Acknowledgements -- Maps, Tables, Figures, and Appendices -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- Chapter One Theoretical Framework -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 The Nature of the Political System in the Islamic Republic of Iran -- 1.3 Studies of the Political Elite -- 1.4 The Iranian Political Elite -- 1.5 Foreign Policy and Geopolitics -- 1.6 The Role of Shi'ism in the Foreign Policy of the IRI -- 1.7 Conclusion -- Chapter Two Power Structures and Factional Rivalries in the Islamic Republic of Iran -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 The Formal Power Structure -- 2.2.1 The Religious Supervisory Bodies -- 2.2.2 The Republican Institutions -- 2.2.3 The Religious Foundations -- 2.3 The Informal Power Structure -- 2.4 Economic Resources of the Political Elite -- 2.5 Elite Recruitment -- 2.6 Factional Rivalries since the Islamic Revolution -- 2.6.1 Factional Rivalries for Power 1979-1989 -- 2.6.2 Factional Rivalries for Power 1989-1997 -- 2.6.3 Factional Rivalries for Power 1997-2005 -- 2.6.4 Factional Rivalries for Power Since 2005 -- 2.7 Conclusion -- Chapter Three Factional Rivalries and Economic Policies -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Economic Restructuring during Khomeini's Leadership (1979-1989) -- 3.2.1 Economic Policies 1979-1989 -- 3.2.2 International Trade Relations -- 3.2.3 The Impact of the Iran-Iraq War on the Economy -- 3.3 Economic Reform during Rafsanjani's Presidency (1989-1997) -- 3.3.1 Towards a Liberalization of the Economy? -- 3.3.2 Economic Liberalization and Social Response -- 3.4 Economic Impasse during Khatami's Presidency (1997-2005) -- 3.4.1 Further Attempts at Economic Liberalization -- 3.5 Poverty Alleviation-The Main Goal since Ahmadinejad's Presidency in 2005 -- 3.6 Conclusion -- Chapter Four Factional Rivalries and Socio-Cultural Developments -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Socio-Cultural Developments during Khomeini's Leadership ( 1979-1989).

4.2.1 Women -- 4.2.2 The Press -- 4.2.3 Intellectual Debate -- 4.2.3.1 Ali Shari'ati -- 4.2.3.2 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini -- 4.3 Socio-Cultural Developments during Rafsanjani's Presidency ( 1989-1997) -- 4.3.1 Women -- 4.3.2 The Press -- 4.3.3 Intellectual Debate -- 4.3.3.1 Lay and Clerical Public Intellectuals (Abdolkarim Soroush, Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari, and Mohsen Kadivar) -- 4.3.3.2 Public Intelligentsia (Abbas Abdi, Akbar Ganji, and Saeed Hajjarian) -- 4.4 Socio-Cultural Developments during Khatami's Presidency ( 1997-2005) -- 4.4.1 Women -- 4.4.2 The Press -- 4.4.3 Intellectual Debate -- 4.5 Socio-Cultural Developments during Ahmadinejad's Presidency (since 2005) -- 4.5.1 Women -- 4.5.2 The Press -- 4.6 Conclusion -- Chapter Five Factional Rivalries and Foreign Policy -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Foreign Policy Decision-Making in the Islamic Republic of Iran -- 5.3 Foreign Policy in the Period of Khomeini's Leadership (1979-1989) -- 5.3.1 Relations with the Middle East -- 5.3.2 Relations with the Soviet Union -- 5.3.3 Relations with the United States -- 5.4 Foreign Policy during Rafsanjani's Presidency (1989-1997) -- 5.4.1 Relations with the Middle East -- 5.4.2 Relations with Central Eurasia and Russia -- 5.4.3 Relations with the United States -- 5.5 Foreign Policy during Khatami's Presidency (1997-2005) -- 5.5.1 Relations with the Middle East -- 5.5.2 Relations with Russia, China, and India -- 5.5.3 Relations with the United States -- 5.6 Foreign Policy since Ahmadinejad's Presidency (2005-2008) -- 5.6.1 Relations with the Middle East -- 5.6.2 Relations with Russia -- 5.6.3 Relations with the United States -- 5.7 Conclusion -- Chapter Six Factional Rivalries and Iran-European Union Relations -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Iran-European Union Relations during Khomeini's Leadership ( 1979-1989).

6.3 Iran-European Union Relations during Rafsanjani's Presidency ( 1989-1997) -- 6.4 Iran-European Union Relations during Khatami's Presidency ( 1997-2005) -- 6.5 Iran-European Union Relations since Ahmadinejad's Presidency ( 2005-) -- 6.6 Conclusion -- Chapter Seven The European Union Policy towards Iran -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 The Critical and Comprehensive Dialogue -- 7.3 Iran-European Union Energy Policy Dialogue -- 7.4 Iran-European Union Working Group on Trade and Investment -- 7.5 Iran-European Union Human Rights Dialogue -- 7.6 The Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons -- 7.7 Conclusion -- Conclusion -- Appendices -- Glossary -- References -- Important websites from Iran of members of the political elite, state organizations, non-governmental organizations, and Intellectuals/ p olitical activists -- Index.