This book explores Iran, a country in a state of political, economic and social transformation. It examines the benefits of change, as well as the challenges to traditional ways of life in an age of increasing globalization.

Iran-or Persia, as it was known until the 1930s-is home to one of the world's oldest cultures. Over the years it has exerted a great influence over its neighbors in the Middle East and Central Asia. Although Iran was once a close ally of the United States, in 1979 supporters of the Islamic fundamentalist cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the government and instituted a new one based on strict interpretation of Islamic law. In the years since then, U.S.-Iranian relations have been hostile. Today, however, Iran is once again undergoing an internal struggle. Iranians-particularly the younger generation-are trying to reconcile the changes that followed the 1979 Islamic Revolution with the needs and requirements of life in the 21st century. The outcome of this struggle between religious conservatives and the reformers will determine Iran's future. Discusses the geography, history, economy, government, religion, people, foreign relations, and major cities of Iran.

New perspectives on Iran's relationship to democracy Can Islamic societies embrace democracy? In Democracy in Modern Iran, Ali Mirsepassi maintains that it is possible, demonstrating that Islam is not inherently hostile to the idea of democracy. Rather, he provides new perspective on how such a political and social transformation could take place, arguing that the key to understanding the integration of Islam and democracy lies in concrete social institutions rather than pre-conceived ideas, the every day experiences rather than abstract theories. Mirsepassi, an Iranian native, provides a rare inside look into the country, offering a deep understanding of how Islamic countries like Iran and Iraq can and will embrace democracy. Democracy in Modern Iran challenges readers to think about Islam and democracy critically and in a far more nuanced way than is done in black-and-white dichotomies of Islam vs. Democracy, or Iran vs. the West. This essential volume contributes important insights to current discussions, creating a more complex conception of modernity in the Eastern world and, with it, Mirsepassi offers to a broad Western audience a more accurate, less clichéd vision of Iran’s political reality.

What would you do? What if you stumbled across a messagea simple interpretation of scripture much simpler than scholars had been telling usand it opened your eyes and completely transformed your perspective of the end times? What if you knew in your heart and mind it was true because news coming from the Middle East confirmed this message every day? What if millions of lives were about to be deeply affected and someone had to say something? And what if that someone had to be you? What would you do? If you want to know the truth regarding present-day events in the Middle East and how they will affect you and your family, you need to get this book. A major fire has been lit and few are paying attention. Dr. Sonny Payne, founder of New Gate Ministries and host of the international television program Jerusalem Chronicles What Mark has done is create a very quick read for those Christians who can feel something coming but cant put their finger on it, who know that God is in control but, in a world spiraling into chaos, dont know where to go scripturally. Chris Mantei, Northeast Region Community Voice, Voice of the Martyrs The message in this book needs to be heard today! I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book. It will change the way you face the future! Carl Sutter, senior pastor, Foundations Church, Loveland, Colorado

In this book, Ali Gheissari and Vali Nasr look at the political history of Iran in the modern era, and offer an in-depth analysis of the prospects for democracy to flourish there. After having produced the only successful Islamist challenge to the state, a revolution, and an Islamic Republic, Iran is now poised to produce a genuine and indigenous democratic movement in the Muslim world. Democracy in Iran is neither a sudden development nor a western import, and Gheissari and Nasr seek to understand why democracy failed to grow roots and lost ground to an autocratic Iranian state.

Religion, nationalism, ethnicity, economics, and geopolitics all are important in explaining Iran's goals and tactics in its relationship with the outside world, as are the agendas of key security institutions and the ambitions of their leaders. This report assesses Iran's security policy in light of these factors. It examines broad drivers of Iran's security policy, describes important security institutions, explores decisionmaking, and reviews Iran's relations with key countries. The authors conclude that Iraq is widely recognized as the leading threat to Iran's Islamic regime and Afghanistan is seen as an emerging threat. In contrast, Iran has solid, if not necessarily warm, relations with Syria and established working ties to Pakistan and Russia. Iran's policies toward its neighbors are increasingly prudent: It is trying to calm regional tension and end its isolation, although its policies toward Israel and the United States are often an exception to this policy. Iran's security forces, particularly the regular military, are often voices of restraint, preferring shows of force to overactive confrontations. Finally, Iran's security forces generally respect and follow the wishes of Iran's civilian leadership; conducting rogue operations is rare to nonexistent.