Much of the Western world responded to Iran's recent postelection upheaval with surprise; the demands of protesters left many pundits scrambling to explain what they perceived as unprecedented politicization of the citizenry. However, as Arjomand (The Turban for the Crown
) demonstrates, the West's tendency to see Iran as a political monolith has always been profoundly ahistorical. Efforts to control domestic tensions played an important role even in the decisions of the revolution's father, Ayatollah Khomeini. Arjomand presents a variety of factors that shape today's Iran. He demonstrates, for instance, the extent to which the state religion practiced by Khomeini and his successors amounts to a “theocratic redefinition of Shi'ism,” and that while this has led to the disaffection of some of the original revolutionary vanguard (such as former president Mohammad Khatami), potential reformists remain “trapped as insiders in their revolutionary discourse,” their timidity in challenging the system leading to greater power concentrated in fewer hands and the development of a “clerical monarchy.” Arjomand's presentation and analysis are fascinating, but might prove dense and intimidating for the neophyte. (Dec.)
