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Iran is a key player in some of the most crucial issues of our time. But because of its relative diplomatic isolation and the partisan nature of conflicting accounts voiced by different interest groups both inside and outside the country, there is a shortage of hard information about the scale and depth of social change in today's Iran. In this volume, and imposing roster of both internationally renowned Iranian scholars and rising young Iranian academics offer contributions--many based on recent fieldwork--on the nature and evolution of Iran's economy, significant aspects of Iran's changing society, and the dynamics of its domestic and international politics since the 1979 revolution, focusing particularly on the post-Khomeini period. The book will be of great interest not only to Iran specialists, but also to scholars of comparative politics, democratization, social change, politics in the Muslim world, and Middle Eastern studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Excellent Volume for the Library
This book edited by Ali Gheissari ihas 12 essays covering the economy,society and politics. The quality of the essays , footnotes and theses are first rate.
If you like excellence in Iranian Studies - you will love this collection.

My # 1 Essay was # 12: Iran's Persian Gulf Policy in the Post-Saddam Era
by Mohsen Milani

Professional Encyclopedia in 1 volume
Contemporary Iran is a collection of documented and highly detailed research papers by authors of the first quality. Great Reference! If the information you seek is not contained in the volume, the Bibliographies will take the reader there. All black and white keeps the cost down, but the charts are easy to understand. Permits the reader to unravel much of the current mystery of Iran and to develop a third order of knowing the Land of the Persians. ... Read more

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Iran Government and Business Contacts Handbook (World Investment and Business Library) ... Read more

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The author analyzes the case law of the Iran--UnitedStates Claims Tribunal with respect to international transactions andthe disputes that arise from those transactions. The Tribunal's awardsconstitute the foundation for a truly international case law ofinternational business transactions. This book is an indispensablereference work for anyone concerned with preparing contracts ininternational trade or investment. ... Read more

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Government interventions in the economies of developing countries frequently do not achieve their intended goals. Policymakers' expectations often fall wide of the mark when compared with actual behavior of consumers, producers and businessmen. In an important study that has wide significance for the field of development economics as a whole, Hadjikhani and Amid study the impact of trade and industrial policies on the economy and business behavior of Iran. Part one of the book deals with the impact of government policy on various aspects of foreign trade, while the second part studies the effects of various industrial relationships of Iranian firms with their foreign partners.
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This book examines the relationship between Iranian nationalism and Islam, especially Shi'ism as the country's adopted official religion by the founder of the Safavid Dynasty in 1501 A.D. Although the study covers fourteen centuries of Iranian history, the greatest emphasis is placed on the last two where secular Western reformist ideas overlap with progressive religious thinking. The study covers selected periods in fourteen centuries of Iranian history including the efforts by the Pahlavis to establish a national identity for Iranians based on the ancient imperial history of Iran and by negating the country's Islamic connection. The research takes a fresh look at the basic principles as well as the style of governance by Mossadeq, his secular nationalism, his strong belief in democratic ideals, his temporary alliance with religious elements, and ultimate failure of his efforts. The work follows the paths of development of ideas and movements, secular and religious, leading to the Islamic revolution and the rise of Khomeini as the undisputed leader of the movement.It also covers the development of the concept of Islamic government, its historical and religious precedents, its structure, and the institutional apparatus that keeps the system together. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Must Read
If you are from Iran or not, its a must read. Gives insight to the
complexity of Politics in the Middle East and how being patriotic
is perceived by the governments outside of Iran. Needless to say
change of government when orchestrated from abroad does have
bad results in the long run, in Iran, Iraq, or any other country.

Good book to read when you know enough to ask questions
The book contains a series of essays fleshing out the circumstances of the 1953 overthrow of Mossadeq.The American sponsored coup ended a decade long struggle to democratize Iran, and the monarchy didn't face a serious political challenge again until it's demise in the revolution of 1979.

The essays in this book address important questions: why was the National Front so weak?Why did it ultimately take so little to overthrow Mossadeq, and what was the role of the communist Tudeh party?Why did Eisenhower support the coup?It also raises some interesting questions:How did Mossadeq shift the economy completely away from oil dependency without causing mass unemployment or recession, what parties lost in that shift and what effect did they have on National Front support?

Missing from the edition is a critical analysis of Mossadeq himself.He relied on mass demonstrations rather then political coalitions for power, and fundamentally did not seem to want power unless people begged him to accept it.Is it any wonder his partners turned on him?

I'd recommend this as the second book people read for understanding 1953.

Many new insights!
Based on archival research, the book provides many new details.However, I would have liked to have a seen a discussion of Ayatollah Kashani's position with respect to Iranian oil exports to Israel. ... Read more

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Iran and Its Place among Nations takes a bird's-eye view of where Iran has been in the international community, where it is today, and where it may ideally end up in the future. Is Iran an Eastern country, bound by traditions that hinder economic development? Or does it also have some attributes of Western countries, given its history, geographic location, culture, and politics? Among the key insights in this book is the observation that Iran is a bridge between East and West.

Is Iran a fomenter of Islamic radicalism in the Middle East and beyond, or can it be a promoter of moderation and reform within its own borders and in other Muslim countries? How effectively can the religious and national sources of Iran's identity by reconciled, or must the country choose one over the other and overcome the inherent tensions of this dual identity? This book addresses these and similar questions regarding one of the most important and newsworthy countries in the world.

