Mehdi Sanaei
- Visiting Lecturer:Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs / School of International Regional Studies
- Mehdi Sanaei has been at HSE University since 2024.
Responsibilities
- Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran.
- Advisor to the Rector of Tehran University for Russia and Eurasia since 2020
- Senior Adviser to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2019.
- Member of advisory board of the Journal «Russia in global affairs» since 2019.
- Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Sciences since May 2014.
- Expert of the Valdai discussion club since 2008.
- Director General of the IRAS Research Center (study of Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus) since 2004.
Education and Degrees
- 2001
PhD
Institute for Social and Political Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences - 1996
Master's in International Relations
University of Tehran - 1992
Bachelor's in Political Science
University of Tehran
Courses (2023/2024)
Courses
- Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran.
- Lecturer at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 2014-2015; 2018-2019.
- Lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science of Moscow State University, 2015-2017.
- Awarded Professor of Political Science at the Saint Petersburg State University since 2014.
- Associate faculty member of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, 2003-2013.
- The Foreign Policy of Iran under International Sanctions (Mago-Lego; 2 module)Eng
- The Foreign Policy of Iran under International Sanctions (Master’s programme; Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs; 1 year, 2 module)Eng
- Past Courses
Courses (2022/2023)
Russia and Countries of the East (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs; 2 year, 1, 2 module)Rus
Publications7
Books in Persian
- Russia: Society, Politics and Government , SAMT Press, 2016.
- From This Approach (Collection of Speeches and Articles),Tahura Press,Tehran, 2015.
- Historical Ties Between Iran and Central Asia, Supervised by Dr. Sanai, IRAS and ECO Cultural Institute,Tehran, 2014.
- Iran-Central Asia Relationships, IPIS, 2011.
- With Nahavand: memories of Election 2007 [1386] IRAS Press, Tehran, 2010.
- Iran-Russia Relationships, IRAS Press, 2008.
- Souvenir of Transoxiana, Tehran, 1999.
- Iran’s Position in Central Asia Tehran, 1997.
Books in Russian
- Conversations about a future that does not yet exist, Veche Press, Moscow, 2020.
- Perspectives of Iran-Central Asia Relations, Moscow, Veche Press, 2020.
- Selected Works, Moscow University Press, Moscow, 2019.
- Law and Politics in Islam: A Textbook, Russian Academy of Sciences Press, 2004.
- Iran-Central Asia Political and Social Relations, Moravi Press, 2002.
- In the Greater Silk Road, Russian Academy of Sciences Press, 2000.
Translation from English and Russian
- Russia in search of identity, J. Billington, IRAS and Tehran University, Tehran, 2006.
- Russian Foreign Policy: Self-Consciousness and National Interests, A. Zadokhin, Tehran, 2005.
Articles
- Iran's Eastern Policy: Potencial and Challenges, Russia in global affairs, 2021.
- Russia's Constitutional Reforms of 2020; Continuation and increase of authoritarianism, Central Asia and the Caucasus Journal, 2021.
- The most urgent question is the preservation of the independence and power of Iran, Международная Жизнь, 2020.
- The world order in the Past-Coronavirus Era, Russia in global affairs, 2020
- Global Challenges and ways to overcome, Conference: 19th International Likhachov scientific conference, 2019.
- International multilateralism and Iran’s Eastern strategy, Foreign Policy Quarterly, 2019.
- Globalization And Multiculturalism: Change In Concepts And Basics, Век Глобализации, 2015.
- Iran-Russia Foreign Policy in Central Asia, Discourse-studies in the cultural politics of education, 2014.
- Dialogue among civilization and the Islamic factor, Encyclopedia of World Studies, 2014.
- Islam and security in Central Asia: Capacities and Challenges, Conference: challenges and hopes Eurasia and Сhina (China), 2013.
- Organization of Emerging Economic Powers (BRICS): Goals, capabilities and its place in the international system, World Studies Quarterly, 2013.
- Kazakh tribalism; Its characteristics and possible probabilities, Conference on Cultural and Civilizational Exchanges between Iran and Kazakhstan (Iran), 2013.
- A Comparative Study Of Islamic Republic of Iran’s and Russian Federation’s Foreign Policy in the South Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caucasus Journal, 2012.
- Dialogue of cultures in globalism conditions, 11th International Likhachov scientific conference, 2011.
- A Comparative Study Of Foreign Policies Of Iran And Russia In Central Asia, Central Eurasia Studies, 2011.
- An Islamic attitude to dialogue of civilization, 9th International Likhachov scientific conference, 2010.
- Dialogue and the multilateral orientation: the necessity for peacemaking, 10th International Likhachov scientific conference, 2009.
