In an effort to create a better understanding and possibly illuminate current political and cultural dilemmas encompassing the countries of Armenia, Georgia, Iran and Russia, the Mershon Center for International Security Studies hosted a two-day Russo-Persian Workshop, "Winning and Losing the Great Game: Literature, Art, and Diplomacy between Russia and Iran", November 7-8, 2014. Workshop organizers Angela Brintlinger (Ohio State Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures); Firuza Melville (Cambridge Center for Persian Studies, Pembroke College) and Jennifer Siegel (Ohio State Department of History) sought to examine Russo-Persian relations at their zenith (1820’s and 30’s), using cultural and artistic artifacts to enlighten regional issues.
Twelve scholars from seven countries collaborated with five experts from Ohio State to consider history, diplomacy, art and literature in many forms in presentations that explored the regions’ past. In addition to the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, the event was co-sponsored by the British Institute of Persian Studies, British Academy, CSEES and Ohio State’s Departments of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, History, History of Art and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.
