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Product Identifiers

PublisherOxford University Press, Incorporated

ISBN-100199387893

ISBN-139780199387892

eBay Product ID (ePID)219770883

Product Key Features

Number of Pages320 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameVanguard of the Imam : Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards

SubjectInternational Relations / Arms Control, Military / General, World / Middle Eastern, Middle East / Iran, Security (National & International)

Publication Year2016

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaPolitical Science, History

AuthorAfshon Ostovar

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height1.3 in

Item Weight19.9 Oz

Item Length6.1 in

Item Width9.3 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2015-049055

Reviews2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." --The Washington Book Review "The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)" -- Choice "Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution "This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran, "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." --The Washington Book Review "The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)" -- Choice "Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution "This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran, 2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title "Vanguard of the Imam, shows how important leftist opposition elements were in the creation of the insurrectionary ideology that informs the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the IRGC) to this day." -- Times Literary Supplement "Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits." -- Foreign Affairs "Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East." -- War on the Rocks "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." -- The Washington Book Review "The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)." -- Choice "Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution "This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran, "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." --The Washington Book Review, "Vanguard of the Imam offers seasoned students of Iran a more granular view of the early years of the revolution and the post-war period, as seen through the lens of the IRGC's rise. Readers who are new to the subject of Iran will benefit from a thorough introduction into the politics of the Islamic Republic, and they may also find useful the final chapters, which neatly synthesize many of the current events unfolding in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon Vanguard of the Imam is a useful addition to the literature, and one that both graduate and undergraduate instructors of courses on Middle Eastern politics would benefit from adopting."--Nathan Gonzalez, Journal of Church and State 2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title "Vanguard of the Imam, shows how important leftist opposition elements were in the creation of the insurrectionary ideology that informs the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the IRGC) to this day." -- Times Literary Supplement "Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits." -- Foreign Affairs "Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East." -- War on the Rocks "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." -- The Washington Book Review "The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)." -- Choice "Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution "This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran, "Vanguard of the Imam offers seasoned students of Iran a more granular view of the early years of the revolution and the post-war period, as seen through the lens of the IRGC's rise. Readers who are new to the subject of Iran will benefit from a thorough introduction into the politics of the Islamic Republic, and they may also find useful the final chapters, which neatly synthesize many of the current events unfolding in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon Vanguard of the Imam is a useful addition to the literature, and one that both graduate and undergraduate instructors of courses on Middle Eastern politics would benefit from adopting."--Nathan Gonzalez, Journal of Church and State2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title"Vanguard of the Imam, shows how important leftist opposition elements were in the creation of the insurrectionary ideology that informs the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the IRGC) to this day." -- Times Literary Supplement "Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits." -- Foreign Affairs "Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East." -- War on the Rocks "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." -- The Washington Book Review"The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)." -- Choice"Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan"When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution"This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran, "Vanguard of the Imam offers seasoned students of Iran a more granular view of the early years of the revolution and the post-war period, as seen through the lens of the IRGC's rise. Readers who are new to the subject of Iran will benefit from a thorough introduction into the politics of the Islamic Republic, and they may also find useful the final chapters, which neatly synthesize many of the current events unfolding in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon Vanguard of the Imam is a useful addition to the literature, and one that both graduate and undergraduate instructors of courses on Middle Eastern politics would benefit from adopting."--Nathan Gonzalez, Journal ofChurch and State2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title"Vanguard of the Imam, shows how important leftist opposition elements were in the creation of the insurrectionary ideology that informs the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the IRGC) to this day." -- Times Literary Supplement"Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits." -- Foreign Affairs"Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East." -- War on the Rocks"Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." -- The Washington Book Review"The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)." -- Choice"Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan"When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution"This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran, 2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title "Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits." -- Foreign Affairs "Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East." -- War on the Rocks "Vanguard of the Imam is a very insightful book on the Revolutionary Guards. With the help of hitherto unused sources, Ostovar has thrown light on new dimensions of the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic Iran. With unmatchable scholarship, Ostovar has highlighted the Revolutionary Guards' role in Islamic nation-building in post Islamic Revolutionary Iran. It is a must-read book to understand Islamic Iran." -- The Washington Book Review "The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)." -- Choice "Ostovar's must-read book is the first study of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that deals not only with their military and security dimension but also with the social and cultural history of the organization. It is a brilliant and unique achievement." -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan "When at home or abroad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the tip of Iran's revolutionary spear. Ostovar offers us a detailed, nuanced, and definitive guide." -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution "This is a book that will appeal both to scholars and students of contemporary Iran, and journalists and specialists, and to the literate wider public -- an excellent book that deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran

