Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards

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
Guards 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 Vanguard of the Imam, Afshon Ostovar has written the first comprehensive history of the
organization. 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
Guards 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
been 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
explores why the group matters now more than ever in both the region and the wider world.


Author: Afshon Ostovar
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 04/15/2018
Pages: 322
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780190882891

About the Author

Afshon Ostovar is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School. He lives on the California Central Coast.

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