About

THE ALLIANCE CENTER FOR IRANIAN STUDIES (ACIS) is an interdisciplinary research center focusing on the promotion of knowledge and understanding of Iran. The Center was established in November 2005 as the first of its kind in Israel, and officially inaugurated in 2006 as The Center for Iranian Studies (CIS) at Tel Aviv University (TAU) under the auspices of the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities. Today, it is the largest center for Iranian studies in the Middle East (outside of Iran).

Through innovative research, conferences, colloquia and lectures by local and visiting scholars, the ACIS promotes exchanges across a variety of disciplines between scholars who focus on various aspects of Iranian studies, including Iran's history, society and religion as well as its role in the region and in the world. 

The ACIS also promotes research of Iranian Jewry under the auspices of the Dr. Habib Levy Program. In its various activities, the Center seeks to provide researchers, students and the general public with a better understanding of the complex cultural and historical processes characterizing Iran and Iranian Jews.

The ACIS activities are enhanced by a wide variety of events, conferences, lectures, and workshops, sponsored by the Center alone or in collaboration with other institutes and centers within and outside of Tel Aviv University.

The ACIS publishes studies in book-form, occasional papers, the Iran-Pulse, an electronic publication providing reviews and analysis of current events and processes in Iran, and IraniX, an ACIS publication on less conventional aspects of Iranian society, culture, and politics that have an impact on broader developments in the Islamic Republic

The ACIS regularly convenes the Iran Forum, a colloquium discussing works in progress and topics of interest relating to Iran. Since its inaugural session in November 2005, the Iran Forum has hosted visiting scholars, special guest lecturers and speakers from Canada, China, France , Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. 

In collaboration with the Department of Middle East and African History and the Graduate School of History, the ACIS takes special pride in supporting a talented group of graduate students pursuing masters and doctoral level research, as well as postdoctoral researchers, on a wide-range of issues relating to Iranian state, society, culture, religion and politics. 

The ACIS also cooperates closely with the Parviz and Pouran Nazarian Chair for Modern Iranian Studies.

Lord David Alliance of the United Kingdom has been a patron of Iranian Studies at TAU for many years. He has served on numerous public committees and operates "the Alliance Family Foundation", which was established to help the needy   and advance knowledge of religion, education and medicine. In recognition of his invaluable service to society, Lord Alliance holds a number of honorary degrees, including a degree from Tel Aviv University, which was conferred in   2009.   Lord Alliance has supported the TAU Center for Iranian Studies since he co-founded it with Prof. David Menashri and David and Laura Merage (the Merage Foundation-Israel) in 2005. The Center held a dedication ceremony in honor of Lord Alliance on 17 April 2012 (photo gallery»)