Combining description and prescription, the authors shed light on the tumultuous history of Iran in the twentieth century and uncover the domestic and foreign factors that have aided and retarded the country's development in modern times. Providing a close look at the backgrounds and identities of key pre- and post-revolutionary leaders in Iran, the authors make insightful recommendations to Iranians and the international community on how to integrate Iran into harmonious and stable relationships that benefit Iranians, the region that surrounds them, and the world. Grounded in solid scholarship yet written accessibly, this is a must-read for all Iran watchers today.

Customer Reviews (1)

A Very Important, Informative Read
The authors of this short book (only 127 pages of text) do a great job of highlighting the development of Iranian foreign policy. I thought the historical background was very useful. The coverage of the revolution of 1979 is also very interesting. Although the book is concise, it is jam-packed with interesting information and commentary. Highly recommended for people who are interested in Iran's foreign policy, and contemporary international relations more generally. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Clear, simple arguments to counter the warmongering against Iran
This book provides a straightforward, simple case against America's policy towards Iran. It consists of an introduction by David Barsamian and interviews with Noam Chomsky and two Iranian born specialists teaching in US colleges, Ervand Abrahamian and Nahid Mozahffari.The book provides a completely opposite perspective from the imbecile fear mongering and juvenile jingoism that our two great political parties embrace.

Americans, most of all the patriotic punditry and advocates of humanitarian intervention, cannot comprehend that Iranians might have the slightest reason to be suspicious of American motives. Barsamian notes in his introduction the interesting tidbit that Mohammed Mosadegh is mentioned only four times in the book on the 1979 hostage crises by the patriotic Mark Bowden. But as Abrahamian says in his interview, Iranians have been struggling to gain control over their own resources for centuries. When the British had semi-colonial dominance over the country before the 1950's they forced Iran to limit its economic development. When Mohammed Mossadegh came around in 1951 and declared that Iran's oil resources should benefit Iran first and foremost and not looted off to Britain, the US and British overthrew him and restored the Shah to absolute power. Then the Shah exercised his tyranny with US weapons and training until early 1979 when an Islamic-nationalist revolution installed a government that, whatever its horrible crimes, refused to be a loyal American puppet. A few months before the hostage crises, Jimmy Carter sent NATO general Robert Huyser to Tehran to try to encourage the remnants of the Shah's military to launch a coup. It didn't work. Abrahamian notes that as Iraqi chemical weapons were deployed against Iranian troops during the Iran-Iraq war, the US claimed Iran staged such attacks on its own troops. In 1988 the CIA claimed Iran conducted the Halabja massacre. Abrahamian stresses that there is rather lively debate within Iran on the possible negative consequences of starting to build a nuclear program. Abrahamian explains that Iranians really do desire to make use of nuclear power for energy sources. They are a major producer of crude oil but their refining capacity is rather meager and so they have to import much of their refined oil. Iranians thus view the nuclear issue as a case of asserting national sovereignty against imperialist attempts to dominate the country. The Bushwarmongering on the nuclear pretexthas strengthened the hand of the hard-liners who argue that moderates are playing into the hands ofAmerican attempt to re-colonize the country. ABrahamian notes that anti-regime Iranian exiles of any stature are very careful to keep their distance from the United States. The Shah's son has even avoided involving himself in efforts by the Bush administration to create the basis for a future puppet government.

Chomsky argues that the U.S. is not particularly concerned about Iranian nukes. Quoting Zbigniew Brezenzki and George Kennan, he states that the U.S. is concerned about using client states (like Saudi Arabia) to control the prices and distribution of oil to Asia and Europe in such ways as will enhance U.S. power. Iran disobeys orders so the nuclear issue is a mere cover for overthrowing the regime. The U.S. insists that Iran give up the right to develop low enriched uranium for civilian purposes, even though, Iran, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty has the right to do so. The U.S. sabotaged Iran's agreement with the EU to suspend uranium enrichment in return for EU guarantees that the United States would not attack Iran. The EU backed off from the security guarantees under Bush pressure. The US has surrounded Iran with military bases in the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, etc.Covertly, the U.S has been attempting to destabilize the regime through covert aid to ethnic minority groups within the country. In recent years the US has sent Israel massive shipments of advanced fighter jets capable of carrying semi-nuclear weapons over Iran.Israel has at minimum hundreds of nuclear weapons and Iran has yet to build one. Chomsky notes that it would be kind of irrational for Iran not to seek a nuclear deterrent within this context.

Chomsky argues that if the US bombs Iran, they will avoid the southern part of the country, where a lot of the oil is, while completely destroying the rest of the country. Abrahamian suggests that if the US attacks, then the Iranian regime will turn off its restraints on Iranian backed warlords in Afghanistan and the Shiites in Iraq. Abrahamian notes that the two main Shiite forces in Iraq, SCIRI and the Dawa party dominate the government in Iraq but they are also backed by the Iranians. Indeed the dirty little secret obscured by Petraeus's smoke and mirrors propaganda is that Iran and the U.S. are backing the same forces in Iran. Dawa party leaders, Abrahamian notes, were on FBI wanted lists several years ago for plotting to blow up the American embassy in Kuwait. (After this book went to press, the Maliki government tried to wrest Mahdi army control of the southern parts of Iraq. The British of course had more or less handed off control of south Iraq to the fundamentalist Shiite militias/death squads. The Mahdi army death squad is not acceptable to the Americans because it dosen't follow orders but SCIRI's Badr brigades are free to engage in fundamentalist terror).

