Revolutionary Horizons: Regional Foreign Policy in Post-Khomeini Iran
At a time when Americans are being told that Iran is an outlaw state, it is worth noting the conclusions of a careful study of recent Iranian foreign policy. This book certainly does not try to whitewash Iran's image. But the author does argue that Iran's revolutionary message has been tempered in recent years by an acute awareness of the economic weakness of the state and the dangers of the surrounding regional environment. As a result, Iran has usually put state interests ahead of revolutionary goals. The exceptions are noted and ascribed to incomplete control by the regime over foreign policy or to divisions within the elite. Missing from the book is the wider setting of Iran's relations with Russia, China, India, Japan, and Europe. In addition, the author used almost exclusively English-language sources. Still, this is a solid contribution to understanding Iran's regional policies.
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