The Great Satan vs. the Mad Mullahs: How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other [Hardcover]

William O. Beeman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275982149 | ISBN-13: 978-0275982140 | Publication Date: September 30, 2005

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. American leaders characterize the members of the current government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as Mad Mullahs, wild-eyed and irrational. 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.

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.

Editorial Reviews

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."

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Middle East Journal

"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."

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MultiCultural Review

Review

"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

)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (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 Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William O. Beeman is Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota and Past-President of the Middle East Section of the American Anthropological Association. He was formerly Professor of Anthropology and Director of Middle East Studies at Brown University. Best known as a Middle East Specialist for more than 30 years, he has also worked in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Japan, China and South Asia. Recognized for special expertise in Iranian culture, he is the author or editor of more than 100 scholarly articles, 500 opinion pieces and 14 books, including Language, Status and Power in Iran, and The "Great Satan" vs. the "Mad Mullahs": How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other. His forthcoming book from Mazda Press is Iranian Performance Forms: Keys to Iranian Culture. He has served as consultant to the United States State Department, the Department of Defense, the United Nations and the United States Congress. A frequent commentator on national and international radio and television, his written opinion pieces have also appeared in major newspapers throughout the world. He is also a professional opera singer (bass), and collaborated with stage director, Daniel Helfgot, on The Third Line: The Opera Performer as Interpreter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

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

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.

10 of 15 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

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

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

8 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

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

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.