The final interview, with Mozafarri discusses the internal situation in Iran. He discusses the efforts of dissidents, including many women, to use blogs, magazines, fiction, protests and other avenues in order to oppose the regime. He gives a clear, nuanced picture of the lives of women in Iran today. Since 1979, pragmatic concerns have forced the regime to accept a prominent role for women in many important fields and to lessen the sexist orientation of the legal system. But life is still pretty hard for the ladies. Ahmadinejad's election has given new life to the most extreme misogynist elements among the clergy, judiciary and security services.

Interviews on the Past, Present & Future of the U.S.-Iran Relationship
The war drums in Washington beat ever louder, to the accompaniment of saber-rattling rhetoric toward Iran. Although daily talk of the Islamic Republic fills our newspapers and TV screens, many vital questions remain unaddressed in the mainstream media. Is the tough talk merely an instrument of diplomatic pressure, or is the Bush administration planning a military intervention? What is the historical context of the U.S. relationship with Iran? What internal dissent and debate exists among Iran's intellectuals, artists, and young people? Finally, what consequences can we expect should U.S.-Iranian relations continue to deteriorate?

Targeting Iran contains incisive interviews with three notable scholars--Noam Chomsky, Ervand Abrahamian, and Nahid Mozaffari--covering each of these questions and more. Author and Alternative Radio host David Barsamian's introduction provides a primer on the historical legacy that is indispensable in understanding the current tension between the two nations. The legacy of the 1953 U.S.-led coup of the democratically elected Mohammad Mosadegh, who had gotten the unfortunate notion that Iran's oil belongs to Iran, remains a source of bitterness among Iranians. Though all but forgotten in American collective memory, Iranians recall the coup and subsequent installment of a tyrannical but U.S.-friendly shah each time President Bush speaks of "spreading democracy."

Noam Chomsky highlights the contradiction between Bush administration fearmongering about a "nuclear threat" and U.S. encouragement of Iran's nuclear development during the shah's reign. "MIT, where [I teach] now," he says, "made a deal with the shah of Iran, pretty much to sell him a large part of the nuclear engineering department." Chomsky explains these discrepancies in memory: "The people who hold the clubs typically like to forget history and say it's irrelevant. But the people who are hit by the clubs tend to remember history, for good reasons, because it teaches you something."

Barsamian's interview with Baruch College professor and leading Iran scholar Ervand Abrahamian continues along similar lines. After adding his own historical insights, Abrahamian speculates on likely consequences of U.S.-Iran tension. While hesitant to assert that the Bush administration is planning an attack, he raises a crucial point about the militant rhetoric: "once you start using the language, you eventually become committed to it." Should tensions escalate into an American attack, Abrahamian warns of dire ramifications for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nahid Mozaffari examines a different angle, discussing women's rights, dissent, and the power of poetry and literature in Iran's political landscape. While writers and intellectuals face a difficult plight in a country rife with censorship, men and women alike continue to add to a rich literary tradition. Iran is a youthful country--a third of the population is under thirty--and the youth are pushing for democratic change through grassroots organizing and the Internet. They have made it clear, however, that they do not want outside intervention.

Targeting Iran is both informative and accessible. It is a valuable contribution, illuminating an issue with urgent implications for the United States and its relationship with the Middle East.

unknown society
I found the book of Iran quite eye opening. I remember vividly the interference of the CIA in Iranian politics prior and during the Shah of Iran dynasty. The Islamic republic currently in power seems to be shown that American bungling helped it to flourish. Also, current circumstances in Iran are described and it puts a human face on a people that we should try to help, not trying to blow another country apart.

Iran is not the enemy!
It is so refreshing to learn the accounts of historical events that has shaped United States relationship with Iran without any polotical agendas. Targeting Iran is an excellent resource for interested individuals in middle east crisis. Mr. Barsamian has done an outstanding job in presenting the main factores in US and Iran relationship during the past 60 years or so. He poses very direct and relevant questions to the three experts and their response is to the point and filled with historical facts and analysis which is very hard to find in the main stream media. This book illustrates the hypocrisy that exists when describing Iran. Iran was the main US ally when we entered Afghanestan in pursuit of Talaban. Iran has been keeping the peace in southern Iraq. In fact the book expains how Iran has been and is the most stable country in this troubled region.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested to learn more about Iran's immediate past history, present polotical and cultural state, and it's polotical importance to the world.

Target Iran
This compact little book is an excellent introduction to the developing conflict between Iran and the U.S. It is comprised of three interviews with Noam Chomsky, Ervand Abrahamian, and Nahid Mozaffari by author David Barsamian. The authors are clearly all left leaning, but despite this, I found the book to be a fairly objective and sober analysis of the situation. Although they clearly portray the US as the more belligerent and dishonest party, their arguments for doing so are hard to refute.

