Shirvin Zeinalzadeh 

Shirvin Zeinalzadeh is a graduate teaching associate at the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University.

A distinguished academic with a diverse career that spans diplomacy, media, and law enforcement. Hailing from the UK, Shirvin began his career in diplomacy, where he developed a profound expertise in Iran and the wider Middle East, specialising in nuclear diplomacy, regional conflict and security.

Shirvin regularly appears across media platforms, including the BBC, Fox News, The Conversation, The Independent and The Financial Times, commenting on security and conflict in the Middle East. With over 20 years of academic and professional experience, he is considered a veteran expert on the topic, frequently called upon to provide insight and analysis on unfolding events and long-term trends shaping the region.

His multi-award-winning research centres on protest persistence and authoritarian durability, with a particular focus on the Islamic Republic of Iran. He asks what sustains collective action under repression and what allows authoritarian regimes to endure despite recurrent waves of dissent, drawing on large-scale event data alongside close study of movements such as Woman, Life, Freedom. A distinctive strand of his work advances a spatial theory of protest geography, showing how the density of religious infrastructure shapes where and how forcefully protest emerges.

Other academic interests and specialities include the European Union, the Conflict in Northern Ireland, Intelligence and National Security and Authoritarian Regimes.

Shirvin brings a rich cultural and linguistic perspective to his multifaceted career. He also has a daughter who aspires to become an Olympic rock climbing champion.

Shirvin remains available for media appearances on topics relating to his expertise. 

Contact: shirvin@asu.edu for booking or enquiries