- NATO and rival security organizations in Central Eurasia, NATO Expansion to Central Asia and Caucasus Conference (Iran), 2008.
- Problems and Prospects of Iranian-Russian Relations, Russia in global affairs, 2007.
- Globalization and Dialogue among Religions, Журнал международных отношений, 2007.
- Globalization and religions, Articles Collection of Dialogue of Civilizations (Greece), 2007.
- Identity and government in Central Asia, Iran and regional studies Journal, 2007.
- Quiet Revolutions and their Relationship With Existing Political Structures, Кавказ И Глобализация, 2006.
- Iran's Foreign Policy: Between History And Religion, Russia in Global Affairs, 2006.
- Energy competition in Central Asia, Journal of Moscow University, 2006.
- Regional political structures and velvet revolutions, Amudarya Magazine, 2006.
- Regional cooperation and Iran's position, Regional Security and Cooperation Conference (Almaty), 2006.
- Color revolutions and their relation to political structures, Amudarya Magazine, 2006.
- Regional Cooperation in Central Asia and Iran's Role, Каспийский Регион, 2006.
- Security and cooperation in the region, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, 2006.
- Islamic currents and security in Central Asia, French Journal of Geostrategy, 2006.
- The Impact of the Islamic Revolution on Central Asia, Conference on the International Impact of the Islamic Revolution, 2006.
- Islam in Russia, Institute IRAS, 2006.
- The role of culture in Iran-Central Asia relations, Journal of Foregin Policy, 2006.
- Energy Resources - Basis of Rivalry and Cooperation in Central Asia, the Caspian Region and the Caucasus, Каспийский Регион, 2005.
- Competition and cooperation in Central Asia, Amudarya Magazine, 2005.
- Competition and cooperation on the Caspian coast, Caspian Region Magazine, 2005.
- Iran's Interests In Central Asia In The Light Of The "Sustainable Development Concept", Каспийский Регион, 2004.
- Article Sanaei M., Karami J. Iran’s Eastern Policy: Potential and Challenges // Russia in Global Affairs. 2021. No. 19(3). P. 25-49. doi
- Article Sanaei M. Russia’s Constitutional Reforms of 2020; Continuation and Increase of Authoritarianism // Central Asia and The Caucasus Studies. 2021. Vol. 27. No. 113. P. 21-59.
- Article Sanaei M. The World Order in the Post-Coronavirus Era // Russia in Global Affairs. 2020. No. 18(2). P. 54-59. doi
- Book Быстрицкий А. Г., Санаи М. Беседы о будущем, которого пока нет. Россия и мир в XXI веке. Вече, 2020.
- Article Санаи М. Глобализация и мультикультурализм: изменение в понятиях и основах // Век глобализации. 2015. № 2. С. 48-58.
Conferences
- Central Asian Conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club on the topic: "Russia and Central Asia in the face of the challenges of the new world - a joint path to the future", Session IV. Russia's policy in Central Eurasia and its perception by regional powers, Kazan, 2021.
- 10th Middle East Conference of the Valdai Club, Middle East in Search for Lost Awakening, Nationalism, Islamism etc: Between Ideologies and Political Projects, Moscow, 2021.
- International Student Online Conference "Russia and Iran: New Areas of Cooperation in the 21st Century", Department of Foreign Regional Studies, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, National Research University Higher School of Economics & Tehran University and the Center for Iranian and Eurasian Studies (IRAS), 2021.
- XIII Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Italy, 2020.
- I Russian-Iranian Sociological Forum, Institute for Socio-Political Research & Institute for Demographic Research RAS, Moscow, 2020.
Employment history
- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation in 2013–2019.
- Editor in chief and member of editorial board of the World Studies Quarterly, University of Tehran in 2011–2017.
- Member of the eighth and ninth convocations of the Islamic Consultative Council of Iran in 2008-2013.
- Director of the Department of Russian Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran in 2007–2013.
- Deputy Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy.
- Head of the parliamentary friendship group with Russia and Ukraine.
- Head of the Institute of Culture of the Regional Organization for Economic Cooperation (2005–2006).
- Cultural Counselor at the Iranian Embassy in Russia 2003–2009
- Executive director and editor-in-chief of the magazine "Perspectives of Cultural Relations" in 2003–2006.
- Research & Education deputy to Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (2003–2005).
- Cultural Counselor at the Iranian Embassy in Kazakhstan 1995–1996
International student online conference “Iranian foreign policy: the potential of Iran’s cooperation with Russia”
On the 8th of April, an international student conference “Iranian foreign policy: the potential of Iran’s cooperation with Russia” was held, presenting the results of the project under the guidance of Dr. Mehdi Sanaei and Elmira Imamkulieva.