Chomsky gives a good background of the half-century "relationship" between the US and Iran and then gives his take on the current predicament and how this might end. Abrahamian's interview and his conclusions are very similar: Both countries are equally stubborn and self-righteous and they both refuse to back down. Iran is a repressive regime but ironically has been more willing to negotiate. The US has consistently rebuked any such overtures with snubs and insults, which has further enflamed the situation. The war hawks in the Bush administration are itching for war with Iran but know they can't invade. They are definitely contemplating air strikes to stop Iran from enriching uranium and seem to be indifferent to the repercussions of such an action.

Abrahamian rejects the notion that if attacked, Iran would strike Israel or American forces directly, but instead argues that all they would have to do is give the green light to their Shiite allies in Iraq (al-Sadr etc.) and warlords in Afghanistan who would then attack US forces in their respective countries. This would likely be a nightmare for Americans. They could also cut off the oil supply at any time.

The 1953 American backed coup that overthrew democratically elected Mohammed Mossadegh remains a sore spot for Iranians and understandably so. There is also the issue of America's support for Saddam during his eight-year war against Iran and the overall bad faith they have shown towards Iran over the years. On the US side there is the 1979 hostage crisis, which many Americans still resent. Iran's more current involvement in terrorism is not discussed.

Abrahamian says on pg 116:
"So the present crisis in Iran is being seen as a replay of the oil nationalization crisis with Mossadegh, and Iranians are drawing parallels to Iran in 1951-53, when Iran wanted to be a self-sufficient, self-respecting nation and have sovereignty over its resources. The Americans and the British offered these ultimatums: if you don't give up your oil, we're going to destroy you. And Mossadegh was a hero; even though he didn't succeed, he stood up for national rights. Iranians are seeing a similar thing, except now it's the question of nuclear technology."

The last essay by Mozaffari is more about the internal workings of Iran; culture, dissident groups, status of women and the like. According to Mozaffari, there is a widespread, yet disorganized movement pushing for a host of reforms including a secular, democratic state. What seems to be consistent among these dissidents is their rejection of outside help to achieve their democratic state. They understand that any outside power that tries to impose democracy on a country invariably does it for their own interests and this will almost inevitably fail. Which leads me to my conclusion. American filmmaker Oliver Stone recently applied to the Iranian government for a permit to film a documentary about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His permit was rejected as Iran's media advisor said that Stone is part of the `Great Satan.' Stone responded; "I've been called a lot of things, but never a 'Great Satan.' I wish the Iranian people well, and I only hope their experience with an inept, rigid ideologue president goes better than ours." After reading this book, I think this brief statement goes a long way in explaining our current predicament. Four stars.
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The Saljuq period of the eleventh and twelfth centuries saw the arrival in Iran of Türkmen nomads from Central Asia and the beginning of Turkish rule. Through the example of the city of Isfahan, the book analyses the internal evolution of Iranian society in this period and the interaction of the Iranian elites and Turkish rulers.

Drawing on an analysis of a wide range of sources, including poetic and epistolary material, this study fills an historiographical gap and casts new light on the two centuries prior to the Mongol invasion. This comprehensive analytical study provides a new contribution to the understanding of many crucial issues: the cultural divide between Western and Eastern Iran; the military potential of city-dwellers; the attitude of the Turkish rulers toward cities and city life; the action of the famous vizier Nizam al-Mulk; the meaning of the Ismaili uprising; and above all the structure of the local elite, organized into rival networks and largely autonomous vis-à-vis state powers. 

The study is enhanced by a variety of additional features, including extensive genealogical tables, Arabic script and maps. Providing a new understanding of the cultural identity of Iran, this book is an important contribution to the study of the history of Iran and the Medieval period.

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The truths about Iran; quite different truths from versions put forward by Washington, Tehran, and the media.Iran thundered onto the world stage in 1979 with an Islamic revolution that shook the world. Today that revolution has gone astray, a popular democracy movement boldly challenges authority, and young Iranians are more interested in moving to America than in chanting "Death to America." Afshin Molavi, born in Iran and fluent in Persian, traveled widely across his homeland, exploring the legacy of the Iranian revolution and probing the soul of Iran, a land with nearly three millennia of often-glorious history. Like a master Persian carpet maker, Molavi weaves together threads of rich historical insight, political analysis, cultural observation, and the daily realities of life in the Islamic republic to produce a colorful, intricate, and mesmerizing narrative. Originally published in hardcover under the title Persian Pilgrimages, this paperback edition is revised, with a new introduction and epilogue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

They ran out of copies and cancelled the order.
what more can i say? if you had a "does not apply" option i would take that. they were prompt about letting me know about the shortage.

IGNORING THE REALITIES OF IRAN
This book tries to put a human face on the terrible Khomeinist regime by associating it with the beauties of Iranian culture and civilization. Sadly, Khomeinism is the enemy of Iranian civilization and cannotbe sold under a mask. To understand the true soul of Iran, interested readers must go to other contemporary Iranian writers who do not wish to be apologists for Khomeinisim. Among those that I have enjoyed are Azar Nafisi, Fereydoun Hoveyda, Amir Taheri and Abbas Amanat.

Well written travel log
Part travel log and part 20th century political history of Iran. The book's chapters are organized around "pilgrimages" to various sites of historical or cultural importance between 1999-2000 and 2003. His pilgrimages cover the historic (Tomb of Cyrus) to modern cultural (Shrine of Khomeini) to the modern economic (Canadian consul in Syria for visas). Molvai, an Iranian-American, masterfully connects these stories and weaves his own observations with background and history for the reader. The reader comes away with a more complete view of Iranian culture and a different perspective than the "Death to America" chanting and nuclear saber rattling that we see on the major news networks.

