Insurgency Through Culture and Religion: The Islamic Revolution of Iran

by Mohammd M. Salehi

Overview

In his case study of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Salehi discusses the role of culture and religion in a modern society. The author examines Shi'ism as a vehicle of political activism and dissent and provides an insider's view of events leading to the 1979 Iranian revolution. . . . The author suggests that modernization theory and single-factor causes of revolution be examined in a holistic manner. . . . Salehi explains that this approach neither ignores nor discounts the significance of facts. The book provides an interesting perspective on the psychological undercurrents of life in an oppressive society. A rich source of information on the Islamic revolution. Choice

The Iranian middle class played a historical role in steering Iran into the revolution of 1978. This volume traces the ideological content of the revolution, as well as the cultural and political outlooks that forced mass support in different segments of the Iranian middle class. Salehi asserts that potential existed in Iranian society for the outbreak of revolution long before 1978. He addresses the basic question of why the revolution of 1978-79 triumphed with the Shiia clergymen playing a leading role—and ties together the psychological, cultural, and religious roots of the resolution with class theory. The author's analysis of personalities, events, religion, class theory, and cultural theory should serve as the model not only in the study of Iran, but can extend to the analyses of other internal uprisings in the Middle East.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275929022
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/17/1988
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1260L (what's this?)

About the Author

M.M. Salehi was a member of the faculty of sociology at the National University of Iran for more than a decade. In Iran he published a number of sociology textbooks and papers. He was also active in team research on industrial studies and planning for the country. Recently, he came to the United States. He is currently advancing his quantitative knowledge and skills for social research and at the same time is finalizing reports of some of the social studies he had undertaken in Iran. He holds an engineering degree from Purdue University and a PhD in sociology from the Michigan State University. He has taught sociology at a number of American universities.

Table of Contents

Political Features of Iranian Culture and Shiia Islam
The Roots of Oppression in Iranian Society
Culture and Religion: A Different Perspective
Political Potential of Iranian Culture
Political Potential of Shiia Islam
Iranians Struggle for Revolution
The Constitutional Revolution of 1906-1909
The Reign of Nationalist Modernizers
The Iranian Middle Class Rises to Power
Intellectual Preparation for Revolution
The Revolution of 1978-1979
Post-Revolultionary Power Struggles
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

In his case study of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Salehi discusses the role of culture and religion in a modern society. The author examines Shi'ism as a vehicle of political activism and dissent and provides an insider's view of events leading to the 1979 Iranian revolution. Although Salehi seeks to make a contribution to theoretical inquiry into the sociology of modernization, the sociology of revolution, and the social study of culture and religion, he focuses more on historical background, fact, and experience than on analysis and theoretical insight. The author suggests that modernization theory and single-factor causes of revolution be examined in a holistic manner, but he does not define what a holistic approach is (nor does he explain his methodology for participant observation.) Salehi explains that this approach neither ignores nor discounts the significance of facts. The book provides an interesting perspective on the psychological undercurrents of life in an oppressive society. A rich source of information on the Islamic revolution for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.” —Choice

From the Publisher

An examination of the cultural and historical roots of the Iranian revolutionary movement, with attention to the means by which it was transformed from a relatively secular to a distinctly clerical orientation; written by an American-trained sociologist. Strong emphasis is placed on Iran as a sort of laboratory example of how revolution often depends not on materialist values but ideas, culture, and religion. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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