Iran in Motion: Mobility, Space and the Trans-Iranian Railway by Mikiya Koyagi

Iran in Motion: Mobility, Space and the Trans-Iranian Railway by Mikiya Koyagi reveals that the Trans-Iranian railway network, constructed under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s regime, facilitated diverse mobilities and subjectivities beyond the state's initial intentions. The study demonstrates how technology transfer adapted to Iran's evolving needs reshaped national space and societal dynamics in the 20th century. By integrating historical analysis with mobility studies, Koyagi explores the railway's socio-political impact, highlighting its role in creating new forms of movement and identity. While the empirical evidence primarily focuses on elite perspectives, the book effectively theorizes the unintended consequences of railway-induced mobilities, particularly in religious pilgrimage contexts.

Mukhopadhyay, A. (2022). Iran in Motion: Mobility, Space and the Trans-Iranian Railway by Mikiya Koyagi. The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 53(2), 381–382. https://doi.org/10.1162/jinh_r_01863