Creating an Islamic State : Khomeini and the Making of a New Iran

In this volume, Vanessa Martin makes a groundbreaking contribution on the dynamics of the Iranian Revolution and the Islamist revival especially relevant in the context of the debate arising out of Iran's recent elections. Political Islam and its recent violent bi-products first became the focus of international attention following the success of the 1979 Iranian Revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. This extraordinary book is the first to analyze the ideological roots of an Islamic state as conceived by Khomeini. Martin finds much of the inspiration behind Khomeini’s political thinking being influenced by western sources. How Did The Ayatollah Khomeini Create His Islamic State? What Were The Ideas Which Drove Him And His Movement? What Organization And Methods Helped Bring Him To Power? This Book Analyses The Ideaological Roots Of An Islamic State As Conceived By The Ayatollah Khomeini. Surprisingly, The Author Finds Much Of The Inspiration Behind Khomeini's Political Thinking Being Influenced By Western Sources - His Writing On The Supreme Islamic Jurist Being Affected By Plato's Notions Of The Philosopher-king And His Views Of State Power And Centralism Being Closely Linked To His Understanding Of Marxist/len. I. The Historical Background -- Religion And State -- The Qajar Era -- The Period Of Reza Shah -- Muhammad Reza Shah -- Ii. Early Years And The Influence Of 'irfan -- Youth And Development -- 'irfan And Its Background -- The Role Of 'irfan -- Iii. Restructuring, Organization And The Emergence Of The Nahzat -- Restructuring In Qum In The 1940s And 1950s -- The Quest For A New Marja' -- Conflicts Between Clergy And State -- The Association Of United Societies -- Organization And Khomeini's Students After His Exile -- Iv. Mutahhari: Towards An Islamic Ideology And The Battle For Control Of Political Islam -- Mutahhari's Life And Background -- Mutahhari's Philosophy Of Islam -- The Refutation Of Marxism And Iltiqat -- V. Visions Of The Islamic State I -- The Khomeini Version -- The Modernization Of Islam -- Some Earlier Views -- Khomeini's Ideas On The Islamic State In The Revealing Of Secrets -- Khomeini's Concept Of The Islamic State In The 1960s -- Islamic Government And The Government Of The Jurist -- The Islamic State In Khomeini's Speeches And Leaflets, 1971-78 -- Vi. Visions Of The Islamic State Ii -- Other Islamist Movements -- The Fada'iyan-i Islam -- The Wider Islamist Debate And The Question Of Influences -- Vii. The Establishment Of The Islamic State -- The Political Situation, 1978-79 -- Khomeini's Movement During The Revolution -- The Struggle Over The Nature Of The Islamic Republic -- The Constitution Of The Islamic Republic -- The Bani Sadr Period And Beyond -- Viii. The Western Media And The Iranian Revolution -- Phase I: The Months Leading Up To The Revolution -- Phase Ii: September-december 1978 -- Phase Iii: January-february 1979 -- Phase Iv: March-november 1979 -- Ix. The Contemporary Muslim Perspective On The Iranian Revolution. Vanessa Martin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-243) And Index. "Creating an Islamic State is the first analysis of the ideological roots of an Islamic state as conceived by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Vanessa Martin finds that much of the inspiration behind Khomeini's political thinking was drawn, from western sources. His vision of the supreme Islamic Jurist was affected by Plato's notions of the philosopher-ruler and his views of state power and centralism indicate a close understanding of authoritarianism. Like Hasan al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb, Khomeini developed a totalist view of state and society, combining a strong sense of social justice with Marxist/Leninist methods of organization." "Creating an Islamic State will appeal not only to scholars and a broad spectrum of students but also to anyone with an interest in Middle East politics and ideas and in Islam in general."--Jacket. How did the Ayatollah Khomeini create his Islamic state? What were the ideas which drove him and his movement? What organization and methods helped bring him to power? This book analyses the ideaological roots of an Islamic state as conceived by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Surprisingly, the author finds much of the inspiration behind Khomeini's political thinking being influenced by Western sources - his writing on the supreme Islamic Jurist being affected by Plato's notions of the philosopher-king and his views of state power and centralism being closely linked to his understanding of Marxist/Leninist totalitarianism. Vanessa Martin considers the dynamics of the Iranian Revolution and the Islamist revival in a book which is especially relevant in the context of the debate arising out of Iran's elections.