The Rise of the Pasdaran. Assessing the Domestic Roles of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA492568 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Founded by a decree from Ayatollah Khomeini shortly after the victory of the 1978 1979 Islamic Revolution, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC has evolved well beyond its original foundations as an ideological guard for the nascent revolutionary regime. Today, the IRGC functions as an expansive socio-political-economic conglomerate whose influence extends into virtually every corner of Iranian political life and society. Bound together by the shared experience of war and the socialization of military service, the Pasdaran have articulated a populist, authoritarian, and assertive vision for the Islamic Republic of Iran that they maintain is a more faithful reflection of the revolutions early ideals.

Author(s):
Wehrey, Frederic ; Green, Jerrold D. ; Nichiporuk, Brian ; Nader, Alireza ; Hansell, Lydia ; Nafisi, Rasool ; Bohandy, S. R.
Author Organization(s):
RAND NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INST SANTA MONICA CA
Supplementary Note:
ISBN 978-0-8330-4620-8
Pagination:
0154

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Contract/Grant Number(s):
W74V8H-06-C-0002
Monitor Series:
OSD
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_5.4_Decide; JCA_5.4.3_Establish Rule Sets; JCA_1.2.1_Training; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_1.3.1_Personnel and Family Support; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_4.3_Maintain; JCA_1.2.2_Exercising; JCA_7.2.2_Mitigate Non-Lethal Effects; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_4_Logistics; JCA_1.3.2_Personnel Management
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Biomedical
Descriptor(s):
*MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN), NATIONAL SECURITY, LEADERSHIP, ECONOMICS, ISLAM, IRAN IRAQ WAR, POLITICAL SCIENCE, IRAN, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, HUMAN RELATIONS, ROLES(BEHAVIOR), DOMESTIC
Field(s)/Group(s):
Military Forces and Organizations
Keyword(s):
IRGC(ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS CORPS)
Report Date:
2009 Jan 01
Creation Date:
2009 Feb 04