Worthless
I started this book with a lot of enthusiasm,& was immediately hugely disappointed.I did not continue beyond a few pages.It's full of cliches which have been said 1000 times, with nothing new to say.Wait until it becomes $0.01, then it may be considered.If you need a good read about the real Iran buy "My Life as a Traiter" by Zara Ghahramani,"Lipstick Jihad" by Azadeh Moaveni &
books by Azar Nafisi, Marina Nemat, Firoozeh Dumas, Shirin Ebadi as well as an original look at the contemporary scene :"We are Iran".

Excellent and beautifully written account of modern and historical Iran
I loved this book.It provided a wonderfully written, well-paced, well-researched and incredibly entertaining account of modern day Iran and the historical events that it made it the way it is.I couldn't put it down. ... Read more

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Former U.N. Ambassador Dore Gold shows why engaging Iran through diplomacy is not only futile but also could be deadly.In the West, liberal politicians and pundits are calling for renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran, convinced that Tehran will respond to reason and halt its nuclear weapons program. Yet, countries have repeatedly tried diplomatic talks and utterly failed. In The Rise of Nuclear Iran, Gold examines these past failures, showing how Iran employed strategic deception and delay tactics to hide its intentions from the West. He argues that Western policymakers underestimate Iran s hostility toward us and explains why diplomacy will continue to backfire, no matter which party or president is in power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Any political collection focused on world affairs needs this
The threat of a nuclear Iran is closer and more dangerous than is popularly thought, and New York Times author Dore Gold examines the rising nuclear crisis that Iran pose to the West. From failed diplomatic engagements with Iran to disastrous consequences a nuclear Iran would pose to world stability, this details Iranian participation in covert international operations and maintains time is running out. Any political collection focused on world affairs needs this.

a very timely book
This is a very timely written book on the Iranian dilema we all face, not just little Israel. As time progresses and the western powers dither and talk, Iran laughs and works overtime on preparedness for war. Given the hostile character and nature of the ruling Islamic theocratic religious system, manifested by open proclaimation, we have no excuse to be ignorant; we must not be found sleeping at the watch. Only a handfull of people recognized the terrible gravity of the Nazi beast in 1936 when they were showing their true colours to the world. How many in this present hour, especially leaders, recognize the deadly nature of the Iranian threat poised to be unleashed upon the world if it is not soon stopped!

Relevent and timely analysis of Iran and the Middle East
This could not be more timely.It is certainly commentary and analysis you will never see on the so-called mainstream media.It puts any negotiations with Iran into perspective and discounts any sincere attempts to improve relations with Iran through the United Nations.Instead of dealing with the current situation solely from a political standpoint, it provides keen insights into the strategies being deployed by a theocratic driven regime to launch the country into the nuclear band of countries capable of annihilating their arch enemy, Israel.All for their intent of hastening the 12th Imam.Whether or not you agree with everything written in the book, you will come away with a new perspective and an appreciation for the history of Iran over the last three decades.

Good work and informative but ONE THING PISSED ME OFF
Look, the book is an excellent work. Backed and supported by thorough research and end notes. Ambassador Gold seems to understand the Iranian mindset and history full well but here is my big problem with the book (that may not have much to do with the nuke issue) and it is the fact that Mr. Gold repeatedly points to the so-called 'Occupation' of three islands in the Persian gulf. No, they are not occupied. They are part of Iran. Have always been and will always be. Remember that Saddam also used this bogus claim to attack Iran in 1980. (Unless Amb Gold wants to support Saddam's view then I dont know why he constantly talks about it in his book). And the current government did not take these islands back. The government of the late Shah of Iran took the custody of these previously Iranian owned islands back from UK in early 1970s. So why should an excellent analyst and author beat this useless drum in his book? I have no clue... I wish he hadn't and that's why this book gets a 3 star rating from me. 3/5

good
It is difficult to read, but I'm struggling through it:I received
a book after it, (My enemy my brother, by Hanna Shahin) and I've chosen to read it first, but then I plan to resume reading The Rise
of Nuclear Iran:I'm sure I'll find it worthwhile. ... Read more

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For many Americans, Iran is our most dangerous enemy--part of George W. Bush's "axis of evil" even before the appearance of Ahmadinejad.But what is the reality? How did Ahmadinejad rise to power, and how much power does he really have? What are the chances of normalizing relations with Iran?
In After Khomeini, Saïd Amir Arjomand paints a subtle and perceptive portrait of contemporary Iran. This work, a sequel to Arjomand's acclaimed The Turban for the Crown, examines Iran under the successors of Ayatollah Khomeini up to the present day. He begins, as the Islamic Republic did, with Khomeini, offering a brilliant capsule biography of the man who masterminded the revolution that overthrew the Shah. Arjomand draws clear distinctions between the moderates of the initial phrase of the revolution, radicals, pragmatists, and hardliners, the latter best exemplified by Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Taking a chronological and thematic approach, he traces the emergence and consolidation of the present system of collective rule by clerical councils and the peaceful transition to dual leadership by the ayatollah as the supreme guide and the subordinate president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He explains the internal political quarrels among Khomeini's heirs as a struggle over his revolutionary legacy. And he outlines how the ruling clerical elite and the nation's security forces are interdependent politically and economically, speculating on the potential future role of the Revolutionary Guards.Bringing the work up to current political events, Arjomand analyzes Iran's foreign policy as well, including the impact of the fall of Communism on Iran and Ahmadinejad's nuclear policy.
Few countries loom larger in American foreign relations than Iran. In this rich and insightful account, an expert on Iranian society and politics untangles the complexities of a nation still riding the turbulent wake of one of history's great revolutions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A concise primer
A scholar's account of where the Islamic Republic is heading. It is well-researched and argued but not as easy to read. Still for Iran followers it is a worthy resource.

