Iran Divided : The Historical Roots of Iranian Debates on Identity, Culture, and Governance in the Twenty-First Century

Iranian Politics Has Been Marked By Sharp Ideological Divisions And Infighting. These Divides, Kept Largely Out Of Public View Until The 1990s, Came To Greater Light With The Contested 2009 Presidential Elections. To Explain The Diverse And Complex Forces That Led To This Event And That Animate Iran{u2019}s Current Fractured Society And Polity, Author Shireen T. Hunter Looks Beyond The Battle Between The Forces Of Reform And Reaction, Democracy And Dictatorship, And Considers The Historic Forces That Created The Conditions Faced By Iran Since The Revolution. Iran Divided: The Historic Roots Of Iranian Debates On Identity, Culture, And Governance In The 21st Century Explains Historical And Political Factors And Their Relevance To Iran Today, Shedding Light On The Forces Behind Iranian Politics And Society. This Book Discusses: Historical Roots Of Iran{u2019}s Current Divisions And Debates; Iran Versus Islam; Secularism Versus Religion; Constitutionalism Versus Islamic Government; Fundamental Issues Of Identity, Culture, And Governance; Aging Of The Revolutionary Coalition; Development Of New Elites; Experiences Of The Islamic Republic; And New International Conditions Moving The Country Beyond Old Divides And Ideological Rifts Toward A New National Consensus. A Comprehensive Survey, The Book Will Be An Indispensable Tool To Any Student Seeking To Understand The Islamic Republic Of Iran And Its Standing In The World Today. --provided By Publisher. Iran's Social, Economic, Political, And Cultural Conditions At The Dawn Of The 19th Century -- Encounter With The West, Efforts At Reform And Modernization, And Their Consequences -- The Left In Iran : Origins And Evolution -- Islamic Opposition To The Shah : Groups, Individuals, And Thinking -- The Revolution Triumphs, The Coalition Fractures, And Power Struggles Begin -- Factions, Discourses And Politics In The Islamic Republic Of Iran, 1980-1997 -- The Left's Revenge, The Khatami Presidency, And The Reformist Discourse -- Khatami's Second Term, 2001-2005 : Continued Domestic Bickering And New International Challenges -- Ahmadinejad Presidency's First Term, 2005-2009 : Restoring Revolutionary Values -- Presidential Elections Of 2009 And Ahmadinejad's Second Term -- June 2013 Presidential Elections : Outcome, Significance, And Potential Consequences. Shireen T. Hunter. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Iranian politics after the revolution have been marked by sharp ideological divisions within the Islamic ranks. Many of the divisions and power struggles date back to the Shah’s era and the ideologically-diverse coalition formed against the Pahlavi system. In fact, two opposed visions of an Islamic society and polity, roughly representing the left-right split within the anti-Shah coalition, have existed from the very beginning of the Islamic Republic. Both have been competing to determine the character and direction of the Republic. This text explains all such factors and their relevance to Iran today. It discusses the historical roots of Iran’s current divisions and debates. It identifies major issues, notably questions related to Iran versus Islam, secularism versus religion, constitutionalism versus Islamic government, and the process that led to these divides. It also deals with the unfolding of politics and discourses in the Islamic republic regarding the fundamental issues of identity, culture, and governance. This text discusses the historical roots of Iran's current divisions and debates. It identifies major conflicts, such as Iran versus Islam, secularism versus religion, and constitutionalism versus Islamic government. It also discusses politics and discourses in the Islamic republic regarding fundamental issues of identity, culture, and governance.