Roxane Farmanfarmaian

Roxane Farmanfarmaian is a specialist in Western policy toward Iran and Iraq, including issues of oil, media, terrorism, and Islam.

Education

Educated at Princeton University, Farmanfarmaian studied Middle East Studies at degree level, writing her thesis on 'The Entrepreneurial Elites of Iran'. In 2001 she completed an M. Phil in International Studies at the University of Cambridge, writing a thesis on The Media's Policy Impact in the Confrontation between the West and Islam, 1979-2001.

Career

Farmanfarmaian was the Coordinator of Programme Development for the Cambridge Security Programme (CSP) (2004-2007) and a PhD Candidate at the Centre of International Studies. Her current research is on Western Identity and Islamic Threat: Interpretations of Democracy in the Persian Gulf, 1979-2004. Farmanfarmaian is also the Editor of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs; Donner Scholar for research in Trans-Atlantic Relations; Editor, MoD/CSIS report, A New Security Paradigm.

Her specialist knowledge has led to many influential roles. She was Briefer for British Ministry of Defence, Speech to Officers of the Queens Royal Hussars in Sept. 2003 in preparation for their departure to Basra. Other roles she has had are that of Policy Scholar, EastWest Institute (2002-); Guest Lecturer, Middle East Department, University of California, Berkeley (1997-2001); Speaker and Commentator, including appearances at: The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco; TheCouncil on Foreign Relations, Dallas; closed sessions with Congressional Representatives, Washington, D.C.; TV and Radio Commentator for, among others: CNN International, BBC, NBC-San Francisco, ABC-Los Angeles, NPR, and WNEW-New York.

A member of various associations that include, British International Studies Association; Authors Guild, New York; British Institute of Persian Studies, London; Pacific Council on International Policy, San Francisco; PEN International Transatlantic Forum, Quandt Foundation (2000,2001, 2004) Fellow, Munich. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Centre of International Studies.

Publications

Her recent publications include: Blood and Oil: Inside the Shah's Iran, (Random House 1997; Modern Library 1998).

She has also had her work published in other forms of media having been an Essayist and Op-Ed writer with articles/editorials published in: The New York Times, USA Today and The Times of London Sunday Magazine.

She has also worked for various other newspapers and television stations as journalist or editor.