TY  - BOOK
AU  - Benjamin,Medea
TI  - Inside Iran: the real history and politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran 
SN  - 1944869654
PY  - 2018///]
CY  - New York
PB  - OR Books/Counterpoint
KW  - Iran
KW  - Politics and government
KW  - 1979-
KW  - Foreign relations
KW  - United States
KW  - 21st century
KW  - Strategic aspects
KW  - Persian Gulf Region
N1  - Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-227) and index
N2  - In 1979, the Iranian Revolution brought a full-scale theocracy to the 80 million inhabitants of the Middle East's second largest country, with. The rule of the ayatollahs opened the door to Islamic fundamentalism. In the decades since, bitter relations have persisted between the U.S. and Iran. Yet how is it that Iran has become the primary target of American antagonism over nations like Saudi Arabia, whose appalling human rights violations fail to depose it as one of America's closest allies in the Middle East? In the first general-audience book on the subject, Medea Benjamin elucidates the mystery behind this complex relationship, recounting the country's history from the pre-colonial period to its emergence as the one nation Democrats and Republicans alike can unite in denouncing. Benjamin has traveled several times to Iran, and uses her firsthand experiences with politicians, activists, and everyday citizens to provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of Iranian society. Tackling common misconceptions about Iran's system of government, its religiosity, and its citizens' way of life, Benjamin makes short work of the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding U.S.-Iranian relations, and presents a realistic and hopeful case for the two nations' future
ER  -