Into the Shadows: Radical Vigilantes in Khatami's IranAmong the many political systems in the Middle East, the regime in the Islamic Republic of Iran stands out as one of the most peculiar. There, the formal government--president, parliament, and other official governing components-- is paralleled by more powerful revolutionary institutions that help shape regime policy. But a third influential stand in Iran's volatile political dynamic is more unfamiliar to many, namely, the vigilante groups used by hard-liners to intimidate reformers with raw violence.In this Washington Institute Policy Paper, historian Michael Rubin presents an incisive and comprehensive survey of Iran's vigilantes, or "pressure groups," along with an exploration of the deep roots these groups have in modern Iranian history. Drawing on both a wide array of Persian language sources and his own research conducted in Iran, Dr. Rubin concludes that--despite the inevitability of political change suggested by demographic and economic realities in the Khatami era--the prospects for real reform in Iran within the existing system of rule are weakened by vigilante activism.The strategic use of vigilantes to frustrate reform also raises important policy issues for the U.S. government. The United States, Dr. Rubin argues should not tolerate a shell game in which vigilantes--sponsored by those in power--carry out hostile actions for which the regime then conveniently denies responsibility. If the Iranian president cannot effectively suppress the vigilante groups, then he may be too weak a figure to implement meaningful changes in foreign or domestic policy.Understanding the threat these vigilante groups pose can only improve America's ability to formulate effective policy toward Iran. This valuable Policy Paper, incredibly rich in detail, brings vital scholarship to bear on that understanding. |
From inside the book
Try this search over all volumes: quds force bosnia
Results 1-0 of 0
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
The Evolution of Pressure Groups | 21 |
The Vigilante Group | 44 |
Intelligence Ministry | 88 |
Copyright | |
1 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Abbas Samii actions Agence France Presse Ahmad Ahmad Jannati Allah-Karam Ansar-i Hizbullah Ansar-i Hizbullah members April arrested attack August Ayatollah Baktiari Basij BBC Worldwide Monitoring claimed clerical Court declaring Dehnamaki deputy Deutsche Presse Agentur dissident murders dormitory embassy Fallahian February Fida'iyan-i Islam former Foruhar Furqan Ganji Guardian Council Hajjarian Hamshahri hardline hardline vigilantes Hujjatiyyah Husayn Ibid Ibrahimi Intelligence Ministry interview Iran's Iranian government Iranian reformists IRGC IRNA Islamic Republic Islamic Republic's Islamic Revolution Jannati Jebheh Judiciary July Unrest Police Kashani Khamene'i Khatami Khomeini Mahdaviyyat Majlis March Mashhad Mehdi Hashemi Mehdi Hashemi Gang Minister Montazeri Muhammad Muhammad Riza Musaddiq Musavi November Nurizadeh official Parvazi political power struggle President pressure groups prominent radical Rafsanjani Rayshahri reform reformist newspaper regime religious Revolutionary Guard riots Sa'id Imami Gang Salam shah shah's Sorush Subh-i Imruz Supreme Leader suspects Tehran University tion Unrest Police Trial vigilante groups violence Washington Institute