Aims and Scope

SPEKTRUM IRAN (SPIR) is an international, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal published semiannually in both electronic and print formats. Dedicated to the study of Iran, the Persianate world, and Iranian and Islamic civilizations, SPIR provides an interdisciplinary forum for scholarly research that brings together perspectives from the humanities and the social sciences.

The journal focuses on the historical, cultural, intellectual, religious, literary, linguistic, artistic, and social dimensions of Iran and the Persianate world, placing them within wider regional and global contexts. Particular attention is given to studies that explore the formation, transmission, transformation, and continuing significance of Iranian and Persianate traditions, as well as their interactions with neighboring cultures, civilizations, and intellectual traditions across different historical periods.

Contributions grounded in original sources, critical analysis, and robust methodological approaches are especially encouraged. SPIR values interdisciplinary, comparative, transregional, and cross-cultural perspectives that deepen understanding of Iranian and Persianate Studies while contributing to broader scholarly conversations across the humanities and related social sciences.

The journal publishes original research articles, review articles, and critical book reviews in, but not limited to, the following areas:

1. Iranian and Persianate History

  • Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Iranian History
  • Persianate Worlds and Regional Studies
  • Social, Cultural, and Intellectual History

2. Archaeology, Heritage, and Material Culture

  • Iranian and Persianate Archaeology
  • Cultural Heritage and Conservation Studies
  • Material Culture, Epigraphy, and Digital Heritage

3. Languages, Literatures, and Textual Traditions

  • Iranian Languages and Linguistics
  • Persian and Persianate Literatures
  • Manuscript Studies, Philology, and Textual Criticism

4. Iranian and Islamic Civilizations and Intellectual Traditions

  • Historical Development of Iranian and Islamic Civilizations
  • Knowledge Systems, Educational Institutions, and Cultural Networks
  • Philosophy, Theology, and Intellectual History

5. Religion, Society, and Cultural Identity

  • Iranian and Islamic Religious Traditions
  • Identity, Cultural Diversity, Memory, and Cultural Transformation
  • Anthropology, Sociology, and Cultural Studies

6. Art, Architecture, and Visual Culture

  • Persian and Islamic Art and Architecture
  • Manuscript Arts, Traditional Crafts, and Material Aesthetics
  • Visual Culture and Contemporary Artistic Practices

7. Political, Legal, and Global Studies

  • Political Thought, Governance, and Legal Traditions
  • Economic History and Thought, Diplomacy, and International Relations
  • Iran, the Persianate World, and Global Interactions

8. Comparative, Transregional, and Digital Humanities

  • Comparative Civilizations, Cultural Diversity, and Intercultural Studies
  • Mobility, Diaspora, and Transnational Studies
  • Cultural Exchange, Silk Road Studies, and Digital Humanities

The subject areas outlined above indicate the journal's principal fields of interest rather than defining fixed boundaries. Submissions that address emerging themes, adopt interdisciplinary perspectives, or introduce new theoretical and methodological insights relevant to Iranian and Persianate Studies are equally welcome.