blindmanbaldwin 's review for:

Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic by Michael Axworthy

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Thorough and even-handed. Axworthy portrays the causes of the revolution, the implementation of the Islamic Republic, and its challenges with a neutral voice. He is not condemning or condoning. Yet, he also is not refusing to do any analysis. Axworthy treats the Islamic Republic as a legitimate government and one that has to be treated as such, no different than how the United States or its allies treat other non-democratic governments where they find common ground. He also highlights areas where the Iranian government has been contradictory or has fallen from its stated values, and how these contradictions challenge its legitimacy within the borders.

As someone who is not of this ethnic or religious background, I appreciate how Axworthy gives context on the wider history of both Iran and Shia Islam in the region as informers of the government's positions.