Revolutionary Iran and the United States: Low-intensity Conflict in the Persian Gulf (US Foreign Policy and Conflict in the Islamic World)

A unique and major contribution to the scholarly and policy debate on American foreign and economic policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran. A volume that will be of interest to scholars and policy makers who struggle to understand the complex rivalry between these two nations and wish to analyze the Iranian/American relationship since 1979. Authors frame the conflicted relationship between Iran and the United States as a low intensity conflict, embodying elements of superpower gamesmanship, insurgent tactics and economic warfare. Revolutionary Iran and the United States is unique in its approach by exploring how diplomatic, military, and economic weapons are employed to bolster each nation's strategic and tactical advantage. This analysis encompasses the political, military, and economic facets of the rivalry. The authors (both of the U. of Southern Mississippi) analyze the relationship between the United States and Iran prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution onwards to the present, applying their understanding of fourth generation war theory, which sees fourth generation war as involving the goals of "moral victory" and the coercion of the adversary in order to subvert and change its will; a mix of conventional battle mixed with insurgency; and a mix of military, economic, and diplomatic tactics. They argue that the relationship between Iran and the US following the 1979 overthrow of the US-installed Shah can be characterized as low-intensity fourth generation war that has remained at stalemate for 30 years, with the ebbs and flows of the conflict revolving around domestic politics in each nation, global politics, economics, and military means. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) This title is a unique and major contribution to the scholarly and policy debate on American foreign and economic policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran. This volume will be of interest to scholars and policy makers who struggle to understand the complex rivalry between these two nations and wish to analyze the Iranian/American relationship since 1979. Authors frame the conflicted relationship between Iran and the United States as a low intensity conflict, embodying elements of superpower gamesmanship, insurgent tactics and economic warfare. "Revolutionary Iran and the United States" is unique in its approach by exploring how diplomatic, military, and economic weapons are employed to bolster each nation's strategic and tactical advantage. This analysis encompasses the political, military, and economic facets of the rivalry Frames the conflicted relationship between Iran and the United States as a low intensity conflict, embodying elements of superpower gamesmanship, insurgent tactics and economic warfare. This title explores how diplomatic, military, and economic weapons are employed to bolster each nation's strategic and tactical advantage. Joseph J. St. Marie, Shahdad Naghshpour. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.