give this one a pass
This one is accurately titled:it's a history of the political developments and infighting among members of Iran's mullah elite after the death of Khomeini up until a few months ago.

The text is stiff and a bit heavy.I was going to say "scholarly," but not quite that bad.

Worse, it doesn't really explore anything that wasn't far more capably explored in The Persian Night: Iran under the Khomeinist Revolution.The middle chapters of that book covered pretty much the exact same material -- Tehran politics from 1989 to about 2007 -- in a far more engaging and readable manner.

If you've read that book and are still jonesing for more, I would recommend Majd's The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran before you come to this one.

Analysis of the Islamic Revolution
This is a book about the decay of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) into a patrimonial regime over the course of thirty years. For a look at the actual revolution, I recommend Milani's The Making Of Iran's Islamic Revolution.


Arjomand wisely balances his examination of the economics and power politics with a sincere look at the Iranian revolutionary ideology.This is not monolithic, and, as Arjomand demonstrates, it is not unproblematic either (not even for adherents).The basic doctrine of *velayat-e-faqi* is translated as "mandate of the jurist," but this simple expression leaves serious difficulties in interpretation.The partisans of the revolution were undecided as to if there was to be one single jurist (Khomeini) or the entire ecclesiastical community (in which case, Khomeini would have been balanced by, say, Ali Montazeri); if the jurists were to govern by guidance, by example, or by direct supervision. In the event, the immense constitutional powers awarded to the supreme leader would eventually ensure a system of adoptive Caesars.


The economic dimension of the Islamic revolution is ambiguous.The regime's older eminences favored a very strict market economy, yet confiscated the sham "enterprises" of the Shah's friends.Rather than nationalize these to serve the developmental state, Khomeini created several *bonyad* (foundations), each of which held many enterprises in trust.These were later assimilated into the business empires of the military-security complex, dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, or *Pasdaran*) and the Mobilization Corp (*Basij*).The normal social functions of government developed under the Shah nearly collapsed during the revolution before rebounding to somewhat larger dimensions under Pres. Hashemi-Rafsanjani (1989-1997), but this was mainly to rebuild a country devastated by revolution and war with Iraq.Eventually, of course, the military-security complex has come to dominate economic policy in Iran; it has been a major consolation to being permanently underneath the clergy, who retains actual power.


The book's narrative style is somewhat difficult to follow; Arjomand is not clear as to what the reformists and radicals want, and why so many radicals became reformists.Also, Arjomand constantly refers to topics that he expects the reader to already be familiar with, such as "integrative revolution" (a theory of revolution propounded by Vilfredo Pareto, and of course totally unfamiliar to most Iranians).He also drops a lot of startling revelations about the involvement of the IRGC in overseas terrorism, which I think remain unproven.


Overall, a valuable contribution to the scanty literature on the revolution.I remain a bit skeptical of some claims, such as the ties to terrorist acts or the egregious corruption of the *Pasdaran* economic empire; these are not, in my view, adequately documented. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs, published by Thomson Gale on August 1, 2006. The length of the article is 21827 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Iran: U.S. concerns and policy responses.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
Author: Kenneth Katzman
Publication: Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs (Report)
Date: August 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: NA

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This digital document is an article from Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs, published by Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs on April 1, 2010. The length of the article is 5297 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Regime structure, stability, and opposition.(Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses)(Report)
Author: Kenneth Katzman
Publication: Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs (Report)
Date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs
Page: NA

Article Type: Report

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Revolutionary guards chanting against the Great Satan, Bush fulminating against the Axis of Evil, Iranian support for Hezbollah, and President Ahmadinejad blaming the U.S. for the world's ills--the unending war of words suggests an intractable divide between Iran and the West.But as Ray Takeyh shows in this accessible and authoritative history of Iran's relations with the world since the revolution, behind the famous personalities and extremist slogans is a nation that is far more pragmatic--and complex--than many in the West have been led to believe. Takeyh explodes many of our simplistic myths of Iran as an intransigently Islamist foe of the West.He shows that three powerful forces--Islamism, pragmatism, and great power pretensions--war against one another in Iran, and that Iran's often paradoxical policies are in reality a series of compromises between the hardliners and the moderates, often with wild oscillations between pragmatism and ideological dogmatism. The U.S.'s task, Takeyh argues, is to find strategies that address Iran's objectionable behavior without demonizing this key player in an increasingly vital and volatile region. Updated with an afterword that covers the momentous protests following the 2009 Iranian elections, Guardians of the Revolution will stand as the standard work on this controversial--and central--actor in world politics for years to come.

