Ali M. Ansari is a Professor of Iranian History at the University of St Andrews. His many publications include Iran under Ahmadinejad (2008), Iran, Islam and Democracy: The Politics of Managing Change, 2nd edition (2006) and Modern Iran since 1921: The Pahlavis and After (2003).

'This excellent work asks these basic questions: what is an Iranian; and how has Iranian identity been shaped over the past 100 years? … an insightful discussion of issues of nationalism in modern Iran.' Grant Farr, Middle East Media and Book Reviews (membr.uwm.edu)

• 1. Introduction; 2. An Iranian enlightenment; 3. The age of extremes; 4. The age of contestation.

Ali M. Ansari is a Professor of Iranian History at the University of St Andrews. His many publications include Iran under Ahmadinejad (2008), Iran, Islam and Democracy: The Politics of Managing Change, 2nd edition (2006) and Modern Iran since 1921: The Pahlavis and After (2003).

'This excellent work asks these basic questions: what is an Iranian; and how has Iranian identity been shaped over the past 100 years? … an insightful discussion of issues of nationalism in modern Iran.' Grant Farr, Middle East Media and Book Reviews (membr.uwm.edu)

• 1. Introduction; 2. An Iranian enlightenment; 3. The age of extremes; 4. The age of contestation.

Ali M. Ansari is a Professor of Iranian History at the University of St Andrews. His many publications include Iran under Ahmadinejad (2008), Iran, Islam and Democracy: The Politics of Managing Change, 2nd edition (2006) and Modern Iran since 1921: The Pahlavis and After (2003).

'This excellent work asks these basic questions: what is an Iranian; and how has Iranian identity been shaped over the past 100 years? … an insightful discussion of issues of nationalism in modern Iran.' Grant Farr, Middle East Media and Book Reviews (membr.uwm.edu)

• 1. Introduction; 2. An Iranian enlightenment; 3. The age of extremes; 4. The age of contestation.