Professor Dr. Darius Wainwright

Biography

Darius Wainwright is a lecturer in Modern History at the University of Bristol. He specializes in cultural diplomacy and soft power, with a focus on US-Iran relations and the promotion of British norms, values, and ideas overseas. His monograph, which adapted his PhD thesis, examined the role of UK soft power in Iran from 1953 to 1960. His book explored American and British motives for engaging with the Iranian people through various initiatives undertaken by cultural institutions such as the United States Information Agency and the British Council. Additionally, Wainwright analyzed the extent to which cultural diplomacy efforts promoted American and British values among the Iranian populace. Building on his initial research, he has ventured into the origins and nature of sport diplomacy in Iran during the Cold War, focusing on collaborative activities between the UK's Foreign Office's Information Research Department and SAVAK, Iran's secret police. His current research continues to develop prior themes, exploring how New York City was utilized during the 1964-65 World's Fair to engage foreign governments and publics, as well as examining the responses of museums to the end of the Cold War.

Research Interests