The "Great Satan" vs. the "Mad Mullahs": How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other (Hardcover)

by William O. Beeman (Author)
Key Phrases: mad mullahs, chief jurisprudent, foreign policy myth, United States, Great Satan, Islamic Republic (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Regardless of the reader's viewpoint, this book is a challenging analysis by an anthropologist of an international conflict that threatens to get out of control. For that reason alone, this is a timely book.”–MultiCultural Review

“[B]eeman is a good writer, who eschews the scholarly jargon that frequently makes academic books and articles unintelligble to all but specialists in a specific field. He is writing for the non-specialist, and he is more interested in informing the reader than in impressing his peers. The other strength of the book lies in the author's knowledge of Iranian history and culture. Beeman's discussion of economic development under the Pahlavi monarchy and how Americans in the country lived at the time is imformative, and his observation that "Iranians hate being told what to do by people with whom they have no relationship" should be taken under advisement by everybody....The "Great Satan" vs. the "Mad Mullahs" raises many questions and is problematic, those are additional reasons for reading it. It challenges the reader and forces him to question stereotypes about Iran and Washington's perspective on the country. It also encourages the reader to consider Tehran's perceptions.”–Middle East Journal

“Bill Beeman, the author of the classic text, Language, Status and Power in Iran, returns now with a provocative and timely analysis of why Iranian and U.S. diplomats are caught in vicious circles of cultural miscommunication and mutual demonization. Must reading for diplomats, policy wonks, pundits, and concerned citizens.”–Michael M. J. Fischer, Professor of Anthropology and Science Technology Studies Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and author of Mute Dreams, Blind Owls, and Dispersed Knowledges: Persian Poesis in the Transnational Circuity

“William Beeman's analysis of dissonant perceptions of Iran and USA is compelling and important for everyone, citizen or policyshaper, who wishes to understand or influence relations between Islam, Iran, and us. He speaks knowledgeably, wisely, and plainly, based on direct experience.... I am particularly grateful for this work.”–James Peacock Kenan Professor of Anthropology University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

“William Beeman stands first among American anthropologists in applying an understanding of cultural patterns to foreign policy, especially in connecting conflicts between Iran and the United States with underlying differences in patterns of thought and expression. Everyone concerned with policy making and reporting on the Middle East needs to study his thoughtful analyses.”–Mary Catherine Bateson author of Willing to Learn: Passages of Personal Discovery

“Bill Beeman is perfectly attuned to Iran's secular and Shi'ite cultures. He has translated his profound 'feel' for Iran into a work that makes it possible for an American audience to understand and even empathize with Iranians. Until the United States Government is capable of doing that, however, little progress can be made in fashioning a new relation with Iran.”–Marvin Zonis Graduate School of Business University of Chicago

“If you want to know why we are so ignorant about the United States-Iran relations, read this book. Never before has the mutual demonization between these two governments been so systematically described and analyzed from an anthropological perspective. Rooted in their histories, mythologies, and cultures, the conflict between them, the author argues, is essentially symbolic rather than substantive. Therefore, reconciliation between the two countries is 'inevitable,' but the challenge ahead lies in finding a way to make it happen.”–R. K. Ramazani Edward R. Stettinius Professor Emeritus of Politics University of Virginia

Product Description
The United States and Iran have been estranged for 25 years. They have carried out a mutual process of demonization that is unprecedented in modern history, based on cultural "hot buttons" that have the power to galvanize the populations of both countries. Iranian leaders have characterized the United States as the Great Satan--an evil corruptor that pollutes society and destroys personal morality. These leaders readily make the analogy between the United States and the Umayyid rulers who in 680 C.E. killed the Imam Hussein, the central religious figure in the history of the Iranian state religion, Twelver Shi'ism. American leaders characterize the members of the current government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as "Mad Mullahs," wild-eyed and irrational. They accuse them of fomenting the hostage crisis, in which American embassy personnel were held for 444 days at the end of the Carter administration, dealing a severe blow to U.S. national honor. The Bush administration has further accused the Iranians of being part of an "Axis of Evil" on the basis of their alleged support of terrorists, oppression of women and minorities, and development of nuclear weapons. Giving a thorough account of the background of U.S.-Iranian relations, Beeman claims that the current accusations of both Iran and the United States are baseless, consisting largely of public invective and symbolic rhetoric according to their own mythologies of evil.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275982149
• ISBN-13: 978-0275982140
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #861,905 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine analysis of the subject and a refreshing approach to the study of international relations, February 18, 2006

