The Quest for Authority in Iran - by Siavush Randjbar-Daemi (Paperback)

About the Book

Detailed and highly-researched history of the Iranian presidency and the holders of the post of President.

Book Synopsis

Iran's presidents have defined the Islamic Republic's attitudes towards the rest of the world. Never has this been more true than now. In this book Siavush Randjbar-Daemi presents an in-depth analysis of the evolution of the Iranian presidency from its inception in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution to the present day. He offers detailed narratives of each president's ascent to the post and their struggles to acquire authority and
maintain relevance within the political process. The figures under consideration include the widely-admired Mohammad Khatami, the internationally-criticised Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the incumbent president Hassan Rouhani, who steered the decade-long nuclear confrontation between Iran and the West towards a diplomatic conclusion.
This book sheds light on the extraordinarily complex workings of the Iranian state, taking into account both the opportunities and challenges that each president has faced whilst in power.

About the Author

Siavush Randjbar-Daemi is Lecturer in Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of St Andrews. He was previously Lecturer in Iranian History at the University of Manchester. He holds a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London. His research interests include the development and evolution of the state and the history of the press in modern and contemporary Iran, as well as protest movements in the modern Middle East. His writings on Iranian history, culture and current affairs have been published in English, Italian and Persian.