The Iranian Labyrinth: Journeys Through Theocratic Iran and Its Furies

by Dilip Hiro

Book Overview

As Tehran faces a crisis in its escalating showdown with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding its nuclear program, renowned Middle East expert Dilip Hiro clears the way through the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560257164
• ISBN13: 9781560257165
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Bold Type Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Good insight into a theocratic democracy

Dilip Hiro's book shed a lot of light on Iranian culture and politics, and was very informative. It is worth reading about the middle eastern country who controls vast oil reserves and influences powerful international terror groups. The book will help you understand the dynamics of that country, and how it operates. Good book for the dedicated warrior.

More people should read and review!

I am surprised this book has so far only received 3 reviews. It is well worth reading. Dilip Hiro is a scholarly author whose work deserves careful reading and analysis--especially in times like these when there is little legitimate info about Iran on the shelves of Barnes and Noble. Not to mention we may be attacking them soon. Hiro's work is incredibly comprehensive, and he is no novice to Middle East studies (his book "Iraq" is also wonderful). He is on the "left" but I hesitate to say this because he makes little to no "overly-normative" comments. I looked long and hard for a recently published history of Iran and I was not disappointed in this one. Iran is one of those countries that Americans unfortunately dont know much about. It is also a country which will be of prime importance in the future, especially in regards to US foreign policy. People have some terrible misconceptions about Iran, and this book will set them straight. They are not a free and democratic country, but there are some things you will read that will blow your mind. Things that are totally contrary to popular convention. Hiro goes to great lengths to show Iran as a mature and civilized place (they are one of the oldest civilizations in the world!). The book starts in 1501 and goes to present (2005). It talks about oil, geo-politics, the Iran-Iraq War, culture, the Shah, democracy, US intervention/foreign relations, and more. One of the most surprising things I learned is that Iranians love American culture! There are many more. Very comprehensive, well written and well researched. A must read for anyone interesting in learning about Iran and current events.

Admirable balance and detail

This book achieves admirable balance in recounting Iran's controversies through recent history. Starting with the merchants of Tehran's Grand Bazaar, Hiro walks us through the labyrinth to the Majlis legislature, the popular movements and dictatorships of the past, the Islamic revolution, the oil economy, foreign relations, youth, women, and the future. Seldom do we find the perspectives of Iran and the West compared with such objectivity. Even less often do we find the shifting tensions between Iran's five major centers of power explored with such in-depth knowledge. I will offer just one typical quote: "When it comes to interpreting the Sharia - that is practicing ijtihad (interpretive reasoning) [concerning what is morally required, allowed, indifferent, undesirable, or forbidden] - there is often no difference between jurisprudents on the obligatory and prohibited subjects. Differences usually arise in the gray area of "allowed, unspecified, and undesirable". Whether a woman is entitled to become President of Iran or a member of the Assembly of Experts falls into this category. As stated earlier, at least one senior theologian, Grand Ayatollah Yusuf Saanei said "Yes" to both. In general, though, older jurisprudents are conservative, sticking to traditional interpretations, whereas younger ones are flexible and progressive." (p. 355)

And no cheese at the end!

Politics in any nation can appear confused, especially to outsiders. In an nation where religion is an influence, the complications grow intense. When religion dominates and theocracy threatens in a secular world, the twists and turns can only be described as Byzantine. Dilip Hiro makes a valiant attempt to impart what he's learned of Iranian politics and society in this book. It wasn't an easy task and Hiro has spent much time in Iran to understand it. He explains his revelations in a readable account. The reader is warned, however, that following his account isn't done easily. He's a journalist, but this isn't something to be consumed like the Sunday supplement in your local newspaper. Hiro reminds us of Iran's special position in the world. It's not just another "Middle East" nation. Its history stretches back many millennia, even before it was the heart of the Persian Empire. That Empire's strength came largely from the area being a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange. Although the Persian Empire faded, the region was a factor in later imperial ventures, with the Ottomans in the 17th Century. Parcelled out by the European Allies during World War I, "Iran" was literally the creation of the British Foreign Office. The discovery of oil ensured Iran was rarely free of foreign influence thereafter. Whenever Iran attempted to shake off the oil-thirsty West, first the British, then the Americans, took steps to quell nationalism and restore "stability" and the free flow of petroleum. The most glaring of these intrusions was the overthrow of the Mossadegh government by the CIA, replacing a democratically elected government with a royal figure, the Shah. The central theme of the book is Iran's Revolution of 1979. It marked the end of an era and set in train events unresolved today. The American installed Shah was deposed and a "Leader", ayatollah Khomeini, became the spiritual head of the nation. Although the West has viewed the Khomeini years as a time of theocratic dictatorship, Hiro clarifies both the Leader's role and its political manifestations. Iran's parliament, the Majlis, was still openly elected. The religious issues leading to newspaper closures, candidate rejection and clerical representation in the Majlis, were anything but uniform during the Khomeini years. Beyond purely domestic politics, the outbreak of war with Iraq, with the United States openly supporting Iraq, led Khomeini to modify many Quran-based social impositions. It was more important to Khomeini to foster Iraq nationalism than to impose religious dogmas on society. The result is a roller-coaster-ride reading experience as Hiro takes you through the rise and fall of political movements, often contradictory ambitions among even the clerics and the use of university students as political barometers. A less manipulated, but equally influential group in Iranian society, are the bazaar market vendors. Staunch advocates of unrestrained commerce,

Very helpful

It can now be taken as an axiom that the Western press cannot be trusted to report honestly the events of the Middle East as they are occurring and how they have occurred in the past. Journalism has been morphed into a game of politics and self-aggrandizement on the part of journalists. The study of history has been exposed as a game of promoting a particular worldview, and historians have exhibited an extreme bias that is sometimes admitted but frequently is not. For these reasons the study of historical events has taken on particular importance at the present time. Those who sincerely desire an accounting of history in most cases must undertake the study themselves. In addition, the prevailing political climate dictates that an accurate picture of history be available, in order to not be subjected to the mental tyranny of propaganda. Every citizen must now become a historian, and must practice extreme skepticism towards any assertions that are put into print that claim to be accurate appraisals of past events. Documents and sources must be checked meticulously, and no apologies must be given if research indicates that historical events do not conform to prevailing ideologies. This book, written by one of those who have been "on the ground" in the Middle East, attempts to give an overview of the history of Iran in the twentieth century. The accounting that he gives sounds plausible, and as a whole the book seems to be free of any extreme bias or hidden political agendas. However, it should be remembered that the author has viewed the Middle East through finite time windows, and therefore his appraisal of the events he has observed may not reflect the true situation. The fact that the book must be kept at a manageable length for publication also dictates that the author must employ selective filters on the history he is attempting to analyze. The author though gives many references for those readers who want to pursue further studies on the history of Iran. In view of the current tensions between Iran and the United States, it is imperative that an understanding of this tension be put into proper historical context. Some in the United States government have called for war against Iran. To find out whether such a war is justified entails that a thorough understanding of Iranian history be obtained. Some of the many historical topics that the author discusses in the book include: 1. The reasons for the invasion of Iran by Iraq in September 1980. 2. The origin and functioning of the Islamic Majlis. 3. The White Revolution, initiated by Shah Pahlavi, in 1963. This consisted of a "six-point" program involving agrarian reform, the nationalization of the forests, the sale of public factories to compensate landlords, suffrage for women, profit-sharing in industry, and the eradication of illiteracy. 4. The overthrow of the Mussadiq government by the CIA in 1953. This was the beginning of the heavy influence and manipulation of the United States in