Iran and Middle East Studies / İran ve Orta Doğu Çalışmaları

  Key Takeaways -  Artesh, which literally means "army," is a branch of Iran’s armed forces that surpasses the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in both manpower and conventional firepower. - Army’s Pahlavi-era origins, coupled with the fact that many of its senior officers had received training in the US, fostered suspicion among the revolutionaries in terms of its fidelity and in the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution, certain measures were swiftly undertaken to restructure it into a force loyal to the emerging Islamic Republic.   - Established in April 1979 as a militia force tasked with maintaining public order and safeguarding the revolution in its immediate aftermath, the IRGC gradually developed in parallel to Army and eventually came to possess its own ministry, distinct from the Ministry of Defense. -   During the Iran–Iraq War, significant rivalries and tensions emerged between the Army and the IRGC, particularly over issues of command, control, and mi...

Iranian Politics after the Presidential Election 2017-06-02 Incumbent Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has won a landslide victory in the presidential elections held on May 19, and secured the second term in office. Approximately 73 per cent of the 55-million electorates went to the polls. Rouhani received 57 per cent of the casted votes by considerably improving his supporters in comparison to the previous presidential elections.  Having assessed objections and claims of irregularities made by some people including Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi, the leading contester against Rouhani, the Guardian Council confirmed the election results on May 30. Rouhani is expected to form his new cabinet in the forthcoming days. So, how will be the future of Iranian politics from now on? Significance of the Elections Many claim that Iranian elections are sham elections because the regime predetermines the results by means of vetoing candidates. Additionally, it is claimed that powers of the ele...

Revolutionary Guards and Politics Under Rouhani 2016-08-15 Since its foundation in 1979,The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (Revolutionary Guards, IRGC) has been regarded as one of the “fundamental” pillars of Iranian politics. Revolutionary Guards, who are constitutionally charged with “safeguarding the revolution and its achievements”, have always involved in politics. IRGC, like other security institutions in Iran, is directly subordinated to Supreme Leader of the Revolution Ayatollah Hamanei and its relations with Iranian governments have been practiced in different forms.IRGC’s political clout gradually increased under the presidency of Mahmud Ahmedinecad that generated a debate on “militarization” of the Iranian regime. Likewise, in the meantime, influence of IRGCalso increased in economy due to the effects of sanctions imposed on Iran for thenuclear issue. IRGC’s role in Iranian politics and economy has been regarded as one of the biggest challenges for Has...

Revolutionary Guards in Iranian Politics The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been dubbed the ‘kingmaker’ in recent studies of Iranian politics, precipitating heated debates surrounding the potential militarization of the Iranian regime and giving rise to paradoxical understandings of the IRGC; whether as a military institution entering politics, or a political institution with a military history.  Revolutionary Guards in Iranian Politics  offers a way out of this paradox by showing that the IRGC is not a recently politicized institution, but has instead been highly politicized since its inception. It identifies the ways in which the IRGC relates to national political dynamics, examines the factors contributing to this relationship, and its implications on Iranian politics from the revolution up to the present day. The book examines the three decades following the revolution, uncovering the reasons behind the rise of the Revolutionary Guards and t...