Table of Contents
Preface iii
Figures ix
Summary xi
Acknowledgments xix
Abbreviations xxi
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Chapter 2 The IRGC in Context: Iran's Security and Political Landscape 7
The IRGC in Iran's Security Hierarchy 8
Iran's Factional Landscape 13
Chapter 3 The IRGC's Diverse Domestic Roles: Origins and Evolution 19
Postrevolutionary Developments: Consolidating Internal Control 20
The Sacred Defense: The IRGC in the Iran-Iraq War 23
"Popularizing" the IRGC: The Development of the Basij Resistance Force 25
The Guardians of the Revolution: The IRGC's Domestic Intelligence and Security Roles 29
The Merger of Basij and IRGC: A Sign of the Regime's Growing Entrenchment 32
Chapter 4 Militarizing Civil Society: The IRGC's Indoctrination, Training, and Media Activities 35
The IRGC's Ideological Activism: Origins and Development 35
The IRGC Presence in Iran's Education System 38
The "Ten-Million-Man Army": The IRGC's Role in Popular Paramilitary Training 44
Increasing the Basij's Capability to Conduct Asymmetric Homeland Defense 45
Disaster-Relief Training 47
Protection Against Soft Coups 47
Additional Cultural Education 48
The IRGC Media Apparatus: Formal and Informal Influences 49
Censorship of Independent Media Outlets 53
Chapter 5 Economic Expansion: The IRGC's Business Conglomerate and Public Works 55
Origins of the IRGC's Economic Activities 56
Foundations (Bonyads) 57
Construction, Engineering, and Manufacturing Companies 59
Illicit and Black Market Activities 64
Public Works 66
The Dilemmas of Economic Expansion 70
Chapter 6 The IRGC in Politics 77
The Origins of the IRGC as aPolitical Force 77
Ideological Factionalism Inside the IRGC 81
Possible Future Scenarios for the IRGC 89
Scenario 1: The Evolving Role of the Supreme Leader and the Eventual Succession to Khamenei 89
Scenario 2: The "Muslim Reza Khan" 90
Scenario 3: The Religious Turkish Option, or a "Coup by Memorandum" 91
Chapter 7 Conclusion: Toward a More Strategic Understanding of the IRGC 93
The Utility of a Comparative Approach: Pakistan and China 94
Appendixes
A Business Organizations Affiliated with the IRGC or Influenced by IRGC Personnel 99
B Current and Former IRGC Personnel 103
C Evolution of the Islamic Republic and the IRGC 109
D Provincial Map of Iran 113
E Glossary of Persian Terms 115
Bibliography 117