Praise for the hardcover:

"Superb...anyone wishing to understand why restored American-Iranian ties are so elusive, but also so critical, should turn to this important work, a riveting and consistently insightful study of revolutionary Iran and its still troubled place in the world."
--New York Times

"[An] excellent history of Iran's foreign and security policies in the three decades since the revolution.... A highly successful balancing act between breadth and depth.... A first-class book."
--Middle East Journal

"An excellent way to take the measure of revolutionary Iran today is to read this up-to-date, well-researched, and perceptive history of its foreign policy since 1979."
--Foreign Affairs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Useful analysis of Iranian regime
"Guardians of the Revolution" provides useful analysis of the Iranian regime since the founding of the Islamic Republic.Takeyh does a good job describing the various factions within Iran's government and the challenges that moderates faced when trying to normalize relations with the West.I have not read any other books on Iran, so I can't really judge the accuracy of Takeyh's portrait of Iran.But my impression is that he does know Iran very well.

My main complaint about the book is that Takeyh fails to properly set the stage for the benefit of readers who don't already know the history of Iran prior to the revolution.While he does provide some background on the father of the revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, he says very little about the regime of the Shah which the United States supported.Doing this would have helped readers better understand the antagonism that many in Iran feel toward the United States.While the policy makers in the West who this book is targeted to might already know the full history of Iran, the average reader probably does not.

Important, timely book
This book provides a strong history of Iran since the revolution of 1979. Takeyh tracks political developments through the last thirtyyears, providing a textured look at the country's political and clerical leadership. He also explains the Iranian regime's complex blend of revolutionary idealism and pragmatism. Understanding the various decision-makers adds context to the recent Iranian election controversy and Iran's nuclear aspirations. Worth a read for anyone who want to understand U.S. relations with Iran.

Much better than earlier reviews suggest.
Iran seems to be a topic that provokes strong, if not extreme, responses in readers.Hence the terse, highly unfavourable reviews already posted here on Amazon.I have given this book 5 stars because I strongly disagree with the abuse contained in those reviews, although if they had been more reasonable and considered, instead of hysterical, I would probably give the book 4 stars: very good but not ground-breaking.

Dr Takeyh has written a book with the policymakers in Washington very much in mind, focussing as he does on post-revolutionary Iran's foreign relations and its relations with the US in particular. I'm not interested in whether the author is an adviser to Obama, Sarkozy or Putin: what interests me is what he has written.If I were an American policymaker, or American Iran wonk, I might have different views on the book, but the book's great value to me is its succinct account of the development of Ayatollah Khomeini's thinking on the role of the clergy in an Islamic state, his role in forging the 1979 revolution, and the force of his personality that created a powerful legacy that resonates today, in the Iran of the 2009 presidential elections and their aftermath. Unlike Con Coughlin's recent "Khomeini's Ghost", which is written in a free-flowing, somewhat journalistic style (which is not to criticise it), Takeyh's approach is measured, considered, bordering on the prescriptive. Concurrently with the foreign policy considerations, he examines Iran post-1979 as falling into four distinct periods, more or less coinciding with the period up until Khomeini's death, the the three presidencies that followed: Rafsanjani, Khatami, and Ahmadinejad, each showing different approaches to the world and to the internal business of government in a revolutionary society. I found his explication of the origins of Khomeini's political "philosophy" (if one can call it that) to be more persuasive and realistic than that of Ervand Abrahamian in "Khomeinism", who seems to be at pains to depict the ayatollah not as a fanatic but as a "populist", almost as though to de-demonize him. Takeyh adverts to the populist elements in Khomeini's vision, but doesn't downplay the ruthlessness and, at times, duplicity, of the old man to achieve his single-minded aim of toppling the Persian monarchy. Certainly the creation of any sort of republican democracy was the last thing in Khomeini's mind. It seems that the revolutionaries, and Khomeini among them, had no ideas about governing the country other than getting rid of the Shah, and then ridding themselves of inconvenient rival revolutionary or liberal rivals. Of economics, diplomacy, military strategy, civil governance and all the other appurtenances of the modern state, Khomeini and his closest supporters, many of whom remain at or near the top of the Iranian government/theocracy today, seem to have been completely ignorant, even not interested. Dr Takeyh is good on the Iran-Iraq war. He also reassesses the significance of President Khatami's two terms as a "reformist" president, and shows clearly how the aspirations of Khatami and his millions of supporters were progressively thwarted and reversed by the conservative elements in the theocratic side of the complex matrix that Khomeini handed down as the constitution of Iran. What would be interesting would be to read Dr Takeyh's take on the 2009 presidential elections.

"Guardians of the Revolution" is no easy read, but repays the effort of reading carefully. What I did find irritating, however, is that Takeyh insists, almost petulantly, in transliterating fairly well-known Arabic or Persian names into unfamiliar forms, e.g., Saddam Huseyn (who he, you may ask?), Ayatollah Bihishti (Beheshti), Ayatollah Muntaziri (Montazeri). It's only a small criticism, however.

Superficial and sensational
I bought the book because I had read that the author is an advisor to President Barack Obama on Iran. I was disappointed by the superficial and sensational character of this work. Clearly, Takeyh knows very little about Iran, outside the usual stuff that one finds in Western publications. I hope Obama has other advisors on this sensitive issue.

