After Khomeini

Abstract

Drawing on the sociology of revolution, Arjomand’s book is set on explaining the political developments of Iran and its rollercoaster-like domestic and foreign policy realities during the past two decades. According to the author, the greatest misconception about post-revolutionary Iran is the notion that the revolution ended with the establishment of a “Brintonian” Thermidor through the rise to power of the pragmatist president Hashemi-Rafsanjani (1989-97) and/or the reformist president Khatami (1997-2005). In contrast, “this book argues that the Islamic revolution did not end with Khomeini’s death and that there was no return to ‘normalcy’ the day after. Massive revolutionary violence abated while the revolution continued” (p. 5) ...