Revolution and Aftermath

Overview

In Revolution and Aftermath: Forging a New Strategy toward Iran, Eric Edelman and Ray Takeyh examine one of the most underappreciated forces that has shaped modern US foreign policy: American-Iranian relations. They argue that America's flawed reading of Iran's domestic politics has hamstrung decades of US diplomacy, resulting in humiliations and setbacks ranging from the 1979–81 hostage crisis to Barack Obama's concession-laden nuclear weapons deal. What presidents and diplomats have repeatedly failed to grasp, they write, is that "the Islamic Republic is a revolutionary state whose entire identity is invested in its hostility toward the West." To illuminate a path forward for American-Iranian relations, the authors address some of the most persistent myths about Iran, its ruling elite, and its people. Finally, they highlight lessons leaders can learn from America's many missteps since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Reviews

"Eric Edelman and Ray Takeyh cut through the wishful thinking that so often passes for analysis to deliver a needed warning: Iran's imperial aggression against us and our allies isn't a drain on the ayatollahs' power; it's the lifeblood of the regime. Many books predict and prognosticate, but Revolution and Aftermath gives the much-needed historical context to understand the feints and thrusts of our most dangerous enemy in the Middle East. Anyone who wants to understand the true nature of the Iranian regime-and the threat it poses-should read this book." —Tom Cotton, US Senator from Arkansas

"The revolutionary regime in Iran represents one of the biggest challenges to US national security. In this short but important book, one of America's leading Iran experts and a deeply experienced national security practitioner explain why Iran has been such a daunting and persistent challenge for policymakers, the historical role it has played in US grand strategy, and what a realistic policy to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon might look like. If you are looking for a cogent and concise introduction to this vital topic-this is it." —Dick Cheney, 46th Vice President of the United States

Author Biography

Ambassador Eric S. Edelman is the Roger Hertog Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He was US ambassador to Finland in the Clinton administration and Turkey in the George W. Bush administration. Ray Takeyh is a Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.