Evolving Iran
Subtitle: an introduction to politics and problems in the Islamic republic
By: Barbara Ann Rieffer-Flanagan
Publisher: Georgetown University Press
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 259
ISBN-13: 9781589019782
Subjects: Human rights; Politics and government; Economic policy; History
Description: "Evolving Iran presents an overview of how the politics and policy decisions in the Islamic Republic of Iran have developed since the 1979 revolution and how they are likely to evolve in the near future. Despite the fact that the revolution ushered in a theocracy, its political system has largely tended to prioritize self-interest and pragmatism over theology and religious values, while continuing to reinvent itself in the face of internal and international threats. The author also examines the prospects for democratization in Iran. Since the early years of the twentieth century, Iranians have attempted to make their political system more democratic, yet various attempts to produce a system where citizens have a meaningful voice in political decisions have failed. This book argues that greater democratization is unlikely to occur in the short term, especially in light of increased threats from the international community. This accessible overview of Iran's political system covers a broad array of subjects, including foreign policy, human rights, women's struggle for equality, the development and evolution of elections, and the institutions of the political system including the Revolutionary Guards and Assembly of Experts. It will appeal to undergraduates and the general public who seek to understand a country and regime that has mystified Westerners for decades."--Publisher's website.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages [233]-248) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: The Incomplete Revolution.; title: Part I: The Past. Pahlavi Power and the Alienation of the Masses ; The Islamic Revolution and the Birth of a New Political System.; title: Part II: The Present Political Regime. Elections in Iran: Predicting Iranian Politics ; Pressuring the Islamic Republic to Promote Human Rights ; Assessing Iranian Foreign Policy since the Revolution: Islamic Realpolitik ; Economic Policies in the Midst of Ideological Infighting.; title: Part III: The Future. Conclusion: Emancipating Iranian Politics.