soviet Moment, and Visions of Regionalism. International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention, April 6-9, 2021.
Shadunts, A. (2020). “Outflanked Iran will follow Russia's lead on Karabakh.” Oxford Analytica, Expert Briefings. https://doi.org/10.1108/OXAN-DB257745
Shadunts, A. (2020). (Re)interpreting the Revolution: Iran and the Post-Soviet Moment. 9th Biennial Oceanic Conference on International Studies, December 7-9, 2020.
Shadunts, A. (2019). Iran and the Armenian Velvet Revolution. Inaugural AUA Political Science and International Affairs Conference, Yerevan, November 14-15, 2019.
Shadunts, A. (2018). Populism, people, and the government in Armenia. EVN Report. Retrieved from: https://goo.gl/Tuj9mE.
Shadunts, A. (2018). What happens when the resistance wins? EVN Report. Retrieved from: https://goo.gl/G5WPFu.
Shadunts, A. (2016). The rational actor assumption is structural realism. E-International Relations. Retrieved from: https://goo.gl/ahxKUs.
Memberships:
International Studies Association (ISA),
British International Studies Association (BISA),
British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES),
Association for Iranian Studies (AIS).