Overview

Iran's Revolutionary Guards are one of the most important forces in the Middle East today, but remain poorly understood to outside observers. In Vanguard of the Imam, Afshon Ostovar has written the first comprehensive history of the organization.

Full Product Details

Author:   Afshon Ostovar (Senior Analyst, Senior Analyst, Senior Analyst)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 16.00cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 23.10cm
Weight:   0.454kg
ISBN:  

9780190882891

ISBN 10:   0190882891
Pages:   322
Publication Date:   26 April 2018
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. From Ali to Khomeini 3. Vanguard of the Imam 4. The Imposed War 5. The Long War 6. Exporting the Revolution and the Khomeinist Divide 7. Culture and Identity 8. When Johnny Comes Marching Home 9. The War on Terror 10. Big Bang, Big Crunch 11. In Defense of the Family of the Prophet 12. Conclusion

Reviews

2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 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. -- The Middle East Journal 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. -- Times Literary Supplement Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits. -- Foreign Affairs Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East. -- War on the Rocks Vanguard of the Imam 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. -- The Washington Book Review The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC). -- Choice 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. -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan 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. -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution 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. -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran

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. * 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. * Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution * 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. * Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan * The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC). * Choice * Vanguard of the Imam 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. * The Washington Book Review * Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East. * War on the Rocks * Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits. * Foreign Affairs * 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. * Times Literary Supplement * 2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title

"2016 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title ""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."" -- The Middle East Journal ""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."" -- Times Literary Supplement ""Ostovar provides a careful history of the organization and its domestic and foreign exploits."" -- Foreign Affairs ""Vanguard of the Imam is the most up-to-date account of the IRGC's rise. [It] aids in understanding the battles that rage today in the Middle East."" -- War on the Rocks ""Vanguard of the Imam 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."" -- The Washington Book Review ""The best book yet written on the Islamic Revolutionary Republican Guard (IRGC)."" -- Choice ""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."" -- Juan Cole, Director, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan ""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."" -- Daniel Byman, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution ""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."" -- Michael Axworthy, author of Revolutionary Iran"

Author Information

Afshon Ostovar is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School. He lives on the California Central Coast.

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