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Author:   Afshon Ostovar (Senior Analyst, Senior Analyst, Senior Analyst)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 23.60cm , Height: 3.30cm , Length: 15.50cm
Weight:   0.562kg
ISBN:  

9780199387892

ISBN 10:   0199387893
Pages:   320
Publication Date:   14 April 2016
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

"1. 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"

Reviews

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. Anthony Forbes, Times Literary Supplement Afshon Ostovar with his Vanguard of the Imam, a readable and reliable account that is sure to prove an indispensable resource for anyone wishing to understand the IRGCs evolution and functioning. Survival: Global Politics and Strategy

Vanguard of the Imam provides a worthy account of the IRGC from its inception to today. It is not only an institutional analysis of the IRGC but a historical and cultural assessment of post-revolutionary Iran that both provides insights on IRGC activities abroad and reviews Iranian policies toward the Middle East. * Bayram Sinkaya, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University * Afshon Ostovar with his Vanguard of the Imam, a readable and reliable account that is sure to prove an indispensable resource for anyone wishing to understand the IRGCs evolution and functioning. * Survival: Global Politics and Strategy * 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. * Anthony Forbes, Times Literary Supplement * 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 *

<em>Vanguard of the Imam</em> 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. --<em>The Washington Book Review</em> The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC) -- <em>Choice</em> 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. -- <em>Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan</em> 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. -- <em>Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution</em> 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. -- <em>Michael Axworthy, author of</em> Revolutionary Iran

<strong>2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title</strong> <em>Vanguard of the Imam</em> 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. --<em>The Washington Book Review</em> The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC) -- <em>Choice</em> 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. -- <em>Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan</em> 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. -- <em>Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution</em> 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. -- <em>Michael Axworthy, author of</em> Revolutionary Iran

Author Information

Afshon Ostovar is a Senior Analyst at the Center for Strategic Studies at CNA, and has joined the Naval Postgraduate School as an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs. He lives in the Washington, DC area.

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