Creating an Islamic State
Khomeini and the Making of a New Iran
Published on 28. July 2000
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-86064-418-4 (ISBN)
Description
How did the Ayatollah Khomeini create his Islamic state? What were the ideas which drove him and his movement? What organisation and methods helped bring him to power? This extraordinary book is the first to analyse the ideological roots of an Islamic state as conceived by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Surprisingly the author finds much of the inspiration behind Khomeini's political thinking being influenced by western sources - his writings on the supreme Islamic Jurist being affected by Plato's notions of the philosopher-king and his views of state power and centralism being closely linked to his understanding of Marxist/Leninist totalitarianism. Vanessa Martin makes a groundbreaking contribution on the dynamics of the Iranian Revolution and the Islamist revival especially relevant in the context of the debated arising out of Irans' recent elections.
Reviews / Votes
'This valuable book is... an inspiring work of scholarship on the history of contemporary Iran and very stimulating in terms of exploring the possible indigenous sources for the construction of modernity based on philosophy and irfan in an Islamic setting. -Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 'In this excellent new book Martin... stimulates thought. The narrative and analysis are readable, well-edited and supplemented by glossary for non-specialists.' -History 'Creating an Islamic State will appeal not only to scholars and a broad spectrum of students but also to anyone with an interest in Middle East Politics and ideas and in Islam in general.' -Islam21, 12/00 'In a provocative analysis of Khomeni's surprising success in politicizing Iranians to revolutionary action and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Vanessa Martin focuses on Khomeini's radicalization of religious thought and on his pragmatism in responding to evolving events. The significance of Creating an Islamic State, however, goes far beyond modern Iranian and Middle Eastern history and should be read by all students of comparative and modern history in general.' -Gene R. Garthwaite, Professor of History, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire 'Vanessa Martin's Creating an Islamic State is a strikingly illuminating book, essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how Ayatollah Khomeini's vision of clerical rule evolved, and how, after the overthrow of the Shah, it came to be established as the form of government in the Islamic Republic of Iran.' -Professor David Morgan University of Wisconsin-Madison "This book makes a valid contribution on the dynamics of the Iranian Revolution and the Islamic revival especially relevant in the context of debates arising out of Iran's most recent events" -Fred Rhodes, 'The Middle East Magazine' 'Martin's book is an excellent introduction to one of the most influential and, in terms of historical impact, most important personages in the second half of the 20th Century.' - Asian Affairs,More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-86064-418-4 (9781860644184)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
03/2003
I.B. Tauris
€50.94
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Vanessa Martin is lecturer in Modern Middle Eastern History at Royal Holloway College, University of London. She is author of Islam and Modernism: The Iranian Revolution of 1906 (I.B.Tauris).
Content
Acknowledgements vii Introduction ix I The Historical Background - Religion and State 1 The Qajar Era 1 The Period of Reza Shah 9 Muhammad Reza Shah 17 II Early Years and the Influence of 'Irfan 29 Youth and Development 29 'Irfan and its Background 31 The Role of 'Irfan 34 III Restructuring, Organization and the Emergence of the Nahzat 48 Restructuring in Qum in the 1940s and 1950s 48 The Quest for a New Marja' 56 Conflicts Between Clergy and State 60 The Association of United Societies 64 Organization and Khomeini's Students after his Exile 69 IV Mutahhari: Towards an Islamic Ideology and the Battle for Control of Political Islam 75 Mutahhari's Life and Background 76 Mutahhari's Philosophy of Islam 81 The Refutation of Marxism and Iltiqat 92 V Visions of the Islamic State I - The Khomeini Version 100 The Modernization of Islam - Some Earlier Views 100 Khomeini's Ideas on the Islamic State in The Revealing of Secrets 103 Khomeini's Concept of the Islamic State in the 1960s 112 Islamic Government and the Government of the Jurist 115 The Islamic State in Khomeini's Speeches and Leaflets, 1971-78 124 VI Visions of the Islamic State II - Other Islamist Movements 129 The Fada'iyan-i Islam 129 The Wider Islamist Debate and the Question of Influences 133 VII The Establishment of the Islamic State 147 The Political Situation, 1978-79 147 Khomeini's Movement During the Revolution 150 The Struggle over the Nature of the Islamic Republic 156 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic 159 The Bani Sadr Period and Beyond 166 VIII The Western Media and the Iranian Revolution 174 Phase I: The Months Leading up to the Revolution 178 Phase II: September - December 1978 178 Phase III: January - February 1979 181 Phase IV: March - November 1979 184 IX The Contemporary Muslim Perspective on the Iranian Revolution 188 Conclusion 197 Notes 205 Glossary 230 Bibliography 235 Index 244