{"product_id":"vanguard-of-the-imam-religion-politics-and-irans-revolutionary-guards-9780190882891","title":"Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards","description":"Iran's Revolutionary Guards are one of the most important forces in the Middle East today. As the appointed defender of Iran's revolution, the Guards have evolved into a pillar of the Islamic Republic and the spearhead of its influence. Their sway has spread across the Middle East, where the\u003cbr\u003eGuards have overseen loyalist support to Bashar al-Assad in Syria and been a staunch backer in Iraq's war against ISIS. In spite of their prominence, the Guards remain poorly understood to outside observers. In \u003cem\u003eVanguard of the Imam\u003c\/em\u003e, Afshon Ostovar has written the first comprehensive history of the\u003cbr\u003eorganization. Situating the rise of the Guards in the larger contexts of Shiite Islam, modern Iranian history, and international politics, Ostovar account of the Guards' history since 1979 demystifies the organization. Politics, power, and religion collide in this story, wherein the Revolutionary\u003cbr\u003eGuards transform from a rag-tag militia established in the midst of revolutionary upheaval into a military and covert force with a global reach. As he shows, the Guards have been fundamental to the success of the Islamic revolution, and their symbiotic relationship with the clerical leadership has\u003cbr\u003ebeen fundamental to the regime's ability to retain power. They have also exported Iran's revolution beyond its borders, establishing client armies in their image and extending Iran's strategic footprint in the process. Ostovar tenaciously documents the Guards' transformation into a power player and\u003cbr\u003eexplores why the group matters now more than ever in both the region and the wider world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Afshon Ostovar\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/15\/2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 322\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.30w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780190882891\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfshon Ostovar\u003c\/strong\u003e is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School. He lives on the California Central Coast.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":39929224527987,"sku":"9.78E+12","price":31.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_2447f23d-7b39-4cb9-9198-f5b7d7a041df.jpg?v=1647611989","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/en-de\/products\/vanguard-of-the-imam-religion-politics-and-irans-revolutionary-guards-9780190882891","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}