معرفی
Rebecca Ruth Gould is Distinguished Professor of Comparative Poetics and Global Politics at SOAS University of London, affiliated with the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics (LAC). She maintains active research affiliations with multiple centers including the Centre for Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies, Centre for Gender Studies, Centre of Contemporary Central Asia and the Caucasus, Centre for Iranian Studies, Centre for Palestine Studies, and several others focused on Middle Eastern, Islamic, and translation studies.
Professor Gould's research spans Palestine, Iran, Caucasus, poetics, comparison, and literary translation, with a strong emphasis on political dimensions of cultural production. Her work critically examines free speech issues, particularly in relation to Palestine, as evidenced by her book Erasing Palestine: Free Speech and Palestinian Freedom (2023) and numerous recent articles analyzing the Gaza conflict, academic freedom, and comparative approaches to resistance. She also explores Persian literary traditions, translation theory, and the intersections of gender, politics, and cultural expression across multiple regions.
Gould's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward increasingly politically engaged work, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel dynamics, while maintaining deep expertise in Persian literary traditions and translation studies. Her publications appear across diverse venues from academic journals like Diacritics and Iranian Studies to public intellectual platforms including London Review of Books, The Nation, and Middle East Eye, reflecting her commitment to bridging academic and public discourse.
As an active PhD supervisor, Gould mentors students working on Palestine-related topics and premodern poetics. Her contributions to academic discourse extend to multiple research centers at SOAS where she participates in interdisciplinary work addressing global political challenges through the lens of language, culture, and literature. Gould's work exemplifies the vital role of humanities scholarship in contemporary political debates, particularly regarding free speech, decolonization, and cross-cultural understanding.