Imbalanced
I agree with the previous reviewer.In addition, the author once again does not pay serious attention to Iran's offer to negotiate all issues in 2003 and the Bush administration's rejection of that offer.I found recent books on Iran by William O. Beeman, Trita Parsi, and Thomas R. Mattair more valuable. ... Read more

Product Description
In September 2001, a young Iranian journalist, Hossein Derakhshan, created one of the first weblogs in Farsi. When he also devised a simple how-to-blog guide for Iranians, it unleashed a torrent of hitherto unheard opinions. There are now 64,000 blogs in Farsi, and Nasrin Alavi has painstakingly reviewed them all, weaving the most powerful and provocative into a striking picture of the flowering of dissent in Iran. From one blogger’s blasting of the Supreme Leader as a "pimp" to another’s mourning for an identity crushed by the stifling protection of her male relatives, this collection functions not only as an archive of Iranians’ thoughts on their country, culture, religion, and the rest of the world, but also as an alternative recent history of Iran. Government crackdowns may soon still these voices — in February 2005, one blogger was sentenced to 14 years in jail — and We Are Iran may serve as the only serious record of their existence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Fascinating
I had to buy this book for a class, and I've recommended it to dozens of people. I love the balance with information and personal insight.

Confusing, Vague but refreshing
The book contains writing by prominent Iranian online journalists/bloggers and tries to explain the Iranian way of thinking, life and social behavior through the blog postings. This is a great idea but the book tends to be vague and unclear about the subjects. It has posts about every subject matter yet it fails to mention what is the purpose of collecting all those entries in a book? I could simply go online and find these entries myself and I really didnt need a book to find those quotes. A great idea and a refreshing one yet it is confusing. I really didn't understand why the author wanted to compile all these entries in one book.

Mah Iran Hastee
Iran is without a doubt the most misunderstood nation. I enjoyed how the author more or less let the bloggers or the youth of Iran tell their stories and offer their viewpoints, and provided a nice background along with each topic. I particularly enjoyed the parts about women in Iran and their ever changing roles. It reminds me a lot of what I hear in Northern Tehran.. the topics and conversations are very prevelant and call for discussion. A good read for someone who is looking to gain some insight about Iran, youth, culture, and current events.

The Iranian Rarely Seen
I love this book's cover.The frontcover's bottom half features a photo of two young Iranian women, presumably out for the evening, meeting up with other friends.I like the photo because it presents (contrary to what certain elements in our government, our media, or our Israeli allies want Americans to believe) Iranians as people who share the same habits and activities as much as the rest of the world.It is an image of the smiling pretty faces of women, not the grim and bearded ones of clerics and fanatics, which too often come into our minds when we hear the name "Iran."It is an image most befitting a book about the thousands of young Iranians who've dedicated themselves to circulating news and information from throughout the world, as well as their own thoughts and opinions -- despite the constant pressures of harassment and punishment.

Nasrin Alavi begins with a brief look at journalist Hossein Derakhshan who started one of the very first Persian language blogs back in 2001.In response to a reader's request, he created a do-it-yourself guide to blogging.Derakhshan's simple guide would create a phenomenon.By 2003, there were over 64,000 Persian language blogs, with Persian now the fourth most common language on the internet!

While certainly some of the Persian blogs are in line with the Islamic Republic's ideology, the overwhelming majority were started in reponse to the regime's clampdown on print journalism.Most Iranian youth (70% of Iran's population is under 30 years old) have utilized the blog format not only to voice anger and frustration over their government and its philosophies, but also for the opportunity to discuss quite a variety of things: String Theory, Czech writer Milan Kundera, Iranian pre-Islamic history and religion, the latest in both western and Iranian film and music, etc.Actual blog transcripts and their addresses pepper the book and show an Iranian youth population which seems to be more mature, thoughtful and educated than many of their American counterparts.

WE ARE IRAN provides us with a momentary glimpse of the struggle of the Post-Revolution generation to democratize their country.The cost for them can be high.The Iranian government has made closing down blogs a major priority.Recently, a blogger was sentenced to prison for 14 years.
Technology helped bring about the Islamic Revolution, Khomeini's sermons and speeches were circulated amongst the people through cassette tapes. Hopefully, technology will also bring about it's demise.

We Are Iran is Awesome
This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys getting the in-depthstory from the actual people who are living it, rather than the politicized, over-simplified version that you get from the mainstream media.If you've ever asked yourself, "what is up with Iran?!" this is the book for you.Ms. Alavi risks her life in publishing it, as do the bloggers.It's a testimony to the extraordinary value of free speech that we who have it must never forget to appreciate.This book contains excerpts from blogs written by Iranians.Ms. Alavi intersperses the blogs with historical, cultural, and statistical information about Iran (and Persia).It's fascinating, easy to read, eye-opening, encouraging, and very well-written.It's the kind of book that students in Iranian studies classes should be reading. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A timely read for these times
Reading this book is like studying for an advanced degree. However, to understand the Middle East, you need to read everything you can get your hands on, even stuff that is above your head. And then read it again until it's not. This book will probably send you off to investigate other concepts, ideas and philosophies - which is good. A very timely read, given the current warmongering administration in this country - read this and arm yourself with knowledge. Understand why we should NOT attack Iran. ... Read more