Inside Iran's Hidden Economy Clerics, Militias, and the Power Behind the Islamic Republic

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Julia Wolbrook

Inside Iran's Hidden Economy Clerics, Militias, and the Power Behind the Islamic Republic

Name: Inside Iran's Hidden Economy Clerics, Militias, and the Power Behind the Islamic Republic
Price: 23.32 AUD
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ISBN: 9798235655652

Julia Wolbrook

$25.95 $23.32

Paperback

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English

Serena Capuozzo
14 April 2026

Political ideologies; Central government policies; Political economy

Summary
Details

Unveil the secret engine driving Iran's defiance against the world.

For decades, outsiders have dismissed Iran's economy as a crumbling relic of revolution, crippled by sanctions, riddled with corruption, and propped up by oil rents. But what if the truth is far more cunning? In this groundbreaking book, dive into the clandestine world of bonyads (vast charitable foundations), the omnipotent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and a clerical elite that wields unchecked power. Drawing on pioneering frameworks like Kevan Harris's ""subcontractor state,"" this revelatory account exposes how Iran's post-1979 political economy, a decentralized yet iron-fisted machine, has turned revolutionary zeal into economic resilience.

Trace the origins from Khomeini's radical Velayat-e Faqih doctrine and leftist Islamic firebrands like Ali Shariati and Mahmoud Taleqani, to the IRGC's meteoric rise as a shadowy conglomerate dominating everything from telecoms to missiles. Far from the rentier or praetorian stereotypes, Iran operates a ""qualitatively socialist"" powerhouse: state-monopolized mechanisms fueled not by profit, but by ideological survival. Learn how clerics and militias outmaneuver Western sanctions, build parallel empires, and sustain the Islamic Republic amid chaos.

Inside Iran's Hidden Economy shatters myths, offering policymakers, journalists, and Iran-watchers an indispensable roadmap to the regime's true strength. In an era of escalating tensions, understanding this hidden web isn't just fascinating, it's essential.

By: Julia Wolbrook
Imprint: Serena Capuozzo
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 7mm
Weight: 141g
ISBN: 9798235655652
Pages: 114
Publication Date: 14 April 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active