State, Religion, and Revolution in Iran, 1796 to the Present

Behrooz Moazami is Associate Professor of History and Director of Middle East Peace Studies at Loyola University New Orleans, USA. An Iranian political activist, he holds two doctorates, one in political science and one in sociology and historical studies. Before joining academia, he worked as a journalist, essayist, and co-editor of various dissident publications

"Adopting a longue duree perspective, Behrooz Moazami weaves the parallel yet interdependent narratives of state formation in Iran and the institutionalization of a differentiated religious field led by the ulama until they fuse dramatically in the Iranian Revolution: a revolution that remains unfinished as long as the fundamental tension between a theocratic regime and a citizens' republic remains unresolved. Moazami's comparative historical analysis challenges equally the historicist assumptions of Iranian particularism and the universalist assumptions of Western social scientific paradigms." - Jose Casanova, Professor of Sociology and Senior Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Georgetown University, USA "This is a sophisticated examination of the complex and tortuous relationships between state and religion, politics and theology, monarchy and clergy, secularism and Islam in the course of the last two centuries in Iran. It is a useful read for sociologists and political scientists, as well as historians of modern Iran." - Ervand Abrahamian, Distinguished Professor of History, City University of New York, USA "Behrooz Moazami has written an excellent book that challenges prevailing theories of religion and politics in Iran. He presents a novel, convincing analysis of the parallel development of state making and building of religious institutions in Iran. It will be of interest to a broad audience within history, political science, sociology, and beyond." - Misagh Parsa, Professor of Sociology, Dartmouth College, USA

• 1. Introduction: State, Religion, and Revolution in Iran, 1796 to the PresentSECTION I: FROM FRAGMENTED POLITICAL AUTHORITY TO CENTRAL BUREAUCRATIC POWER, 1796–19632. The Political Authority of the Qajar State, 1796–1925 3. Forming a Utilitarian Buffer State: The Pahlavis, 1921–1963 SECTION II: THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE SHI'I ULAMA, 1796–19634. Religious Revivalism and the Formative Phase of Orthodoxy, 1796–1892 5. The Constitutional Moment: The Ulama and the Political Sphere, 1892–19216. The Nationalization of Religious Morality and the Organizational Expansion of the Ulama, 1921–1963SECTION III: THE MAKING OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION AND ITS AFTERMATH, 1963 TO THE PRESENT7. The Islamization of the Social Movements and the Revolution, 1963-1979 8. The Invention of a Modern Theocracy: An Unfinished Revolution 9. Conclusion: Making Sense of the State, Religion, and Revolution