Montazeri
The Life and Thought of Iran's Revolutionary Ayatollah

This book looks at the historical context and political philosophy of the Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, a key figure in the Iranian revolution of 1978–9.

Sussan Siavoshi (Author)

9781316509463, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 10 July 2017

318 pages, 7 b/w illus.
22.7 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.45 kg

'Siavoshi's book shows the making of this unique revolutionary personality in detail and is a most welcome addition to the study of the 1979 revolution in Iran.' Maziar Behrooz, International Journal of Middle East Studies

By the time of his death in 2009, the Grand Ayatollah Montazeri was lauded as the spiritual leader of the Green movement in Iran. Since the 1960s, when he supported Ayatollah Khomeini's opposition to the Shah, Montazeri's life reflected the crucial political shifts within Iran. In this book, Sussan Siavoshi presents the historical context as well as Montazeri's own political and intellectual journey. Siavoshi highlights how Montazeri, originally a student of Khomeini became one of the key figures during the revolution of 1978–9. She furthermore analyses his subsequent writings, explaining how he went from trusted advisor to and nominated successor of Khomeini to an outspoken critic of the Islamic Republic. Examining Montazeri's political thought and practice as well as the historical context, Siavoshi's book is vital for those interested in post-revolutionary Iran and the phenomenon of political Islam.

Part I: 1. Life in the seminary: the making of a religious scholar
2. Birth of a revolutionary
3. The post-revolutionary state and Montazeri: the bearer, the agitator
4. Life of a dissident
Part II: 5. Juridico-political theory: state-society relations
6. Human rights
7. Legacy of a grand Ayatollah.

Subject Areas: Religion & politics [HRAM2], 21st century history: from c 2000 - [HBLX], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]