Iran in World Politics: The Question of the Islamic Republic (Columbia/Hurst) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "On account of his dualistic and contradictory nature, man, this dialectical phenomenon, is compelled to be always in motion..." (more)
Key Phrases: pluralistic momentum, grand strategic preferences, utopian romanticism, Saddam Hussein, Islamic Republic, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Arshin Adib-Moghaddam has made great contributions both to the study of Iran, as a case study, and to the study of world politics as a field of inquiry. Not only does he show the importance of the domestic sources of foreign policy, he pays equal attention to the effect of extra-territorial groups and significant individuals on a country's domestic discourse regarding policy formulation. His study is a dynamic and analytical one, where both ideational and material dialectics shape the contemporary politics. Not only is this an original contribution, but it also serves as an in-depth critical analysis as well as a full description of the existing literature." -- A. Reza Sheikholeslami, The American University of Sharjah

Product Description

How has the Islamic Republic developed ideologically since the revolution of 1979? What are the best ways of comprehending the country at this critical juncture in its history? In his book, Arshin Adib-Moghaddam combines theory and lived experience to explain the foreign relations and domestic politics of post-revolutionary Iran. He guides the reader through the country's complex identity and actions, from the nuclear issue to Iran's perpetual political standoff with the United States, from the future of Iranian democracy to Iranian-Arab relations, from American neoconservatism to Islamic utopian-romanticism, and from Avicenna to Ayatollah Khomeini.

An Iranian born in Turkey but educated in Germany and England, Adib-Moghaddam shows a unique empathy towards the understanding of both Eastern and Western cultures. His thoughtful analysis engages the existing literature on Iran and Islam and exposes the limitations of mainstream representations of the country and the wider Muslim world. He addresses not only what caused the war between Iran and Iraq but also its dangerous consequences; the impact of neoconservative policy on Iranian political rhetoric; and the pluralism of Iran's civil society, in which factionalism among the ruling class and peripheral representation in government have encouraged free discourse among its people.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231700466
• ISBN-13: 978-0231700467
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #939,272 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)