Mohammad Mosaddeq and the 1953 Coup in Iran (Modern Intellectual and Political History of the Middle East) (Hardcover)

by Mark J. Gasiorowski (Editor), Malcolm Byrne (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review
. . . . essays by eminent Iranologists provides an exhaustive analysis of the sequence of events, reasons for the coup. . . . -- Choice

An absolute must-read for any student of recent U.S. and Iranian history individually, of the relations of each with . . . . -- Andrew J. Newman, The Middle East and South Asia Folklore Bulletin

More books should have such a pedigree. . . . Seven polished studies that speak to each other. . . -- Foreign Affairs

Product Description
Mohammad Mosaddeq is widely regarded as the leading champion of secular democracy and resistance to foreign domination in Iran's modern history. Mosaddeq became prime minister of Iran in May 1951 and promptly nationalized its British-controlled oil industry, initiating a bitter confrontation between Iraq and Britain that increasingly undermined Mossaddeq's position. He was finally overthrown in August 1953 in a coup that was organized and led by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency. This coup initiated a twenty-five-year period of dictatorship in Iran, leaving many Iranians resentful of the U.S. - legacies that still haunt relations between the two countries today. The book examines the turbulent political climate that prevailed in Iran during Mosaddeq's time the struggle between Iran and Britain for control over oil, the strategic considerations that led U.S. officials to opt for a coup, and the details of the coup itself. Based on exhaustive research by leading academic experts in the field, this is the most authoritative account of the tragic events that led to the overthrow of Mosaddeq. With the recent declassification of CIA documents regarding the 1953 coup that overthrew Mohammad Mossadeq's government in Iran, there is an opportunity for new in-depth analysis into not only the coup itself but the events that led up to it.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press; 1 edition (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815630182
• ISBN-13: 978-0815630180
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #701,756 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book to read when you know enough to ask questions, February 24, 2007

By	bjcefola (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

The book contains a series of essays fleshing out the circumstances of the 1953 overthrow of Mossadeq. The American sponsored coup ended a decade long struggle to democratize Iran, and the monarchy didn't face a serious political challenge again until it's demise in the revolution of 1979.

The essays in this book address important questions: why was the National Front so weak? Why did it ultimately take so little to overthrow Mossadeq, and what was the role of the communist Tudeh party? Why did Eisenhower support the coup? It also raises some interesting questions: How did Mossadeq shift the economy completely away from oil dependency without causing mass unemployment or recession, what parties lost in that shift and what effect did they have on National Front support?

Missing from the edition is a critical analysis of Mossadeq himself. He relied on mass demonstrations rather then political coalitions for power, and fundamentally did not seem to want power unless people begged him to accept it. Is it any wonder his partners turned on him?

I'd recommend this as the second book people read for understanding 1953.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, December 29, 2007

By	Ramin Faramarzi - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are from Iran or not, its a must read. Gives insight to the
complexity of Politics in the Middle East and how being patriotic
is perceived by the governments outside of Iran. Needless to say
change of government when orchestrated from abroad does have
bad results in the long run, in Iran, Iraq, or any other country.

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many new insights!, June 18, 2004

By A Customer

Based on archival research, the book provides many new details. However, I would have liked to have a seen a discussion of Ayatollah Kashani's position with respect to Iranian oil exports to Israel.