Leaving his native Scotland at the tender age of 12, Sir John Malcolm became famous for the extensive work on developing the administration and practices of good governance in British India. Widely admired by his peers, a memorial now stands in his honour at Westminster Abbey. Less known is the substantial work he did furthering relations with Persia.
Drawing on the intellectual traditions of nationalism, Marxism and liberalism as well as broader revolutionary ideas, Professor Jahanbegloo will talk about how intellectual thought became increasingly radicalised and gave voice to a powerful revolutionary movement that was eventually to lead to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic.
Drawing on Sir Nicholas Browne's recently declassified internal report on British policy towards Iran in the run-up to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, as well as his own 37 years of diplomatic experience, Sir Geoffrey will argue that 'patient diplomacy' should be at the heart of British foreign policy.
