The Road to Democracy in Iran (Boston Review Books) [Hardcover]

Akbar Ganji (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0262072955 | ISBN-13: 978-0262072953

Akbar Ganji, called by some "Iran's most famous dissident," was a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But, troubled by the regime's repressive nature, he became an investigative journalist in the 1990s, writing for Iran's pro-democracy newspapers. Most notably, he traced the murders of dissident intellectuals to Iran's secret service. In 2000 Ganji was arrested, sentenced to six years in prison, and banned from working as a journalist. His eighty-day hunger strike during his last year in prison mobilized the international human rights community. The Road to Democracy in Iran, Ganji's first book in English, demonstrates his lifelong commitment to human rights and democracy. A passionate call for universal human rights and the right to democracy from a Muslim perspective, it lays out the goals and means of Iran's democracy movement, why women's rights trump some interpretations of Islamic law, and how the West can help promote democracy in Iran (he strongly opposes U.S. intervention) and other Islamic countries. Throughout the book Ganji argues consistently for universal rights based on our common humanity (and he believes the world's religions support that idea). But his arguments never veer into abstraction; they are rooted deeply in the realities of life in Islamic countries, and offer a clear picture of the possibilities for and obstacles to improving human rights and promoting democracy in the Muslim world. Since his release from prison in March 2006, Akbar Ganji has been traveling outside Iran, meeting with intellectuals and activists in the international human rights community. He is currently living in the United States."Ganji goes beyond religion, ethnicity, or nationality in recognizing universality of concepts such as democracy and human rights. Thus he brings Iran back to the world, allying himself with democratic elements in his country no matter what their creed, and drawing freely upon the writings of democratic thinkers in the West."--Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

An Iranian dissident well known to human rights organizations, Ganji has paid the price of his convictions. Imprisoned by the Iranian government from 2000 to 2006, the now-exiled Ganji had been an enthusiast of the Islamic Revolution, so his repudiation of its theocratic outcome should interest observers who detect democratic stirrings in Iran. Gathered here in four lectures and a letter he smuggled out of prison, Ganji’s views uphold basic human rights generally; he specifically refutes clerical interpretations of Islamic law that justify the deplorable status and treatment of women. Maintaining that being a faithful Muslim is compatible with accepting modernism and modern human rights, Ganji urges cultural reformation to break down Iran’s “gender apartheid.” Taking up resentments of the Islamic world toward the West, Ganji indicates their alleviation might come from some form of Christian-Islamic ecumenicalism, perhaps in a world republic of liberal democracies. Tending toward the philosophical more than the programmatic, Ganji’s aspirations––some idealistic, some practical––will resonate with all engaged with the human rights movement. --Gilbert Taylor

Review

"Akbar Ganji's exhilarating and courageous book, both readable and philosophically deep, maps out a blueprint for reform in Iran that focuses on human rights and shows how Islam can support both democracy and sex equality. If there is reason for hope in the current situation, it is because of people like Ganji and books like this."--Martha Nussbaum, Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics, University of Chicago

"Akbar Ganji's small and readable book is the most intelligent and accessible program for the non-violent creation of democracy and human rights in Iran. Ganji has mastered both Western thought and Iranian cultural possibilities, and is one of the first male Iranians to see the centrality of achieving equal status and treatment for Iranian women, and to appreciate omen's struggles and activities. He also shows the self-defeating nature of aggressive threats to Iran by the U.S. and calls for a new U.S. policy toward Iran that might encourage democracy and peace."Nikki R. Keddie, Professor Emerita of Middle Eastern and Iranian History at the University of California, Los Angeles

(Nikki R. Keddie )

"Akbar Ganji writes with the focus of a philosopher, the punch of a journalist, and the credibility of someone who has fought and suffered for the good. His words, which have cost him dearly, are luminous and moving." Philip Pettit , Princeton University

"Akbar Ganji's small and readable book is the most intelligent and accessible program for the non-violent creation of democracy and human rights in Iran. Ganji has mastered both Western thought and Iranian cultural possibilities, and is one of the first male Iranians to see the centrality of achieving equal status and treatment for Iranian women, and to appreciate women's struggles and activities. He also shows the self-defeating nature of aggressive threats to Iran by the U.S. and calls for a new U.S. policy toward Iran that might encourage democracy and peace." Nikki R. Keddie , Professor Emerita of Middle Eastern and Iranian History, University of California, Los Angeles

"Americans first heard about Akbar Ganji during his decade as a political prisoner. It was thrilling to hear him say, 'My broken face is the true face of the Islamic Republic of Iran.' His face is healed today, and his book, The Road to Democracy in Iran, reveals a powerful and original mind. Not only is he devoted to his country, Iran; he conceives Iran as a prism for seeing the whole modern world. He advances powerful arguments for reform in Islam, but he sees that the struggle for reform is just as urgent in Christianity, in Judaism, and in every other world religion.. He understands this struggle as a permanent condition of modern life. But he argues persuasively that modern men and women have the inner strength to wage this struggle. Akbar Ganji is an exemplary 'public intellectual'. He gives new life to the promise of Martin Luther King, 'We Shall Overcome'." Marshall Berman , Distinguished Professor of Political Science, The City College of New York

"Ganji goes beyond religion, ethnicity, or nationality in recognizing universality of concepts such as democracy and human rights. Thus he brings Iran back to the world, allying himself with democratic elements in his country no matter what their creed, and drawing freely upon the writings of democratic thinkers in the West." Azar Nafisi , author of Reading Lolita in Tehran

"Tending toward the philosophical more than the programmatic, Ganji's aspirations -- some idealistic, some practical -- will resonate with all engaged with the human rights movement." Gilbert Taylor Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (March 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262072955
• ISBN-13: 978-0262072953
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 4.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,347,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful May 10, 2008

By Tom

Format:Hardcover

The Road to Democracy in Iran is a very short but well written book. Akbar Ganji proves to be a clever man as he easily highlights the situation in Iran. The book is written very objective and impartial.
I highly recommend this book!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars informative and concise August 14, 2009

By Kayvan Z.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

As Iran was going through post election turmoil, I purchased this book. The amazing part was that Ganji had predicted all that was going on in Iran in 2005 whereas the turmoil was happening in 2009. He knows Iran and Iranian people so well and comes the core of people.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Iranian dissident has a better idea July 14, 2009

By Rolf Dobelli HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

The author of this collection of short essays was imprisoned in his native Iran for advocating universal human rights based on freedom from pain, fear and intimidation. Akbar Ganji, dubbed Iran's "most famous dissident," distills his arguments into a few pivotal points that are openly, clearly idealistic - even more so in light of the policies of Iran's rulers. Ganji's essays are not practical, but philosophical, although he is very down-to-earth when he describes the plight of Iranian women. getAbstract recommends them to those who are interested in finding out more about Ganji and, to a much lesser degree, learning more about Iran's political environment.