The Iran Primer: Power, Politics, and U.S. Policy

Edited by Robin Wright this compendium provides top-level briefings by 50 seasoned experts on Iran (both Iranian and Western authors) from some twenty foreign policy think tanks eight universities and six U.S. administrations. The authors present a wide range of views offering factual information for ready reference thoughtful analysis and context. Since Irans 1979 revolution the West has struggled to understand what drives the Islamic Republic and how to deal with it. The challenge now looms even larger in the face of Irans controversial nuclear program the disputed 2009 election growing human rights violations and angry rhetoric. For Americans Iran is one of the most stereotyped and least understood countries in the world. Relations have been cut off since shortly after the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy. Three decades later the dispute over Irans nuclear program is sparking even deeper debates on policy said Wright. Iran has always been an important geostrategic country but today it represents a more complex challenge than other hotspots Afghanistan Iraq and North Korea for several reasons: The Islamic Republic will be pivotal to global events in the early 21st century because of its resources ideology weaponry allies and location. Featuring 50 aspects of this pivotal state The Iran Primer: Lays out little-known facts on Iran and provides analysis of key events trend lines; major leaders and political movements; Details Irans foreign relations with a dozen nearby countries or regions; Chronicles U.S.-Iran relations under six American presidents from the perspective of those who crafted the policy; Probes the Wests options in dealing with Iran in the future; and Offers extensive appendices including a whos who of Irans political elite and four detailed timelines on key events since the 1979 revolution. This briefing book is a practical and accessible go-to resource for practitioners policymakers academics and students as well as a fascinating wealth of information for anyone interested in understanding Irans pivotal role in world politics. Contributors: Geneive Abdo Michael Adler Ali Alfoneh David Albright Shaul Bakhash Henri J. Barkey Mehrzad Boroujerdi Rachel Brandenburg Daniel Brumberg Shahram Chubin Patrick Clawson Juan Cole Michael Connell Anthony H. Cordesman Suzanne DiMaggio James Dobbins Michael Eisenstadt Michael Elleman Haleh Esfandiari Farideh Farhi Hadi Ghaemi Jubin Goodarzi Richard N. Haass Stephen J. Hadley Kevan Harris Steven Heydemann Emile Hokayem Mark N. Katz Geoffrey Kemp Mehdi Khalaji Ellen Laipson Matthew Levitt John Limbert Suzanne Maloney Omid Memarian Abbas Milani Mohsen Milani Fareed Mohamedi Afshin Molavi Alireza Nader Tara Nesvaderani Semira N. Nikou John S. Park Kenneth M. Pollack Walter Posch Korush Rahimkhani Bruce O. Riedel Karim Sadjadpour Gary Sick Steven Simon Jason Starr Andrea Stricker Robin Wright Dov S. Zakheim