Insurgency Through Culture and Religion: The Islamic Revolution of Iran [Hardcover]

M.M. Salehi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 1988 | ISBN-10: 0275929027 | ISBN-13: 978-0275929022

The Iranian middle class played a historical role in steering Iran into the revolution of 1978. This volume traces the ideological content of the revolution, as well as the cultural and political outlooks that forced mass support in different segments of the Iranian middle class. Salehi asserts that potential existed in Iranian society for the outbreak of revolution long before 1978. He addresses the basic question of why the revolution of 1978-79 triumphed with the Shiia clergymen playing a leading role--and ties together the psychological, cultural, and religious roots of the resolution with class theory. The author's analysis of personalities, events, religion, class theory, and cultural theory should serve as the model not only in the study of Iran, but can extend to the analyses of other internal uprisings in the Middle East.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In his case study of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Salehi discusses the role of culture and religion in a modern society. The author examines Shi'ism as a vehicle of political activism and dissent and provides an insider's view of events leading to the 1979 Iranian revolution. Although Salehi seeks to make a contribution to theoretical inquiry into the sociology of modernization, the sociology of revolution, and the social study of culture and religion, he focuses more on historical background, fact, and experience than on analysis and theoretical insight. The author suggests that modernization theory and single-factor causes of revolution be examined in a holistic manner, but he does not define what a holistic approach is (nor does he explain his methodology for participant observation.) Salehi explains that this approach neither ignores nor discounts the significance of facts. The book provides an interesting perspective on the psychological undercurrents of life in an oppressive society. A rich source of information on the Islamic revolution for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.”–Choice

About the Author

M. M. SALEHI was a member of the faculty of sociology at the National University of Iran for more than a decade.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 196 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (October 17, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275929027
• ISBN-13: 978-0275929022
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,686,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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