The search for an international balance
Muzaffar al-Din Shah’s first European journey
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7920924 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Naim Ürkmez (0000-0002-2356-6301, Erzurum Technical University, corresponding author), Mine Kardeş (0000-0001-9163-1454, Erzurum Technical University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 48-68 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Middle Eastern Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0026-3206 • E-ISSN: 1743-7881 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00263206.2025.2555362 |
| OpenAlex | W4414125797 |
| Language | EN |
This article examines the 7-month-long trip of Muzaffar al-Din Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qajar State, to Europe in 1900 for medical treatment on the grounds of health problems. The factors that shaped the itinerary through Russia, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria-Hungary, Serbia and the Ottoman Empire and the parties’ expectations during the visits are analysed. In addition to the apparent reasons for the journey, the objectives behind it are discussed. What the Shah wanted to achieve as a result of this trip, the results he encountered and the impact of this trip on Iranian modernisation along with diplomatic relations are emphasised. The study claims that the trip affected the modernisation movements in the Qajar State, but the international diplomatic system left the Qajar State in a dilemma of weakness and balance
European union · Foreign policy · International relations · Politics · Islamic Studies and History
| Highly cited | No |
|---|