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

A groundbreaking analysis reveals the Trans-Iranian Railway as a pivotal agent of spatial transformation, reshaping Iran's economic and social landscapes during its construction (1890–1940). Mikiya Koyagi demonstrates how this infrastructure project, spanning 1,300 km from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf, accelerated mobility while simultaneously reinforcing colonial power dynamics. The study employs a multi-scalar approach—combining archival records, engineering documents, and ethnographic observations—to uncover how railway expansion redefined regional connectivity, labor systems, and state formation in early 20th-century Iran. Koyagi's work challenges conventional narratives by framing the railway not merely as a technological achievement but as a catalyst for contested spatial practices that continue to influence Iran's development.

Cronin, S. (2022). Iran in Motion; Mobility, Space, and the Trans-Iranian Railway, by Mikiya Koyagi. The English Historical Review, 137(589), 1871–1873. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/ceac245