Perin Gurel on the history of comparing Turkey and Iran in the West
September 30, 2025
Turkey Book Talk #254 – Perin Gurel of the University of Notre Dame on “Türkiye, Iran, and the Politics of Comparison: America’s Wife, America’s Concubine” (Cambridge University Press).
The book looks at diplomatic history, popular culture and media portrayals to explore the cultural history of Turkey–Iran comparisons in the West, from Cold War-era modernisation theory to post-9/11 studies of “moderate Islam”.
Download the episode or listen below:
Read a transcript of the interview on Substack.
Use the code “PERIN2025” to get a 20% discount when buying the book on the Cambridge University Press website.
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Karabekir Akkoyunlu on religion and democracy in Turkey and Iran
August 27, 2024
Turkey Book Talk #226 – Karabekir Akkoyunlu, Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at SOAS, on “Guardianship and Democracy in Iran and Turkey: Tutelary Consolidation, Popular Contestation” (Edinburgh University Press).
The book makes the case that the political systems under the clergy in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the military in the Republic of Turkey have had surprising similarities – as well as important differences.
The conversation also considers how the two systems have transformed in recent decades, as well as how present-day social and political power struggles are shifting the landscape in both countries.
Download the episode or listen below:
Read a transcript of the interview on Substack
Listen to Turkey Book Talk: iTunes / PodBean / Stitcher / Spotify / PlayerFM / Listen Notes
Follow : Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
Support Turkey Book Talk as a member on Substack or Patreon. Members get a 35% discount on all Turkey/Ottoman History books published by IB Tauris/Bloomsbury, access to transcripts of every interview, transcripts of the whole archive, and links to articles related to the subject of every episode.
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