Thinking Borders Podcast: Shahram Khosravi on Borders, Autoethnography, and Iran
Okay,here’s a breakdown of the text,focusing on key facts and potential themes.
Summary:
This post announces a new podcast series called “Thinking Borders” hosted by Marianna Karakoulaki. The first episode features an interview with Professor Shahram Khosravi, an anthropologist specializing in Iran, migration, displacement, and border studies. The discussion covers autoethnography, ethical considerations in writing about others, Iranian experiences, border resistance, and more. The post also lists several of Khosravi’s published books.
Key Information:
* Podcast: Thinking Global Podcast – New series: Thinking Borders
* Host: Marianna Karakoulaki (@Faloulah on X/Twitter)
* Guest: Professor Shahram Khosravi (Stockholm University)
* Topics Discussed:
* Autoethnography
* Ethics of writing about others
* Iran
* Border resistance
* Migration/Displacement
* Professor Khosravi’s Books (mentioned):
* The ‘Illegal’ Traveler: an auto-ethnography of borders (2010)
* Seeing Like a Smuggler: Borders from Below (edited volume, 2022)
* Precarious Lives: Waiting and Hope in Iran (2017)
* Another book (title partially visible: “…Precarious Migrations…”)
* Link: A Spotify embed link to the podcast episode.
Tags:
* ethnography
* border-studies
* iran
* refugees
* resistance
Potential Themes & Implications:
* The Human Experience of Borders: The focus on autoethnography and personal narratives suggests an emphasis on understanding borders not just as lines on a map, but as lived realities that profoundly impact individuals.
* Ethical considerations in Research: The mention of the ethics of writing about others highlights the importance of responsible portrayal and avoiding exploitation when studying vulnerable populations.
* “Borders from Below”: The title of one of Khosravi’s books, Seeing Like a Smuggler, and the overall theme of “resistance” suggest a focus on the agency of those who navigate and challenge border regimes. It implies a perspective that centers the experiences of migrants, smugglers, and others who operate outside of official channels.
* Iran as a Case Study: The focus on Iran likely provides a specific context for exploring broader themes of migration,displacement,and border control. Iran’s geopolitical position and its own experiences with refugees and emigration make it a relevant case study.
* Precariousness and Hope: The title Precarious Lives suggests an exploration of the vulnerabilities and uncertainties faced by those living in or migrating from Iran, but also the enduring presence of hope.
Let me know if you’d like me to elaborate on any of these points or analyze the text in a different way!