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The Guardian of Authoritarianism: How Iran's Guardian Council Ensures the Survival of the Islamic Republic's Autocratic Regime
Paperback
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ISBN13: 9798304416146
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jan 24 2025
Pages: 174
Weight: 0.39
Height: 0.37 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jan 24 2025
Pages: 174
Weight: 0.39
Height: 0.37 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
Over the past four decades, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, hundreds of academic studies, think tank analyses, and media reports have been produced about Iran. These works predominantly focus on the IRGC's influence as a military, economic, and political force. They also emphasize the extraordinary power wielded by the Supreme Leader, whose authority is often portrayed as absolute and unchecked. Together, these two forces are typically framed as the primary pillars of power in the Islamic Republic.
But does this portrayal fully capture the reality of Iran's power structure? Is it sufficient to explain the Islamic Republic's political dynamics solely through the lenses of the Supreme Leader and the IRGC? This book argues that such a framework is incomplete. While the Supreme Leader and the IRGC undoubtedly hold significant power, there is a third pillar of control that is often overlooked: the Guardian Council. This institution, while perhaps less visible to the public, operates as the enforcer and protector of the regime's ideological purity, its authoritarian grip, and its ability to block reformist change.
This book aims to deconstruct and demystify this institutional mechanism of control. Each chapter explores a different facet of the Guardian Council's power - from its role in elections and legislation to its influence over the Assembly of Experts and leadership succession. By the end of this book, readers will understand that the Guardian Council is not a neutral oversight body but a central pillar of clerical authoritarianism. It is not a mere guardian of Islamic principles; it is the main enforcer of clerical dominance in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This book aims to deconstruct and demystify this institutional mechanism of control. Each chapter explores a different facet of the Guardian Council's power - from its role in elections and legislation to its influence over the Assembly of Experts and leadership succession. By the end of this book, readers will understand that the Guardian Council is not a neutral oversight body but a central pillar of clerical authoritarianism. It is not a mere guardian of Islamic principles; it is the main enforcer of clerical dominance in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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