The Iranian Rentier State

Since 1979 the Islamic Republic of Iran has managedto consolidate and centralize its power cement itsauthority over the domestic populace and exerciseincreasing influence in the Middle East and beyond;all this amidst an ever growing population andescalating economic problems. Yet the government ofIran has been able to maintain internal politicalcontrol while pursuing a more assertive foreignpolicy abroad. Economic sanctions internationalisolation and strict containment policies haveapparently had little effect in weakening the state.So what factors have contributed to the Iranianstate's resilience to sustain itself through times ofpolitical and economic shock? This timely workexamines the scale of political economic and socialimpacts oil-led economic development has had in theIranian rentier state. It provides a detailedtheoretical framework for discussing the subjectcomprehensive analysis of Iran's socio-economic andpolitical developments and key internal andexogenous factors that influence statestability/instability. This book will not only be ofinterest to Iran specialists but also to scholars ofpolitical science economics and int. relations.