Synopses & Reviews
Iran is a key player in some of the most crucial issues of our time. But because of its relative diplomatic isolation and the partisan nature of conflicting accounts voiced by different interest groups both inside and outside the country, there is a shortage of hard information about the scale and depth of social change in today's Iran. In this volume, and imposing roster of both internationally renowned Iranian scholars and rising young Iranian academics offer contributions--many based on recent fieldwork--on the nature and evolution of Iran's economy, significant aspects of Iran's changing society, and the dynamics of its domestic and international politics since the 1979 revolution, focusing particularly on the post-Khomeini period. The book will be of great interest not only to Iran specialists, but also to scholars of comparative politics, democratization, social change, politics in the Muslim world, and Middle Eastern studies.
Review
"A skillful collection of work...an excellent, thought-provoking set of papers about the challenges, perils and promises of a country undergoing dramatic changes under theocratic rule. Its engaging and erudite chapters introduce the reader to different cultural, economic, religious, and political spheres of interaction, and offer valuable lessons about the dynamics of a changing society...This stimulating work will be welcomed by historians and social theorists and by anyone interested in the contemporary history and political dynamics of Iranian society."--Iranian Studies
"A critical book for engaging Iran in the post-Bush era. It reveals Iran's complex society as it deals with the crises all societies must now deal with: from crises in energy, economics, law, scientific research and foreign policy to drugs, sex, housing, health care, population growth and crime to local and ethnic tensions, war and violence and their terrible after effects. A serious work of scholarship by European and North American writers, rising stars and longtime Iran watchers."--Darius Rejali, Professor of Political Science, Reed College
Synopsis
Iran's geographical location, its oil, its nuclear program, its volatile political landscape, its espousal of militant Islam, all combine to make it a key player in some of the most crucial issues of our time. But because of its relative isolation, there is a shortage of hard information about today's Iran. In this volume, an imposing roster of both internationally renowned Iranian scholars and rising young Iranian academics offer essays - many based on recent fieldwork - on the nature and evolution of Iran's economy, significant aspects of Iran's changing society, and the dynamics of its domestic and international politics since the 1979 revolution, focusing particularly on the post-Khomeini period. The book will be of great interest not only to Iran specialists, but also to scholars of comparative politics, democratization, social change, politics in the Muslims world, and Middle Eastern studies.
About the Author
"A critical book for engaging Iran in the post-Bush era. It reveals Iran's complex society as it deals with the crises all societies must now deal with: from crises in energy, economics, law, scientific research and foreign policy to drugs, sex, housing, health care, population growth and crime to local and ethnic tensions, war and violence and their terrible after effects. A serious work of scholarship by European and North American writers, rising stars and longtime Iran watchers."--Darius Rejali, Professor of Political Science, Reed College
Table of Contents
Introduction,
Ali GheissariPart One: Economy
1. The Oil Wealth and Economic Growth in Iran, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani
2. The Urban Provincial Periphery in Iran: Revolution and War in Ramhormoz, Kaveh Ehsani
3. Nimble Fingers No Longer! Women's Employment in Iran, Roksana Bahramitash and Hadi Salehi Esfahani
Part Two: Society
4. Religion, Women, and Political Agency in Iran, Shahla Haeri
5. Who Will Catch me if I Fall? Health and the Infrastructure of Risk for Urban Young Iranians, Pardis Mahdavi
6. From Punishment to Harm Reduction: Resecularization of Addiction in Contemporary Iran, Amir-Arsalan Afkhami
7. Iran's New Scientific Community, Farhad Khosrokhavar
Part Three: Politics
8. Constructional Implications of Current Political Debates in Iran, Saïd Amir Arjomand
9. New Conservative Politics and Electoral Behavior in Iran, Ali Gheissari and Kaveh-Cyrus Sanandaji
10. Ethnicity and Religious Minority Politics in Iran, Nayereh Tohidi
11. Iran's Regional Policies since the End of the Cold War, Anoushiravan Ehteshami
12. Iran's Persian Gulf Policy in the Post-Saddam Era, Mohsen M. Milani
Index