Khatamis Iran The Islamic Republic and the Turbulent Path to Reform

When Mohammed Khatami stormed to his 1997 election victory in a landslide result, the world waited anxiously for the reforms and radical changes that he would bring to the Iranian Presidency. This book reveals the background, formation and thinking of a man who may yet change the face of politics in the Middle East.



To understand contemporary Iran's notoriously complex politics, it is essential to grasp the monumental changes initiated by Mohammad Khatami. The previously little-known cleric stormed to victory in Iran's 1997 presidential elections with nearly 70 per cent of the vote, encouraging Iran's nascent civil society and reform movements to flourish during his eight year tenure as president. Ghoncheh Tazmini's book offers a thought-provoking, astutely close-up yet systematic analysis of Khatami the man and the reform movement that supported him. This book provides a comprehensive and finely detailed introduction to the subtleties of contemporary Iran's complex political culture. At the same time it is an important reference point for a critical period of Iran's post-revolutionary trajectory, especially given the controversial developments in the country after the re-election of President Ahmadinejad in 2009. With new presidential elections looming in 2013, and the importance of Iran once again becoming paramount, this book offers vital analysis for all of those interested in the future of Iranian politics and the reform movement in the country.