Politics of Confrontation: The Foreign Policy of the USA and Revolutionary Iran (Library of International Relations S.)

Did the United States know more than it acknowledges about growing unrest under the Shah in mid-1970s Iran? Have historians of American-Iranian relations focused too narrowly on prevailing historical theory and personal recollection? In a period of escalating tension between the United States and Iran, what can the two nations’ history of conflict tell us about their future diplomatic efforts? Covering the last days of the reign of the Shah to the revolution under the Ayatollah Khomeini, Babak Ganji presents a thorough examination of US policy towards Iran in the final years of the Carter administration within the historical framework of US-Iranian Relations. He provides the first in-depth look at US documents seized from the American Embassy by revolutionary students during the infamous hostage crisis, casting new light on a subject that has captivated historians’ attention for decades. “Politics of Confrontation” debunks the myth that US officials were unaware of the nature and strength of the Shah’s opposition, and sheds new light on the Soviet Union’s increasing influence over senior politicians. Ganji explores the nature of the perpetually antagonistic relations between the two countries and the mistrust and misunderstanding that fuels it. His findings are invaluable to historians of US diplomacy, Iran and the Cold War. Covering The Last Days Of The Reign Of The Shah To The Revolution Under The Ayatollah Khomeini, Babak Ganji Presents A Thorough Examination Of Us Policy Towards Iran In The Final Years Of The Carter Administration Within The Historical Framework Of Us-iranian Relations. He Provides The First In-depth Look At Us Documents Seized From The American Embassy By Revolutionary Students During The Infamous Hostage Crisis, Casting New Light On A Subject That Has Captivated Historians' Attention For Decades. Politics Of Confrontation Debunks The Myth That Us Officials Were Unaware Of The Nature And Strength Of The Shah's Opposition, And Sheds New Light On The Soviet Union's Increasing Influence Over Senior Politicians. Ganji Explores The Nature Of The Perpetually Antagonistic Relations Between The Two Countries And The Mistrust And Misunderstanding That Fuels It. His Findings Are Invaluable To Historians Of Us Diplomacy, Iran And The Cold War.--book Jacket. Us Policy Toward Iran. -- The Carter Administration's Regional Strategy And Policy Towards Iran. -- The Development Of Religious Opposition To The Shah. -- The Formation Of The Tripoli Bloc And The Radical Challenge To The Regional Order. -- Revolutionary Crisis In Iran. -- Policy Currents And The Iranian Revolution. -- The Intensification Of The Revolutionary Crisis. -- Us Policy During The Collapse Of The Ancien Regime And The Victory Of The Revolution. -- The Regional Impact Of The Iranian Revolution. -- The Carter Administration's Modus Vivendi With The Revolutionary Regime. -- Us Strategies And The Iranian Hostage Crisis. -- The Failure Of The Hostage Rescue Mission And The Continuation Of The Negotiations. -- Iran-iraq War And Developments In The Hostage Crisis. -- Post-election Shift Of Us Strategy In Iran And The Region. Babak Ganji. Partly Based On [the Author's] Doctoral Thesis At The University Of Newcastle-upon-tyne--acknowledgements. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [301]-314) And Index. Did the United States know more than it acknowledges about growing unrest under the Shah in mid-1970s Iran? Have historians of American-Iranian relations focused too narrowly on prevailing historical theory and personal recollection? In a period of escalating tension between the United States and Iran, what can the two nations'history of conflict tell us about their diplomatic future? Covering Carter's policy from the end of the Shah's reign to the revolution under Ayatollah Khomeini, Babak Ganji explores the nature of their perpetually antagonistic relations and the mistrust and misunderstanding that fuels it. Politics of Confrontation is a penetrating critique of international relations theory within the historical framework of US-Iranian relations, as well as a thorough examination of American policy towards Iran. It is the first in-depth look at documents seized by revolutionary students from the American Embassy during the infamous hostage crisis, and debunks the myth that US officials were unaware of the nature of opposition to the Shah or of Soviet influence on senior clerics. These findings are an essential addition to the discourse of foreign policy theorists and invaluable for historians of the US, Iran and the Cold War. Acknowledgements -- 1. US Policy towards Iran -- 2. The Carter Administration's Regional Strategy and Policy towards Iran -- 3. The development of religious opposition to the Shah -- 4. The formation of the Tripoli Bloc and the radical challenge to the regional order -- 5. Revolutionary crisis in Iran -- 6. Policy currents and the Iranian revolution -- 7. The intensification of the revolutionary crisis -- 8. US policy during the collapse of the ancient regime and the victory of the revolution -- 9. The regional impact of the Iranian revolution -- 10. The Carter administration's modus vivendi with the revolutionary regime -- 11. US strategies and the Iranian hostage crisis -- 12. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the hostage crisis -- 13. The Failure of the hostage rescue mission and the continuation of the negotiations -- 14. Iran-Iraq war and developments in the hostage crisis -- 15. Post-election shift of US strategy in Iran and the region -- 16. Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index "Provocation is the key theme in the antagonistic relationship between the US and post-revolution Iran. The two nations are the source of a growing tension felt around the globe. "Politics of Confrontation" is a penetrating critique of international relations theory within the historical framework of US-Iranian relations from the early reign of the Shah to the revolution under the Ayatollah Khomeini, with particular emphasis on the final years during the Carter administration. This thorough examination provides the first in-depth look at US documents seized from the American Embassy by revolutionary students during the infamous hostage crisis. Babak Ganji's findings are an essential addition to the discourse of foreign policy theorists as well as being invaluable for historians of the US, Iran and the Cold War."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Covering the last days of the reign of the Shah to the revolution under the Ayatollah Khomeini, this book presents an examination of US policy towards Iran in the final years of the Carter administration within the historical framework of US-Iranian Relations. It explores the nature of the antagonistic relations between the two countries.