The strategic culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran : religion, expediency, and soft power in an era of disruptive change / Michael Eisenstadt.

Format:

• Book
• Government document

Author/Creator:

• Eisenstadt, Michael, author.

Contributor:

• Marine Corps University (U.S.). Middle East Studies, issuing body.

Series:

• Middle East Studies monograph series ; no. 7.
• MES monographs ; no. 7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Iran. Riyāsat-i Jumhūrī.
• Strategic culture--Iran.
• Iran--Military policy.
• Iran--Foreign relations.
• Diplomatic relations.
• Military policy.
• Strategic culture.
• Iran.

Genre:

• Online resources.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (52 pages)

Edition:

Expanded and revised Second edition.

Place of Publication:

[Quantico, Virginia] : Middle East Studies, Marine Corps University, 2015.

Summary:

"The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) is an unconventional adversary that requires unconventional approaches to planning, strategy, and policy. These approaches must take into account the country's sophisticated culture, the regime's religious-ideological orientation, the abiding importance of Iranian nationalism, and Iran's modern military history. And they must recognize the IRI's unique approach to statecraft, strategy, and the use of force. Doing so is no easy task for Americans, as the United States and Iran are studies in opposites when it comes to culture, values, and politics ... These factors complicate efforts to understand Tehran's behavior and to formulate effective policies toward the Islamic Republic. Iran's political system, moreover, is unique in that it is characterized by parallel structures that are the locus of multiple power centers. These consist of both traditional state and revolutionary institutions: the President and Supreme Leader; the Majles and Guardian Council; the Judiciary and Special Clerical Courts; and the regular military and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), with the former often counterbalanced, and sometimes undermined by the actions of the latter. This organizational complexity and the importance of informal influence networks also often renders the functioning of the regime opaque -- even to many of its own members -- making it especially difficult for outsiders to understand what is going on. Finally, planners and policymakers dealing with the IRI should keep in mind three generalizations that can be said of a number of countries, but which are especially true for the Islamic Republic ... With these caveats in mind, this monograph will attempt to identify the salient features of the IRI's strategic culture, and their implications for planning, strategy, and policy"--Introduction.

Contents:

• Introduction
• A nation of martyrs?
• Defense planning
• Soft power
• The IRI's "way of war"
• Narratives of victory : Ali, Hassan, and Hussein
• Implications for a "nuclear" Iran?
• Conclusions.

Notes:

• "November 2015."
• Includes bibliographical references (pages 34-50).
• Online resource; title from PDF title page (MES, viewed November 18, 2015).

Other Format:

Print version: Eisenstadt, Michael. Strategic culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran

OCLC:

929883568