By	Matteo Legrenzi (St. Antony's College, Oxford) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book. The author has a deep understanding of both American and Iranian culture. He argues persuasively that the conflict between Iran and the United States centers not on substantive differences but on symbolic discourse. In other words, he shows how ideology plays an important part in the formulation of both Iranian and American foreign policy.

The only caveat, as someone who studies American policy towards the states on the `other shore' of the Gulf, is that sometimes, in order to purport a symmetry in American and Iranian attitudes, the author overestimates the systemic nature of the communication problems between the two countries. A bona fide effort was exerted towards the end of the Clinton administration to break through the wall of incommunicability between the two nations. It is unfortunate that that particular occasion was missed, as was a parallel one being carried out with North Korea, and the situation is now very dangerous indeed. We assist at the `preparing of the ground' by op-ed writers and other neo-conservative pundits for possible military action against Iran.

At a broader level, irrespective of the subject matter of the book, what is amazing for a student of international relations is the level of insight to be gained by a judicious application of anthropology to the study of the bilateral relations of two states. The author, without entering the choppy waters and the tired controversies of International Relations theory, manages to illuminate the systemic nature of the rivalry between Iran and the United States. This approach could be fruitfully applied to many other disputes around the globe. The book is literally peppered with incredibly interesting observations about the nature of diplomacy in today's world and the importance of communication in the conduct of international relations. Each of them could be fruitfully expanded in a self-standing line of research and could be applied to other international disputes. All of this is written in a clear, jargon-free way that would put to shame many IR specialists (as well as some anthropologists). Even outside the boundaries of academia an educated lay reader can truly enjoy this book.

Overall, this is a really good book. It is certainly necessary reading for anyone interested in American and Iranian foreign policy. However, it is also to be recommended to scholars of international relations who do not focus on the Middle East because of its refreshing approach to the study of international politics. Finally, any concerned individual who is following current events would gain a lot by reading it.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Most Important Book , September 28, 2005

By	Don Weadon (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

Bill Beeman's new book, Great Satan vs. Mad Mullahs, How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other, is one of the most important books published this year. In light of the pressing policy issues of the US-Iran impasse on nuclear energy, his book is decidedly on point in the evaluation of the Iranian response to U.S. rhetoric and punitive diplomatic maneuvering. In his informed and perceptive analysis, Beeman demonstrates how Iranian argument and expository patterns, while culturally determined, evoke an essential desire for self-respect. And regardless of Iran's economic ties or future petroleverage, it is a message which has found a significant following among many nations.

For those Americans (and Iranians) who desire a thorough, dispassionate and perceptive understanding of how our two nations are incapable of understanding one another, and how real communications can begin, this book is essential reading. It provides a world of understanding of two important cultures and their communications challenges.

Don Weadon

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air, March 7, 2006

By	TenorFrank (CA) - See all my reviews

Beeman's book hits the nail on the head: The US and Iran should be seeking common interests instead of demonizing one another. This is a passionate analysis by someone who really knows both countries. Michael Rubin's review reveals him as a neo-con desperate to discredit Beeman, using ungentlemanly and anti-intellectual hyperbole. When he claims that there is nothing congruent to Iran's cry of "Death to America," he is conveniently forgetting about the Axis of Evil speech.