Dewey Edition23

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal355.3

Table Of Content1. Introduction Brief Overview of the IRGC Literature Review Conceptualizing the IRGC Pro-clerical Activism Primacy of the Leader Military Power and State-building Chapters and Questions 2. From Ali to Khomeini The Formation of Shiite Islam Rise of the Clergy The Islamic Movement Revolutionary Ideology 3. Vanguard of the Imam Enter the Vanguard Roots and Radicals Khomeini Über Alles One System to Rule Them All 4. The Imposed War Invasion Civil Discord and a Stymied War Effort The Islamic Republic Strikes Back 5. The Long War The International Dimension Running into Walls In the Path of the Divine A Fleeting Taste of Victory The Bitter End 6. Exporting the Revolution and the Khomeinist Divide Revolutionary Internationalism A Conservative Turn Toward the Liberation of Jerusalem The Revolution Comes to Lebanon Fall of the Radicals 7. Culture and Identity The Islamic Model Army Power of the Pen Wartime Cultural Activism Visual Identity Iconology of the Self Warriors of Karbala 8. When Johnny Comes Marching Home Postwar Reconstruction under Rafsanjani Propagating Virtue, Prohibiting Vice Taking Back the Revolution 9. The War on Terror Fear of a Nuclear Iran Electing Ahmadinejad An Iran Ascendant The Specter of War 10. Big Bang, Big Crunch "Death to the Dictator!" Rebranding the Basij Springtime A Cornered Lion Knives Out 11. In Defense of the Family of the Prophet In Defense of Sayyida Zaynab A Return to Karbala 12. Conclusion

SynopsisIran's Revolutionary Guards are one of the most important forces in the Middle East today, but remain poorly understood to outside observers. In Vanguard of the Imam, Afshon Ostovar has written the first comprehensive history of the organization. Situating the rise of the Guards in the contexts of Shiite Islam, Iranian history, and international affairs, Ostovar takes a multifaceted approach in demystifying the organization and detailing its evolution since 1979. The book documents the Guards transformation into a power-player and explores why the group matters now more than ever to regional and global affairs. It is simultaneously a history of modern Iran, and an engrossing entryway into the complex world of war, politics, and identity in the Middle East., Iran's Revolutionary Guards are one of the most important forces in the Middle East today. As the appointed defender of Iran's revolution, the Guards have evolved into a pillar of the Islamic Republic and the spearhead of its influence. Their sway has spread across the Middle East, where the Guards have overseen loyalist support to Bashar al-Assad in Syria and been a staunch backer in Iraq's war against ISIS-bringing its own troops, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and Shiite militias to the fight. Links to terrorism, human rights abuses, and the suppression of popular democracy have shrouded the Revolutionary Guards in controversy. In spite of their prominence, the Guards remain poorly understood to outside observers. In Vanguard of the Imam, Afshon Ostovar has written the first comprehensive history of the organization. Situating the rise of the Guards in the larger contexts of Shiite Islam, modern Iranian history, and international affairs, Ostovar takes a multifaceted approach in demystifying the organization and detailing its evolution since 1979. Politics, power, and religion collide in this story, wherein the Revolutionary Guards transform from a rag-tag militia established in the midst of revolutionary upheaval into a military and covert force with a global reach. The Guards have been fundamental to the success of the Islamic revolution. The symbiotic relationship between them and Iran's clerical rulers underpins the regime's nearly unshakeable system of power. The Guards have used their privileged position at home to export Iran's revolution beyond its borders, establishing client armies in their image and extending Iran's strategic footprint in the process. Ostovar tenaciously documents the Guards' transformation into a power-player and explores why the group matters now more than ever to regional and global affairs. The book simultaneously serves as a history of modern Iran, and provides a crucial and engrossing entryway into the complex world of war, politics, and identity in the Middle East., Iran's Revolutionary Guards are one of the most important forces in the Middle East today. As the appointed defender of Iran's revolution, the Guards have evolved into a pillar of the Islamic Republic and the spearhead of its influence. Their sway has spread across the Middle East, where the Guards have overseen loyalist support to Bashar al-Assad in Syria and been a staunch backer in Iraq's war against ISIS-bringing its own troops, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and Shiite militias to the fight. Links to terrorism, human rights abuses, and the suppression of popular democracy have shrouded the Revolutionary Guards in controversy. In spite of their prominence, the Guards remain poorly understood to outside observers. In Vanguard of the Imam , Afshon Ostovar has written the first comprehensive history of the organization. Situating the rise of the Guards in the larger contexts of Shiite Islam, modern Iranian history, and international affairs, Ostovar takes a multifaceted approach in demystifying the organization and detailing its evolution since 1979. Politics, power, and religion collide in this story, wherein the Revolutionary Guards transform from a rag-tag militia established in the midst of revolutionary upheaval into a military and covert force with a global reach. The Guards have been fundamental to the success of the Islamic revolution. The symbiotic relationship between them and Iran's clerical rulers underpins the regime's nearly unshakeable system of power. The Guards have used their privileged position at home to export Iran's revolution beyond its borders, establishing client armies in their image and extending Iran's strategic footprint in the process. Ostovar tenaciously documents the Guards' transformation into a power-player and explores why the group matters now more than ever to regional and global affairs. The book simultaneously serves as a history of modern Iran, and provides a crucial and engrossing entryway into the complex world of war, politics, and identity in the Middle East.

LC Classification NumberUA853.I7O84 2016