What is Iran?
Domestic Politics and International Relations in Five Musical Pieces

An introduction to the domestic politics and international relations of Iran, unique in its use of art, poetry and music.

Arshin Adib-Moghaddam (Author)

9781108948760, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 February 2021

225 pages
23 x 15.3 x 2 cm, 0.4 kg

'Through five musical pieces, Adib-Moghaddam offers a unique perspective on Iran's politics in the region and beyond … Adib-Moghaddam skilfully links the themes of his chosen examples - the greatness of Persian history and values and their impact on human history; revolutionary motivations and sacrifice; determination to rebel against injustice and resistance - to Iranian domestic and international politics. This informative book is a must-read for those engaged with Iranian studies and interested readers wishing to understand the trajectory of Iran-US relations.' Behzad Abdollahpour, International Affairs

What is Iran? What are its domestic politics? Its history? Its international relations? Here, Arshin Adib-Moghaddam sheds fresh light on these questions, offering a general introduction to everything there is to know about this country. Uniquely, he uses musical pieces as a way to offer a holistic understanding of the full spectrum of Iranian affairs. As a result, even the general reader is invited to traverse a wide array of topics in an interactive format which merges approaches from the social sciences with philosophy, poetry and art. These topics include a variety of themes, issues and personalities: from Trump, Khomeini, the Shah, Saddam Hussein and Qasem Soleimani, to Israel, Syria, Latin America, China and the Gulf monarchies. Ultimately, this book demonstrates in clear and accessible prose the impact of Iranian politics on a global scale, and offers solutions to the various crises enveloping the country in the region and beyond.

Prologue. Iran in the new world order
1. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Persian longitudes
2.God and politics: inside the Islamic republic
3.Strategic preferences – trans-national interests
4. The United States, Israel and the global right wing
5. Eurasian Iran: resistance or Persian empire?
Epilogue. A symphony of flowers.

Subject Areas: Geopolitics [JPSL], Political science & theory [JPA], Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Cultural studies [JFC], The arts: general issues [AB]