Inside Iran : the real history and politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran / Medea Benjamin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benjamin, Medea, 1952- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations.

Politics and government.

Iran--Politics and government--1979-.

Iran.

Iran--Foreign relations--United States.

United States.

United States--Foreign relations--Iran.

Iran--Foreign relations--21st century.

Iran--Strategic aspects.

Persian Gulf Region--Politics and government--21st century.

Persian Gulf Region.

Diplomatic relations.

Strategic aspects of individual places.

Physical Description:

250 pages : illustrations, map, portraits ; 21 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : OR Books/Counterpoint, [2018]

Summary:

In 1979, the Iranian Revolution brought a full-scale theocracy to the 80 million inhabitants of the Middle East's second largest country, with. The rule of the ayatollahs opened the door to Islamic fundamentalism. In the decades since, bitter relations have persisted between the U.S. and Iran. Yet how is it that Iran has become the primary target of American antagonism over nations like Saudi Arabia, whose appalling human rights violations fail to depose it as one of America's closest allies in the Middle East? In the first general-audience book on the subject, Medea Benjamin elucidates the mystery behind this complex relationship, recounting the country's history from the pre-colonial period to its emergence as the one nation Democrats and Republicans alike can unite in denouncing. Benjamin has traveled several times to Iran, and uses her firsthand experiences with politicians, activists, and everyday citizens to provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of Iranian society. Tackling common misconceptions about Iran's system of government, its religiosity, and its citizens' way of life, Benjamin makes short work of the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding U.S.-Iranian relations, and presents a realistic and hopeful case for the two nations' future.

Contents:

Iran Before the 1979 Revolution

The Islamic Revolution Shocks the World

The Struggle for Human Rights in Iran

"Social Deviants": Gays, Prostitutes, Drugs, and Alcohol

Religious Freedom, for Some

The Paradoxical Status of Iranian Women

The Iranian Economy After Decades of Sanctions

Iran's Relations with the US and the West

Iran in the Middle East and Beyond

The Way Forward.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-241) and index.

ISBN:

1944869654

9781944869656

OCLC:

1003797094

Publisher Number:

99977320138