The Political Economy of Iran Under the Qajars Society, Politics, Economics and Foreign Relations 1796-1926

by Amirahmadi, Hooshang

• ISBN13: 9781848856721
• ISBN10: 1848856725
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-08-15
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris

Summary

The political economy of Iran underwent the fundamental transition from feudalism to modernity from the early 19th to the 20th century: a period which was a vital watershed in Iran s historical development. This book provides a critical analysis of Iran s economic, social and political development and shows how the path to modernity, far from smooth, was hindered by both internal and international factors. These included a powerful monarchy with little interest in administrative and economic reform, a large aristocracy frequently holding vital provincial governorships and frustrating effective central government and a failure to create a modern civil service, military, banking, finance or communications - the essential infrastructure for economic development. Reformers were marginalised and business suffered. And the all-powerful ulema were a further brake on modernisation. On the international front, the rivalry of Britain and Russia compounded the problems: both acting to control Iran and to further their own interests. Hooshang Amirahmadi explores the roots of present-day challenges to modernisation and progress and, using a wealth of primary sources and original research, has produced a work which is invaluable for students of modern Iranian history, politics and Iran s political economy.

Author Biography

Hooshang Amirahmadi is Professor and former Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University. He holds a PhD from Cornell University and is the founder and president of the American Iranian Council. His publications include Revolution and Economic Transition: The Iranian Experience, three books in Farsi and numerous edited books and journal articles.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	p. ix
Glossary of Terms	p. xi
Note on Iranian Calendar Year and Transliteration	p. xx
Preface	p. xxi
Introduction	p. 1
Pre-capitalist Social Formations	p. 8
Population, Urbanization and Infrastructure	p. 16
Economic Forces and Transformations	p. 32
Political System and Public Policy	p. 76
Civil Society and Ideological Encounters	p. 108
Foreign Trade, Interventions, and Policy	p. 136
Class Alliances and Political Struggles	p. 179
Empirical and Theoretical Conclusions	p. 232
Endnotes	p. 255
Bibliography	p. 294
Index	p. 310
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